Chapter 212: Mr. Gustin’s Misguided Way of Showing Affection
Upon hearing Olivia’s words, Paige forced a bitter smile. “Olivia, that was a bit too broad. I can’t help but take it personally.”
Before, she couldn’t reveal her identity as someone from the slums. Now, she can’t reveal that she’s even alive. Isn’t she just like that, living in the shadows all her life, too afraid to face the sunlight?
Hearing this, Olivia looked embarrassed and quickly said, “Miss, what are you thinking? The sun shines beautifully on our estate; there’s nothing dark here. And if you need anything, I can always go outside and get it for you.”
After saying that, Olivia felt even more awkward. What was she saying? Wasn’t it just admitting that the Miss couldn’t even go out to buy things for herself?
“That stings a little,” Paige said with a light laugh. Her smile was calm and unbothered, as if she didn’t mind, but there was a subtle bitterness in it.
Olivia noticed the change in her expression and, unsure of how to comfort her, suddenly remembered something and pulled out a postcard from her pocket. “Miss, another postcard has arrived.”
Paige took it. It was a blank postcard.
Since she moved here, Kevin had sent her a postcard every day. Yesterday’s postcard featured a landscape of the slum island, and today’s had one of Chris’s old oil paintings on it.
He was reminding her that she could never forget the slums, nor the people on Wind Island with whom she had shared hardships for three years.
Paige looked down at the postcard in her hand, thinking of Chris. Without his arms, and without her there to entertain him, she wondered if that old woman who couldn’t go a day without scolding someone was even still alive.
After looking at it for a while, she handed the postcard back to Olivia. “Same as before.”
“Don’t worry, Miss. I’ll hide it well so the young master won’t see it,” Olivia assured, storing the postcard away. “Who is it, anyway, sending you postcards every day? Don’t they get tired?”
“If they keep it up long enough, their heart will cool down, and then they’ll stop,” Paige mused. After a while, Kevin would likely be so disappointed in her that he would return to the border and resume his role as the king of the frontier.
“What are you two chatting about so lively?” a man’s voice suddenly interrupted.
Paige turned to see Enrico coming out of the house, dressed in casual clothes. He looked relaxed, much more energetic than a few days ago, with no more bloodshot eyes, and a slight smile on his lips.
Seeing him, Paige smiled.
Olivia lowered her head and quietly stepped away.
Enrico walked over to Paige, leaning over from behind to hug her as he glanced at the drawing on her paper, which depicted a distant landscape.
“Did you sleep well?” Paige leaned into him, her voice soft.
“Yes, but you weren’t there,” Enrico grumbled, displeased. “You’re still not fully healed, so why are you painting?”
“Just passing the time,” Paige replied.
“Bored? Come on, let me show you something interesting,” Enrico said, taking her hand and pulling her to her feet before leading her outside.
As they passed the gravestones at the intersection of the estate’s paths, Enrico stopped, looking at the gravestones covered with fine silk. He looked down at her. “Does this gift really have to wait until I’m fully healed before I can see it?”
The day after moving in, Enrico had wanted to see the gift she had prepared for him, but Paige insisted that he wait until his wounds were fully healed.
When he came to pay respects to his deceased mother and sister, he noticed the gravestones were covered and guessed that she had done something special to them, perhaps painting something beautiful on them. But the more they were covered, the more curious he became.
“Yes,” Paige nodded firmly.
He was far too restless for someone recovering from injuries. The so-called bed rest was only during the time he was asleep. To make sure he recovered quickly, this was the only way she could keep him in check.
“I want to see it,” Enrico said, pointing to the gravestones. “It’s not right to keep covering up my mother’s and sister’s gravestones. They might be unhappy not getting any sunlight.”
Paige looked at him. “That’s why I take the covers off while you’re sleeping so they can get some sun. They told me they only want to see a healthy family member, not one covered in wounds.”
If he was so eager, he should hurry up and heal.
“Are you a medium?” Enrico raised an eyebrow.
“Weren’t you the one who communicated with them first?” Paige shot back.
“…”
This woman sure had a way with words.
Enrico reached out to ruffle her hair. “Alright, alright, I’ll be better by tomorrow.”NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.
“Really? I don’t trust you. I’ll wait for Dr. Clinton’s X-ray results.”
Paige reached up to smooth her hair, but he was already pulling her along outside again. She looked at him, “Where are we going?”
“Follow me.”
Enrico led her out of the estate, through the bamboo grove outside, toward the place where she had last met Kevin.
Paige’s heart sank. Did he know that Kevin had asked her to go to the border?
Just as she was thinking this, Enrico parted a tall bamboo stalk, and the scene before her made Paige freeze.
The small stream was gone, the weeds and scattered rocks were nowhere to be seen.
In front of the towering mountain wall was now a flat, luxurious surface, dazzling with lights even in broad daylight. A giant carousel stood before her, with a pirate ship, spinning teacups, and a large slide in the distance…
It was like a hidden amusement park.
As soft music began to play, the carousel started turning, its romantic lights twinkling, beckoning her into a dreamlike world.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Paige asked, looking at Enrico in confusion.
“This is all we could build in a few days-there’s still a roller coaster and a Ferris wheel under construction over there,” Enrico pointed to the distance. “I bought all the land around here, extending out from the estate. Whatever you want, I’ll build it for you-gardens, a zoo, even a mall, whatever you like.”
Paige looked at his handsome face, still not understanding. “What are you trying to do?”
Enrico looked down at her. “When I’m free, I can take you wherever you want to go, be it domestic or abroad. No one will know who you are, and no one will hurt you. But when I’m busy with the company after I recover, I won’t feel comfortable letting you go out alone. If you want to live a more ordinary life, I’ll build a small town here for you to enjoy.”
“…”
Listening to him, Paige didn’t know what to feel. She bit her lip and said, “Enrico, you don’t have to do this.”
“You don’t like it?” Enrico glanced at her.
“It’s not that, I just…”
“Then take it. Whatever you like, I’ll build it for you, so you can have fun even when I’m not around,” Enrico interrupted with a smile.
“I really don’t need it,” Paige understood that he thought she had given up her freedom, so he was trying to give her as much freedom as possible within the limits.
But whether it was an amusement park, a zoo, or even a mall where she could shop to her heart’s content, this freedom was all an illusion.
Why would Paige need an illusion?
But Enrico didn’t seem to understand. He pulled her forward, stopping at the carousel. “Hop on.”
“I’m not a child anymore,” Paige shook her head. “I don’t ride these.”