Chapter 77: Escape
“Calm? I haven’t really noticed,” Jaden replied.
“Her feud with the Clarkes is settled now. If you were her, what would be your next move?” Enrico twirled the pen in his hand and asked again.
At these words, Jaden recalled how boss rushed Miss Paige back from abroad last time, thinking she might flee after settling her score. “Do you think she wants to run away?” he asked.
“She’s been too quiet,” Enrico stared at the figure on the screen. These days, Paige had been obediently by his side, showing no signs of resistance.
“But Olivia mentioned that after today’s burial, Miss Paige plans to take her out for a meal and then go back to school,” Jaden recalled what Olivia had said.
Hearing this, Enrico slammed the pen on the table, his voice dark, “Last time, she planned to take two maids out for a meal. This meal is a signal.”
“But last time, Miss Paige didn’t run away,” Jaden pointed out.
“What if she hadn’t drunk that poison?” Enrico’s eyes glinted coldly at him.
Upon hearing this, Jaden belatedly understood. So, it wasn’t that she didn’t want to run away; she just hadn’t found the right moment yet.
“I’ll immediately assign more personnel to watch over her,” Jaden turned to leave.
“No need,” Enrico stopped him.
“No need?” Jaden questioned.
“You organize a group, discreetly monitor her. The moment you see any sign of escape, apprehend her immediately,” Enrico instructed.
“But…,” Jaden was puzzled.
“If she doesn’t try to escape once, how will she know she can’t escape?”
“Go arrange for a good wheelchair. If she dares to run, she won’t use her legs anymore.”
Enrico’s words were ruthless and devoid of any sentiment.
“Yes,” Jaden didn’t dare to question further and hurried off to carry out his orders. If Miss Paige really tried to escape and he failed to stop her, he would be in trouble.
After Susan’s funeral, Paige and Olivia went to a restaurant for a meal.
Her phone vibrated.
Paige picked up the non-bejeweled phone and glanced at the message from Kevin –
[Kevin: Paige, now that the Clarke situation is resolved, you can come to the border. I’ve had the villa furnished for you, just waiting for you to come over.]
Paige looked at the message for a few seconds before resolutely replying.
[Paige: I’m not leaving.]
There was no hesitation on her face.
[Kevin: !!! Why? You really want to be Enrico’s mistress?]
[Kevin: Don’t do this, come to the border!]
Kevin’s messages were bombarding Paige’s phone, annoying her so much that she eventually replied with just few words, “That’s how it is,” before shutting off her phone altogether.
Just a few days ago, she had planned to leave Enrico and the Capital, to live a life of freedom on the border. But now, she had changed her mind. She wanted to stay in the Capital. She wanted to become strong as quickly as possible, strong enough to do whatever she wanted, strong enough to protect everyone she cared about.
“Miss, are you okay?” Olivia couldn’t help but ask when she saw Paige turn off her phone.
“I’m fine,” Paige replied calmly. “Let’s eat. After we finish, you can go back to Rose Estate, and I’ll go to the school.” She needed to sort out her dual study of law and magic. From today onward, she wouldn’t waste a single second of her time.
After their meal, the two walked out of the small private room, through the long corridor, and left.
On the way, Olivia pulled Paige back, noticing a middle-aged woman wearing clothes identical to Olivia’s. She stood aside, feeling melancholy. “Susan and I once talked about wearing identical outfits and having you guess our backs. Now, that chance is gone.”
Olivia stood there, lost in thought, when her phone vibrated. She hurriedly answered, seemingly a call from her family. Paige gestured that she was leaving since they were headed in different directions. She prepared to depart for school, leaving Olivia behind.
The middle-aged woman, engrossed in her phone, followed Paige from a distance. One of Paige’s bodyguards, observing the scene, strategically dispatched a team to tail the woman, while the rest followed Paige’s car.
After following for about half an hour, the bodyguard grew increasingly suspicious. Something about this figure didn’t quite match Olivia.
After a moment’s hesitation, the bodyguard rushed forward, blocking the woman’s path. As he saw her face, shock washed over him.
…
“She’s the transfer student who brought Malik down from his pedestal? She looks so innocent. Hard to believe she caused such a stir.”
“People are full of surprises. Why is she here at our law school today?”
“I heard she’s double majoring in law now.”
“What? Wasn’t she from the arts department?”
A group of students stood outside the office, peering through the window at the girl inside, all wearing expressions of astonishment.
Inside the office.
Professor Hodge, mid-sip from his water, coughed as he looked at Paige. “You want to study law?”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
Paige stood calmly at Professor Hodge’s desk, “Yes,” she replied calmly, meeting Professor Hodge’s gaze.
“We haven’t had arts students crossing over to law before. Law is tough, I advise you to reconsider,” Professor Hodge said earnestly, though his eyes betrayed disdain.
One reason was her status as an arts student, and the other was the uproar caused by Malik’s incident, disrupting the school for two days. The law school couldn’t tolerate such students.
Paige stood her ground, understanding his implication. “Whether I succeed is my business, not yours to worry about.”
Professor Hodge’s face soured. “I’m offering you advice, and this is your attitude? Don’t think pulling down a senator makes you special. Students like you, causing extraordinary trouble, should reflect on their actions.”
“I’ve dealt with students like you plenty,” Professor Hodge said, pointing outside. “Now go stand in the hallway.”
Upon hearing this, Paige couldn’t help but laugh.
The teachers in the office all gasped in shock. Professor Hodge was the last person in their law school anyone wanted to provoke. Any student who showed even a hint of disrespect usually faced dire consequences. Yet here she was, mocking him.
“What are you laughing at?”
“Since you know I can even drag down a senator, do you realize how much of a challenge a professor like you is to me?” Paige smiled back, showing no sign of weakness.
“Bang!” Professor Hodge slammed the cup in his hand onto the desk. “You’re audacious! Do you know who you’re talking to? You dare threaten me and still think you can enter law school? Dream on!”
Paige looked at Professor Hodge with a slight smile, casually saying, “Since you don’t approve, I’ll leave. But I don’t like being idle. With too much free time, I might just investigate the backgrounds of the school’s professors-see if anyone has punished students, or silenced dissent…”
Professor Hodge stared at her in shock.
“Well then, I’ve got something to do,” Paige respectfully nodded to everyone in the room. “I’ll be on my way.” With that, Paige turned and left without a second thought…
Half an hour later, she finally left the office for real, having successfully secured the opportunity to major in law.
Exiting the office, the hallway was now packed with students, all staring at her in disbelief, as if they had seen a mythical creature. No one had ever dared to stand up to Professor Hodge like she did. Impressive. Where did this transfer student come from?
Paige glanced around at the crowded hallway, feeling somewhat puzzled. Hadn’t they seen students double major before? She immediately turned and left through another corridor.
Enrico had arranged for her to be a junior, and starting law studies midway meant catching up on a lot of missed knowledge.
Just the books alone filled an entire large box. Paige carried the heavy brown leather box through the long corridor lined with white columns.
“Paige!” A gentle voice suddenly rang out.