CHAPTER 545: CHAPTER 545: FAVORITISM

Paige Sterling laughed coldly, "My husband scheming against you? Did my husband invite you over?"

Austin Xavier was at a loss for words, "Paige, don’t be so biased!"

Paige Sterling replied, "He’s my husband; if I’m not biased towards him, then towards whom?"

Austin Xavier, "..."

Paige Sterling was done dealing with Austin Xavier, "Mr. Xavier, my home does not welcome you. Please leave, and do not come again in the future."

Austin Xavier glared at Paige Sterling; his dignity wouldn’t allow him to cling any longer.

He gritted his teeth, stood up, walked to the door, then turned back and said, "Paige, you will regret your decision today."

Paige Sterling didn’t reply, and Austin Xavier finally left, slamming the door behind him.

Only then did Paige Sterling lower her head and look at Julian Hawthorne.

She nudged Julian Hawthorne with her foot, "Enough, isn’t it? Aren’t you getting up?"

Considering the nature of this man, Julian Hawthorne, she knew all too well.

In front of outsiders, she had to cooperate with him; otherwise, this troublesome man would again start saying she cared more for an outsider than for him.

Julian Hawthorne, clutching his chest with a pained expression, "I really feel bad."

Paige Sterling’s mouth twitched as she helped him up to sit on the couch.

"Julian, if you do this again, I’ll get angry."

Julian nestled his head against her neck in silence.

Paige Sterling said, "You know how dangerous contact allergies can be; why do you still do this? Have I been too gentle with you recently?"

Julian remained silent, acting mute after having created such a scene.

Paige continued, "To me, Austin Xavier is just my good friend’s brother; there’s nothing more between us. You have no reason to do this."

After a moment, Julian finally said, "I didn’t even grow up alongside you."

The reason he had such an opinion about Austin Xavier was because he was provoked by the so-called childhood sweethearts claim.

Paige sighed, "Is childhood friendship that important?"

Julian replied, "I want to grow up with you, to be by your side for every moment of life. Austin can, but I can’t..."

Paige Sterling, "But Austin can’t accompany me for the rest of my life, can he? Isn’t that supposed to be you?"

In that moment, Julian felt he had a revelation, realizing he had indeed been overthinking it.

Indeed, he didn’t have the chance to grow up with Paige, to experience her childhood or youth, but her present and future were still his...

And those were things others couldn’t have.

What he had now far exceeded any childhood friendship; why should he worry about that?

Having thought it through, Julian suddenly found Austin was not worth fearing.

He suddenly laughed, "Beau, you’re right; I was wrong."

He hugged Paige, "I didn’t have the chance to be part of your past, but I have you now and in the future, which makes me luckier than many..."

Thinking this way, Julian found Austin pitiable, clinging only to those youthful memories.

While he, on the other hand, could have Paige and live with her in reality, not in memories.

Julian touched Julian’s head, "You seem dumber recently."

Julian, "How am I dumb?"

"In every way, like a big fool."

Julian squinted his eyes dangerously, pressing Paige onto the sofa, "Mrs. Hawthorne, I’ll give you one more chance to speak."

Paige Sterling, "You’re dumb..."

Julian tickled her, and Paige burst into laughter. Finally, the atmosphere warmed up, and naturally, they ended up with some passionate life harmony.

The next day, Julian woke up early, and when he was about to leave, Paige was still asleep.

Despite the previous intense work, Paige hadn’t felt tired.

But with some downtime now, she felt completely lazy, wanting to do nothing, and if possible, wished to stay in bed all day.

As Julian was leaving, he whispered in her ear, "I’m heading out."

Groggy, Paige mumbled back, "Okay, okay."

Julian gave her a peck on the cheek, "I’ve made breakfast. Just ask the robot to heat it up when you wake."

"Mm-hmm..."

Seeing how sleepy she was, Julian smiled and then left.

Paige only woke up at noon, ate the breakfast Julian made, and then lounged on the sofa for a while, realizing her hair was quite frizzy.

She needed a hair treatment.

Thinking of this, Paige left for the hair salon.

Originally, she just wanted a simple treatment but ended up being talked into a hairstyle by the stylist.

She was playing with her phone while getting her hair done.

Suddenly, someone sat in the chair next to her and spoke, "Miss Sterling, long time no see."

Paige found the voice familiar and looked up to see Helen Hale’s face in the mirror.

Apex Group had already collapsed, and Helen Hale was no longer the rich, influential lady. Paige didn’t care about her affairs and naturally hadn’t bothered to find out what she was up to.

However, since she was greeted, Paige couldn’t ignore her, as that would seem impolite.

"Miss Hale."

Helen Hale consulted with the stylist for a while, then suddenly pointed at Paige, saying, "Whatever hairstyle she’s getting, I’ll have the same."

"Miss Hale, Miss Sterling’s hairstyle may not suit you..."

"I said I want that one, so that’s the one I want, just do it."

How could there be a hairstyle that didn’t suit someone as naturally beautiful as Helen Hale?

She believed it would look even better on her.

The stylist had no choice but to comply with Helen Hale’s demand.

Helen kept staring at Paige through the mirror, but Paige didn’t really engage with her, absorbed in her phone.

Helen clenched her fists tightly.

This woman had ruined Apex, brought down her brother, leaving her in this state. And yet, when faced with her, could remain so calm?

Didn’t she feel any remorse? Had her conscience been eaten by dogs?

Helen Hale spoke again, "Miss Sterling, we haven’t seen each other in a while; you’re even more beautiful now. Seems like your mindset has improved too. The horrible things you’ve done, they don’t make you feel guilty at all, do they?"

Paige Sterling smiled faintly, "What horrible things are you referring to, Miss Hale?"

"Are you not aware, Miss Sterling? We both know. Stop pretending to be stupid."

Helen Hale’s face was filled with hatred, "Do I have to spell out how you schemed to ruin Apex, how you made me disabled, how you caused my brother’s death? I’ve never seen someone more malicious than you, doing such heartless things but acting as if nothing happened, even appearing more innocent than me, a victim!"

Paige didn’t understand Helen Hale’s logic.

However, she knew some people simply refused to accept their own mistakes and failures and instead projected onto others to feel better about themselves. Telling themselves their failure was due to others’ vileness, not their own incapability...

"Miss Hale, was it me who hired Apex’s illegal technicians? Was it me who encouraged Apex to break the law? If you and your brother came to provoke me, should I just stand still and let you bully me? That your family and you are in this state today, shouldn’t you reflect on yourselves instead of blaming me? Does pinning your failures onto me bring you comfort?"