Chapter 200 - 127: A Plan Within a Plan

Paige Summers was "injured."

Word was that she had been ambushed and seriously injured. Now, she was recovering at home, unable to even get out of bed.

The Mercer and Lowell families soon received the news, and Blake Morrison was incredibly worried. After a quick word with Zachary Mercer, he rushed off to see Paige Summers. Zephyr Mercer, without a second thought, got into his car and refused to leave.

Blake Morrison couldn’t be bothered to argue and just let him tag along.

Paige Summers had been visiting the Mercer estate often lately, and Zephyr Mercer always managed to show up whenever he had a spare moment. Blake had grown used to it. He had tried to subtly warn his nephew that Paige wasn’t the right one for him, but the boy just wouldn’t listen. No matter how polite yet distant Paige always was, he refused to give up.

Blake Morrison didn’t even know what to say to him anymore.

’He never knew his nephew could be so patient with a girl!’

Still, he wasn’t too worried.

’A little rejection might even be good for him. Besides, with that Marcus Monroe fellow around, and given that Paige isn’t some shallow, social-climbing woman, the chances of her taking an interest in his nephew were basically zero!’

Sure enough, when they arrived at Paige Summers’s apartment.

She was resting in her room, while Marcus Monroe stood guard in the living room like a sentinel. When they asked to see her, Marcus only allowed Blake Morrison to go in by himself.

As for Zephyr Mercer?

Unless he wanted to make things with Paige Summers even worse, what was the point of forcing his way in just for a single glance?

He was utterly dejected but refused to show it in front of Marcus Monroe. He could only sit stiffly on the living room sofa, his eyes glued to the door of Paige Summers’s room.

Blake Morrison shot him a glance before heading in alone.

However, once inside, he was stunned.

Paige Summers was not at all as he had imagined—or as the rumors had described—lying in bed, unable to move. Although her expression was a bit somber, she seemed perfectly healthy. In fact, she was completely absorbed in studying a handgun...

"Sue! You’re all right?!" Blake Morrison exclaimed in surprise.

His voice startled Paige Summers, snapping her out of her concentration.

"Oh, you’re here. Sit down," she said with a faint smile, setting down the object in her hands. "The ambush was real, but the injury wasn’t. I’m planning to beat them at their own game, so I intentionally spread this news."

Blake Morrison furrowed his brow. "What exactly happened? Can you tell me?"

"Yes, of course."

Paige Summers briefly explained her history with Nora Lowell and the full story of how Nora had hired assassins to kill her.

After she finished, Blake Morrison nodded. "This is definitely a tricky situation for you. She’s a relative, and she’s connected to the Reid Family... Still, you can’t let someone bully you like this. I think your plan is solid. Go for it! If you need help, I’ll be there for you!"

Paige Summers smiled, touched by his sincerity. "This is a personal matter; it’s better if I handle it myself. I’m just sorry that I probably won’t be able to continue our work on the new weapon for a while."

Blake Morrison waved his hand dismissively. "Dealing with your enemy is more important, of course! Don’t worry about the Mercer Family. No one will say a thing!"

"Mm."

With the explanation complete, Blake Morrison played his part, putting on a grief-stricken expression as he walked out.

Paige Summers watched his back disappear through the door and chuckled to herself.

’Regardless of anything else, Blake Morrison was truly good to her. He often said that Artifact Making reflects one’s character, and that seeing her craft a weapon was enough to know she was a trustworthy person. He was completely serious when he said that. Just now, for example. She had told him her story, and he had believed her instantly.’

’As partners, to have reached that level of trust was something she was very grateful for and cherished deeply. She was glad that a single traitor hadn’t made her distrust everyone around her. She had no regrets about telling him the truth.’

Not long after Blake Morrison and Zephyr Mercer left, Wendy Lowell also arrived.

This time, however, Paige Summers chose to refuse a meeting.

Marcus Monroe relayed her message faithfully.

In her desperation, Wendy Lowell seemed to grow adamant, ignoring Marcus Monroe’s attempts to stop her and trying to force her way in, declaring that she would take Paige Summers back to the Lowell Family for proper medical care.

Left with no other choice, Paige Summers had to stop her, her weak voice calling out from inside the room.

The confrontation only ended when Wendy Lowell finally left in tears.

The comings and goings of these visitors were watched by interested parties and carefully noted.

News of this soon reached Nora Lowell’s ears.

"Is she really that badly injured? But those five men still haven’t reported back. Isn’t it possible she took them out? Is this information reliable?"

In the back room of Woody Warren’s shop, Nora Lowell sat at a table, tapping her fingers on its surface with a doubtful expression on her face.

Woody Warren thought for a long moment before replying, "I don’t know the exact details, but the report that she’s seriously injured should be true. Perhaps those five men managed to take her down with them before they died."