Chapter 1363 - 1303: The Queen Returns (7)

"Why can’t I go out?"

"..."

"I’m the Queen Dowager! How dare you stop me!"

When the Queen Dowager wanted to go out, she was stopped by the guards. It was then she realized that Kiya truly intended to confine her.

Kiya wished to imprison her here for that woman and let her die here.

The Queen Dowager didn’t hate Kiya; she only hated Paige. If it weren’t for Paige, her son wouldn’t have turned out this way.

Charlene came over to comfort her, "Queen Dowager, calm down, don’t get yourself all worked up."

The Queen Dowager sat in the wheelchair, glaring at the guards who blocked her, cursing, "Step aside for me! I’m the Queen Dowager, I command you to step aside!"

After a period of turmoil, Kiya had firmly grasped control over the entire Imperial Palace, and the guards followed Kiya’s orders unconditionally. Any sensible person wouldn’t offend Kiya for the disabled Queen Dowager.

Charlene ignored the Queen Dowager’s protest and pushed her back.

The Queen Dowager was so angry she repeatedly slapped the armrests of the wheelchair, "Charlene, even you’re not listening to my orders now?"

"..."

"I’m old, I’m disabled, and now you disregard me."

Charlene closed the door, her face turning somber, and whispered softly, "Queen Dowager, acting out like this won’t help..."

"What, am I supposed to just swallow my anger?"

She’d never swallowed her anger her entire life. Even when the old Sultan was alive, relying on her family’s influence, he didn’t dare do anything against her despite disliking her.

Charlene whispered, "Queen Dowager, ever since Adrian returned, the Sultan seems like a different person. If this continues, the Sultan might forget you’re his mother."

The Queen Dowager began to cry, "He has long forgotten I’m his mother..."

Charlene said, "Queen Dowager, now we can only..." Charlene whispered into the Queen Dowager’s ear.

"Kill Paige?" the Queen Dowager said.

Charlene nodded.

The Queen Dowager hesitated, "If Kiya finds out..." The Queen Dowager wasn’t afraid of killing; her hands were stained with much blood. Just counting the favored women of the old Sultan, over a dozen had died by her hands, not to mention the children who hadn’t even had a chance to be born.

She was just worried that by killing Paige, if Kiya found out, he’d be furious with her.

"To kill someone without a trace is not so difficult." Charlene urged.

If the Queen Dowager hated Paige the most in this Imperial Palace, then Charlene was definitely the second.

Charlene’s family business had conflicts with Adrian, and Kiya had granted the Desmond Family many privileges for Paige’s sake. As a result, Charlene’s family business had plummeted.

If Paige died, Kiya would have no reason to favor the Desmond Family anymore, and her family business could thrive again.

Charlene selfishly used the Queen Dowager, plotting for her own gain.

The Queen Dowager was never soft-hearted. Thinking about the recent grievances Paige had caused her, she quickly made her decision.

"What has Orville been up to lately?" Orville was the Queen Dowager’s henchman; he had helped her kill many people.

Charlene replied, "He opened a casino, earning a little money to get by."

"Go tell Orville to help me kill Paige! Remember, it must be done without a trace. I don’t want Kiya to suspect me."

"Queen Dowager, rest assured." Charlene showed a hint of joy.

Once Paige is dead, everyone would be happy.

...

Paige’s days had been rather peaceful lately. Perhaps it was due to Kiya confining the Queen Dowager; either way, she hadn’t come to trouble her recently.

Oni noticed Paige’s cheerful mood these past days and was delighted, "The Sultan has asked you to go to Horizon Mountain first. He has some matters to attend to but will meet you at the foot of the mountain."

"Hmm."

Kiya insisted on going hiking and had mentioned it many times. Paige was bothered by his persistence and had no choice but to agree to go.

Paige settled her daughter and headed to Horizon Mountain by car.

She wore a t-shirt, jeans, and flat shoes and didn’t even bother with makeup. She went with a bare face to the meeting. Oni frowned deeply but didn’t dare to say anything.

As the car approached Pinnacle Road, Kiya called, "Where are you? I’m on my way to Horizon Mountain."

"I’m currently at the intersection of Pinnacle Road and Fountain Road, waiting for the traffic light."

Kiya said, "I’m also on Pinnacle Road, just three intersections away. Tell the driver to move forward, and I’ll catch up soon."

The red light was 60 seconds, and the driver resumed driving.

"Okay..."

Paige fixed her gaze on the road ahead when suddenly a van ran the red light, rushing toward them. The driver braked hard, but the van didn’t slow down, suddenly accelerating...

Their car was hit and sent flying, rolling multiple times on the road.

Paige’s vision turned blank, a scream echoed in her ears, but she couldn’t discern whether she had uttered it. The world spun, followed by the heavy thud of the car hitting the ground, the airbags deploying, painfully jarring her organs.

Her mind was muddled; she felt pain everywhere, the street view was inverted, and she couldn’t move her body. She blinked, red blood blurring her vision.

"Paige!"

Someone was calling her name. Paige struggled to turn her head, catching a glimpse of a tall man breaking through the crowd, sprinting toward her.

The airbags pressed against her chest, suffocating her; she coughed, a warm taste surged in her throat, a gush of red blood spurted, blurring her vision.

"Paige!" Kiya’s eyes were bloodshot, continuously shoving aside pedestrians, some hurling curses at him.

Kiya heard nothing, his mind resonating with Paige’s scream.

Kiya saw the overturned car, his legs went weak.

The small black sedan was fragile. He reached the back seat, kneeling, and saw the bloodied woman.

"Paige..." His forehead veins bulged, face dark, hands clenched and unclenched, grappling with the fear of touching her, finally resting them on the ground.

While Kiya was at a loss, Gavin had already called an ambulance.

"Paige, wake up..." Kiya leaned close, softly calling out, voice hoarse to the point of weakness.

Paige slowly opened her eyes, glancing at him lightly, moving her lips.

Kiya leaned closer to her, asking, "Where does it hurt, tell me?"

Paige tried to speak, but no sound came out. Her entire body ached, head dizzy, and she felt so tired. All she wanted was to close her eyes and have a peaceful sleep.

"Paige? Don’t sleep..."