Chapter 344: Little Drunk Enrico
Paige didn’t respond, but she pushed the cup and medicine to the edge of the table.
Enrico walked over, feeling for the edge of the table before sitting down. Without looking closely, he grabbed the medicine and swallowed it with water. Along with the alcohol on him, there was also a faint smell of toothpaste-he had even remembered to brush his teeth.
Seeing this, Paige knew that the worst consequence of his drinking wouldn’t happen, and she finally felt relieved. After her relief, however, came anger. A surge of frustration.
She coldly stared at him. “Enrico, should I praise you for risking your life to get the teacher off our backs and buying us time to escape?”
It didn’t sound like praise at all.
Enrico looked up at her, his gaze landing on her face, where the makeup only made her look even more enchanting, the outlines of her features seductive even in his blurred vision. She was mesmerizing, even when angry.
“Do you even know what you’re doing? You’re gambling with your life!” she scolded.
One hundred and twenty-one barrels of alcohol-if he hadn’t been able to throw it up, he could’ve died in River Town!
“…”
“If this happens again, don’t worry. You won’t have to ignore me. I’ll stay far away from you myself.”
Paige’s voice was cold as ice. After saying that, she stood up from the table and headed toward the bedroom.
Enrico sat there, a bit lost. Why was she suddenly mad at him?
Did he not do well?
He had successfully helped her escape from Earl, and wasn’t it almost time for their scheduled retreat?
Enrico held the cup and drank some more water. As he turned, he saw Paige standing at the bedroom door, talking on her phone. Her face, still caked in heavy makeup, was alluring yet infuriating.
She had walked away.
And scolded him again.
She was always treating him like a child.
Biting down, Enrico drained the entire cup of water.
“Hello, Bingbing,” Paige said, calling Carrie. “What’s the situation outside River Town now?”
Carrie answered seriously from the other end, “Everything is normal. Aside from tourists, no one has entered River Town.”
“Tourists?” Paige leaned against the doorframe. “How many groups of tourists have come through? Around how many people?”
“About four tour buses, so over a hundred people,” Carrie replied. “I didn’t expect the festival to be this popular. I’ve heard there are even more tour groups planning to come tonight.”
At night? Four tour buses already?
They could use the tourist cover to enter, and so could their enemies. The fact that over a hundred people had entered without making a move meant they were likely gathering more to create a larger commotion.
Luckily, Enrico’s drinking had bought them enough time for most of their people to retreat.
“Has everyone withdrawn?” Paige asked.
“Almost. Angie, Nick, and the last few groups are still left,” Carrie said.
Paige checked the time. “Good. Once they’ve all left, you and the others should withdraw too. After leaving River Town, scatter and make your way back to The Capital however you can. Understood?”
“Withdraw after leaving River Town?” Carrie was surprised. “What about you and the boss? Shouldn’t I wait for you?”
“No need. I told you to disperse. Just notify me once you’ve left.”Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
This way, she could figure out her own exit strategy.
“Okay…” Carrie hesitated at her instructions but complied.
After hanging up, Paige checked the time again. In about ten minutes, the last group should be out of River Town. After giving them time to spread out, she added another twenty minutes.
Half an hour in total. By then, Enrico should have sobered up a bit more, and they should be able to leave smoothly.
As she calculated her plan, there was a sudden crash. Glass shattered.
Paige looked up and saw Enrico standing there, glaring at her with fury. A broken wine glass lay at his feet.
What now?
“You…” Paige frowned, about to say something, but Enrico suddenly stormed over, grabbing her wrist and pulling her along with him. His voice was rough and domineering, thick with drunkenness. “Come with me!”
“Where are we going?” Paige asked, confused, as he dragged her into the bathroom.
The next second, he shoved her in front of the sink, grabbing random bottles and asking, “Which one’s for washing your face?”
Paige, completely perplexed by his behavior, pointed to one of the bottles.
Enrico opened it, squeezed some out, and slapped it onto her face, rubbing it around carelessly.
Paige’s entire vision went dark.
She wasn’t going to die from this, but he was certainly drunk.
As he rubbed her face, he grumbled, “I’ve wanted to do this all day. That makeup looks horrible!”
“I’ll do it myself,” Paige said, feeling her face sting. She pushed his hand away.
She reminded herself that there was a bigger mission at hand. She could endure this. After all, he drank all that alcohol for her. She could endure it, she told herself, she could.
With that in mind, Paige removed the makeup herself, washed her face, and looked into the mirror. Without the heavy makeup, her face was clean and clear. Her features were distinct, her eyes sharp and black, the water trickling down her pale skin.
Enrico stood beside her, watching. This face was definitely better.
The more he stared, the hotter his body felt. His throat went dry, and he suddenly had the urge to taste the water droplets on her chin.
He reached up to tug at his collar, only to realize it was already open.
“Is it good now?” Paige wiped her face, knowing he was too drunk to argue with. “I’ll help you to the bed. Rest a bit and sober up. We need to leave soon.”
She reached out to help him, but Enrico’s eyes stayed fixed on her.
They hadn’t taken more than a few steps out of the bathroom when Paige’s hands were suddenly twisted behind her back. She was pressed against the wall, Enrico’s towering figure trapping her between his chest and the cold surface.
Paige looked up in surprise.
Enrico’s face, red with intoxication, hovered close to hers. His short hair was damp and messy, water dripping from his lashes. His dark red eyes stared into hers with intensity, accusing her, “Why did you scold me?”
“Because you-”
“You know I drank all that for you. If I didn’t, Earl would’ve kept bothering you, and you wouldn’t have been able to escape,” Enrico interrupted, his tone both harsh and aggrieved.
Pressed against the cold wall, Paige met his eyes. Remembering the scene at the drinking contest, she felt both heartache and frustration. “You didn’t have to drink so much. A little would’ve been enough. If you’d died here, what would be the point of me escaping?”
If he died, she’d stay and die with him. What was the point of escaping then?
Hearing this, Enrico’s eyes grew dazed, staring at her for a long moment before his voice turned hoarse. “You can’t leave me, but you still scolded me?”
“I didn’t really scold you, did I?”
Paige felt wronged. She’d only said a few words. Compared to him, who constantly used threats to control her, she had hardly been harsh at all.
“You definitely scolded me!” Enrico insisted forcefully.