After Dean Larson left, only Sarah and Zachary remained in the counseling office.Sarah kept her eyes on her papers, letting an awkward silence fill the room."Shouldn't a counselor show more concern for her patient?" Zachary raised an eyebrow.Sarah put the papers in her drawer and replied evenly, "What psychological issues bring you here, Mr. Reynolds?"Zachary stared at her intently. "Heartbreak. I'm in agony every day. What should I do?""Mr. Reynolds, perhaps no one has told you, but heartbreak is a normal emotional response, not a psychological condition. If you feel your distress has become unbearable, I'd suggest emotional release or emotional sublimation techniques," Sarah explained professionally.Zachary watched her with interest. He loved seeing her this way, confident and passionate. It seemed more... like her true self."What are these emotional release and sublimation techniques?" he asked, feigning ignorance."As the names suggest, emotional release involves con
Zachary frowned deeply. "Who told you all this?""Who else but your childhood sweetheart?" Sarah scoffed."Sarah, none of that is true. You should know how I feel."Sarah's eyes glistened with tears. "No, I don't. Have you said these things to Vivian? Or do you only say them to me?""I made things clear with her in Saint Nock. She must have been upset when she went to tell you those things."Sarah nodded. "But our problems have nothing to do with her. I hope you understand that."Long before Vivian's revelations, she had already lost faith in Zachary.Zachary’s initial optimism had completely deflated. He'd known how Sarah would treat him and prepared himself for harsh words, yet he couldn't stay away."Sarah, I really did come for counseling," Zachary said seriously.He'd been having nightmares lately, seeing bloody scenes every time he closed his eyes, leaving him tossing and turning all night.Sarah noticed the dark circles under his eyes and knew he was telling the truth.
Zachary followed her out, handing her the bag of desserts. "Don't forget these."After giving her the treats, he sat in his car with a heavy heart and drove away.The next evening as work ended, Mia caught Sarah. "Sarah, are you free after work?""Where are we going?" Sarah asked curiously.Without answering, Mia pulled her toward a car waiting outside campus. Sarah felt relieved when she saw it wasn't Zachary picking up Mia today.The black Bentley headed toward the suburbs, moving further from the city center. Sarah sensed something was up, while Mia seemed unusually excited, barely containing her giggles in the car.When they stopped, they were at a small hill. Mia tugged Sarah along. "Sarah, you can see the sunset from here."She pointed toward the horizon, and Sarah looked.The setting sun cast a rosy glow on her face, her eyes sparkling with pink light, making her look especially gentle.Standing on the hilltop, though it wasn't very high, she could see East Coast City s
BANG!Multicolored flowers bloomed across the sky, burning bright before fading like falling stars - hauntingly beautiful.She had never seen fireworks like these before. They were breathtaking, so bright they outshone the stars in the night sky.She exhaled deeply, as if releasing her burdens. "They're beautiful."Zachary moved closer to Sarah. "I don't know what Vivian told you, but I need to make this clear - we're just friends. Nothing more, no other feelings involved."He paused before adding, “But you should stay away from her."Sarah frowned. "Why?""She's not who you think she is. She's different from Lucy or Charlotte."Sarah thought for a moment. "Are you saying she might hurt me?"She suddenly remembered Linda's words about the woman with the blue diamond ring and the mole behind her ear. It must have been Vivian. She was dangerous.Zachary lowered his eyes and said softly, "Sarah, I'm worried about you."Sarah took a deep breath, looking at Zachary in disbelief.
"They were beautiful." Sarah fell silent after that, staring blankly out the window until they reached Melvin's house.In the continuing Bentley ride, Mia looked worriedly at her brother. "Is Sarah angry with me?"Sarah had maintained an expressionless face and hadn't spoken to her.Zachary patted her head reassuringly. "She's not angry with you. She just doesn't want to see me."His eyes darkened as he pressed his lips together.Mia could see her brother's disappointment. The situation was beyond her control now. She'd thought Sarah would forgive him after seeing the fireworks, but she'd been too naive.Sarah must have been deeply hurt before to be so angry now. Mia nudged Zachary's arm, pouting. "Brother, you need to win her back!"She could sense her brother's recent depression and Sarah's unhappiness. They clearly loved each other, yet here they were.Back home, Sarah's mind was filled with thoughts of the fireworks and Zachary's words.She couldn't be sure if everything Z
Melvin opened his mouth several times but couldn't find the words. "Do whatever feels right."Sarah turned her attention to the TV news, but suddenly remembered the photograph. Since Mia couldn't provide answers, perhaps Melvin knew something.She quickly pulled the photo from her bag and showed it to him. "Melvin, look at this."Melvin took it curiously. His pupils constricted, and his fingers tensed around the photo's edge. Trying to stay calm, he asked, "Why are you showing me this old photo of you and Mia?""Mel, can't you see what's strange about it?" Sarah narrowed her eyes."It's just a normal photo, isn't it?" Melvin handed it back.Sarah shook her head firmly. "You're lying. This isn't the current me. I found it at our old house the other day. But I've only known Mia for a year, and I haven't been to that house since before I married James. This photo must be at least three years old. I look younger and more cheerful here. Did I know her before?"Melvin froze. "What are
Zachary gave a bitter laugh. "Why should I overcome it?"Sarah smiled faintly but said nothing.After a moment's thought, she pulled out the disturbing photograph from her bag. Every time she looked at it, she felt an eerie sensation.She'd never questioned her life before, but this photo clearly showed she'd forgotten something - something important.Moreover, both Melvin and Zachary must know about it.She placed the photo on the desk and slowly slid it toward Zachary, frowning slightly. "Have you seen this photo before?"Zachary's smile vanished as he looked at it. His eyes turned cold and strange. "Who gave this to you?"Sarah's frown deepened, a sharp glint in her eyes. His reaction alone told her he knew exactly where this photo came from."You know about this photo?" she asked carefully.Zachary's eyes turned icy as he grabbed her wrist. "Tell me who gave it to you."Sarah winced in pain. "What are you doing? Let go!"Hearing her cry of pain, Zachary seemed to regain
When Zachary returned home, he found Mia excitedly holding an invitation. “Zac, what should I get Sarah for her birthday? She seems to have everything." Zachary gave a bitter smile and went to his study to work, planning to ask Sarah about the invitation tomorrow.At the Chancer house.While James was in the shower, Charlotte sat on the bed browsing her phone. The bedside table kept buzzing with incoming messages.Curiosity got the better of her. She picked up James's phone, seeing it was work messages.She decided to look through it and found several disturbing messages - ones James had sent to Sarah."Sarah, I heard you broke up with Zachary. How are you feeling?""If you're unhappy, we could talk.""Sarah, don't be too sad..."Message after message to Sarah. She couldn't believe James was consoling her like this.He'd promised to cut contact with Sarah. Why was he so quick to comfort her after her breakup?That evening, James left work early. Instead of heading home, he dr
She racked her brain trying to figure out where she'd gone wrong to end up in this situation.Before she could think of a solution, the company faced a thorny problem. Her assistant contacted her immediately."Miss Wilson, our shipment at the dock has been detained. By the time I received the news, it had already been held for three days. If we delay any longer, we'll lose a major deal," her assistant said urgently.Vivian had received an excellent education and was being groomed as the Wilson Group's successor, so she naturally wouldn't lose her composure.She calmly asked, "Have you looked into why the shipment was detained?"The assistant hesitated, "I heard that your fiancé, Mr. Reynolds, personally reported that shipment.""That's impossible!" Vivian's voice rose in pitch, her face filled with disbelief."Did you investigate thoroughly? If this turns out to be false, I won't let you off easily and will sue you for defamation." Vivian couldn't keep her cool, speaking with a h
In the office, Vivian looked with interest at the news on her phone about Harbour Crescent Island and Pine Mist Island. Everything was going exactly as she had expected.Except for one thing. When she first got the original project plan, she had been wondering about a small building near the main hotel. She couldn't figure out what it was for.Only after Pine Mist Island's promotional materials came out did she fully understand the purpose of that small building. In modern society, the exhausting work and complicated relationships of urban life caused people to develop various psychological issues. Many of these weren't even serious enough to be called disorders—they were just negative emotions bottled up inside that needed an outlet.In recent years, people had placed more emphasis on mental health education, with schools conducting various assessment activities.Many emotional release rooms had appeared in East Coast, but Sarah had only visited two or three, and their release meth
Before Zachary could react, tears streamed down Mia's face. "Brother, tell me, is everything I read true? The Wilson factory explosion, the fake medicine, the murders to silence people! How did Mom really die?"For the first time, Zachary looked at Mia helplessly. Since she was very young, he had always protected her well, making her feel like she lived in a fairy tale. But even the most innocent person must eventually face harsh reality.This time, he sighed and said, "It's exactly as you saw."Mia couldn't believe it. Her eyes widened, her nose reddened, as she looked at him in confusion. "It was the Wilson family? Grandpa Wilson was involved?"After saying this, endless hatred erupted in Mia's eyes. Her crimson gaze seemed to drip blood. "I'll kill him!"She turned to leave, but Zachary immediately lunged forward and grabbed her. "Mia! You can't go!"Mia's strength reached its peak in that moment. She desperately tried to break free from Zachary's grip. "Let me go! Why are you
Mia explained somewhat bashfully, "Sarah, ever since you and my brother broke up, I've never seen him smile again. Every night when I go downstairs for water, I see him standing on the balcony looking miserable. I always ask what's wrong, but he never tells me. Until one day when he came home drunk, muttering your name."She paused before continuing, "Sarah, I know you were disappointed when my brother got engaged to Vivian. I still don't know why that happened. From what I can tell, you're the only one he's ever loved. I know you're both hurting, so I came up with this idea to create a chance for you to be alone together. But I never thought things would turn out like this. I'm sorry, Sarah. This isn't my brother's fault—please don't blame him."Sarah thought for a moment before saying, "Mia, can you help me with something?"Mia nodded eagerly. "What do you want me to do, Sarah?"Sarah motioned her closer and whispered something in her ear. After listening, Mia nodded solemnly.In
Seeing him helped Sarah gradually calm down. She looked around, trying to figure out where she was, but quickly remembered the photo in the study, accompanied by another headache."Zachary, what's the story with that photo in your study?" Sarah rubbed her head while staring intently at the man whose face briefly showed panic. She wouldn't give him any chance to back away."What are you talking about? What photo?" Zachary reached for a teacup. "Are you thirsty? You just woke up—have some water to soothe your throat."Sarah frowned, looking straight at Zachary. "I'm not thirsty. Don't change the subject! What's the deal with that photo?"Right—the photo.Just then, Mia timidly approached, wringing her hands nervously."Mia, how are you feeling?" Sarah asked with concern, shifting her attention.Mia said guiltily, "Sarah, I'm so sorry. It was my fault. I shouldn't have tricked you."When Sarah showed concern for her despite just waking up, Mia's guilt peaked. She hadn't expected Sa
She stared hard at this single photo, trying to uncover something more, but the longer she looked, the more her head ached. The pain felt like something tearing apart inside her, making her want to punch the wall.Meanwhile, in Mia's room, Zachary held both of Mia's hands while his eyes anxiously watched the door. Half an hour had passed—why hadn't Sarah returned?Mia continued struggling, her eyes also darting toward the door, quickly lowering her gaze to hide her concern from him.Zachary took a deep breath, released his grip, and said flatly, “Cut the act.”Mia fell silent immediately. She wasn't sure how her brother had figured it out, but she could only close her mouth sheepishly. "Zach, I—""Say no more. I'm going to check on her." Zachary couldn't wait another moment. He stood up and left.Mia followed right behind him. "I'm coming with you."When Zachary pushed open the study door, he saw Sarah collapsed on the floor. He instantly panicked and ran to her. "Sasa! Sasa, are
Zachary couldn't quite identify what he was feeling. He calmly signaled the housekeeper to fetch the reports.Sarah carefully opened the door and peeked at Mia hiding in the corner. She also took in the mess on the floor.It seemed Mia was experiencing severe emotional swings. Sarah couldn't use an aggressive treatment approach.Mia spotted Sarah.She blinked, then suddenly burst into tears and started reaching for more breakable items in the room.Sarah rushed in without concern for her own safety. First, she called out firmly, "Mia, stop!"Zachary followed her inside, instinctively positioning himself to Sarah's right, ready to protect her if anything unexpected happened.Seeing this, Mia secretly smiled to herself, more determined than ever to play matchmaker.In her excitement, she set her sights on a waist-high vase.Sarah's attention was completely focused on her. Following Mia's gaze, her heart skipped a beat. She immediately spoke to her with gentle authority, "Mia, no.
Zachary was unhappy with her tone, as if his sister had some incurable disease.Due to his good upbringing and manners, Zachary didn't lose his temper. He simply asked the housekeeper to see the doctor out, his face showing clear displeasure.This was already the fourth psychologist today. All of them were professor-level professionals for whom writing books was a minor achievement.The nanny specifically assigned to care for Mia also had tears in her eyes as she stared at the closed door with endless worry. "Mr. Reynolds, Mia hasn't eaten a single bite since this morning. We can't go on like this."Zachary irritably pinched the bridge of his nose and coldly ordered, "Aren't there still some candidates on our list? Send people to bring all of them here."The nanny bit her lip and gathered her courage to suggest, "Mr. Reynolds, I don't think bringing more experts will help. Why not ask Miss Sanders to try?"Zachary turned to look at her, his expressionless face making the nanny los
Mrs. Chancer anxiously watched Charlotte lying unconscious on the bed, barely hearing anything the hospital director was saying.James had regained his composure after learning that Charlotte was currently stable. He politely responded to the director, "Thank you. Please don't let us keep you from your duties."After speaking, he glanced at the housekeeper.The housekeeper instinctively stepped forward and extended his right hand courteously. "Director, please, let me escort you back."Mrs. Chancer sat on the stool that James had pulled over, staring at Charlotte's pale face with lingering fear, unable to look away for a long time.It wasn't that she truly cared for Charlotte; she was simply afraid of losing her chance to hold her first grandchild.James placed his hand on her shoulder and gently urged, "Mom, you've had a shock. Charlotte is fine now. Why don't you go home and rest?"Mrs. Chancer was still somewhat angry with him. "I'm not leaving. What if you leave the moment I'