#05 You Still The Same

"Oh… Dr. Stefan said yesterday that the Lindgren Mansion looked like a castle. And this isn’t a castle.” 

Gia was relieved she didn’t stutter as she spoke such a long lie. It showed just how strong her intention was to hide her identity.

“Dr. Stefan seems like a unique person. Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to meet him yet." Jasper accepted the excuse.

“Better that you two don’t meet!” Gia thought. Her lie would be easily exposed if that happened.

“Come on… Mr. Lindgren is waiting on the second floor.” Jasper climbed the stairs ahead of her once they were inside.

Gia’s heartbeat echoed in her ears as she climbed the stairs. She’d mentally prepared herself for this meeting long before, rehearsing an introduction to sound natural yet distant. But it felt useless. The words she had memorized seemed to scatter with each beat of her heart.

Jasper led her to a spacious, luxurious office. But it was a different kind of luxury than what Gia had seen at the Lindgren Mansion. The room had a more modern look, dominated by black and gray. The minimalist and stylish touch was evident in the curtains, paintings, desk, and sofa.

The eastern wall of the room was entirely glass, allowing anyone inside to take in a view of green mountains veiled in white mist and a tranquil lake with soft green water.

“This house is certainly suited for recovery,” Gia thought.

“Mr. Lindgren, your new therapist has arrived,” Jasper announced, standing beside a tall chair positioned directly in front of the glass wall.

“Hm… I hope this one will be better than the last therapist.”

Gia detested the extent to which Raven's voice continued to influence her. The fine hairs along her arms and legs stood up, just like the first time they met.

“I hope so too. You’ve dismissed ten therapists so far. I hope…”

“Enough about therapists. You have more important work to do.” Raven cut off Jasper’s explanation.

The soft hum of a machine could be heard as the chair turned. Gia held her breath as Raven’s face finally came into view.

Despite her efforts to remain unaffected, her heart sank with panic.

His face hadn’t changed much. Although he was now wearing dark glasses, Gia could still see the same handsome features as five years ago. The jaw, nose, lips... everything still churned her insides.

“Take care of this. I’ve heard it all. Here’s the corrected version. Finish all reports before tomorrow’s meeting.”

Raven moved his chair behind the desk and reached for two voice recorders there.

Because of his eyesight, Raven couldn’t review documents in the usual way. Instead, Jasper would read every detail of the report aloud, recording each word for Raven to listen to. 

In return, Raven recorded his voice for Jasper to fix any errors or relay his instructions to other subordinates. This enabled Raven to continue working remotely, effectively concealing his accident.

“I’ll complete it today, along with recording the report from Paris,” Jasper accepted the task.

"Yes, you’d better start now, or you’ll be here too late,” Raven waved him off.

Gia’s anxiety grew as Jasper left, realizing she was now alone with Raven.

"Will you stand there uselessly or make yourself useful by introducing yourself?"

Raven leaned his head against his right hand, while his left tapped the desk impatiently, waiting for Gia to gather herself.

“I… I’m Hazel. Starting today, I’ll be responsible for all your therapy. I’ve prepared a detailed schedule. I hope you’ll cooperate,” Gia said nervously. Her voice was flat, the words rehearsed a hundred times over.

“Pfft! Are you a robot? Why is your tone like that?” Raven mocked.

“Oh, God!” Gia exclaimed internally, turning her face away.

Raven smiling was illegal. Even if it was a smirk, it still added to his charm.

“Just Hazel?”

“What do you mean?” Gia was confused. Stefan had sent only her; there was no other therapist.

“I mean, is your name just Hazel? You didn’t give your full name!” Raven clicked his tongue, annoyed.

“Hazel Murdock.” Murdock was her mother’s family name. Gia used it without thinking.

“Alright, Murdock… I…”

“Please just call me Hazel. I... don’t like the name Murdock,” Gia interrupted, not wanting Raven to call her Murdock in front of Jasper, which would arouse suspicion.

“Hmph… We’ve met for only three minutes, and you’re already setting terms. Fine… Hazel. Now read the schedule you’ve prepared.” Raven sighed, resting his head on his hand.

Swallowing, Gia began to read out the schedule she had prepared for Raven.

“I’ll conduct two types of training: hydrotherapy and manual exercises. Hydrotherapy will be intensive but the most effective in restoring muscle function quickly. I hope you’ll endure it.”

Gradually, Gia’s voice returned to normal as she explained the intricacies of Raven’s training. She spoke smoothly and confidently, just as she would with a patient at the hospital. For a moment, Gia forgot that the man in front of her was Raven, someone she deeply resented.

Raven had a few questions, such as the duration of each session. He needed this information to adjust his work schedule.

“Lastly, I’ll also regulate your diet. I hope you’ll understand,” Hazel concluded.

“You’ll control my diet too? Why?” The first time, Raven looked irritated. His previous therapists likely hadn’t suggested such a thing.

“Because I want faster results. Certain foods can help restore muscle strength faster, like lean meat, chicken, and nuts. Avoid certain foods because they slow recovery, not because they're dangerous. Avoid items such as alcohol, soda sugars, and excessive caffeine. During training, I hope you’ll follow these guidelines.”

Gia’s assertiveness came through clearly. She disliked it when patients resisted. As she lectured, Raven sat still, his lips pressed thinly together.

“I hope the results will match your plans." Raven’s tone was calm, but Gia sensed the threat. If the therapy showed little progress, she would certainly be dismissed.

Initially, Gia would have welcomed that outcome. But it wasn’t her nature to do a half-hearted job. She was here representing both her reputation and Dr. Stefan’s. Gia was determined to give her best effort, even if her patient was Raven.

“The results also depend on your intent and effort. As long as you follow through sincerely, I believe it will go well,” Gia retorted. If they failed, it wouldn’t necessarily be her fault—it could just as easily be Raven’s.

“HA…HA…HA…” Raven laughed loudly, his usual mocking smile gone. It was a genuine laugh, something he found amusing.

Gia was startled by his sudden change in mood.

“You’re quite interesting... Alright, let's see how this unfolds," Raven said, grazing the edge of his desk.

He pressed a button on the desk, and a moment later, footsteps could be heard from outside the door.

“Mr. Lindgren.”

An older woman entered after Raven permitted. She was shorter than Gia and somewhat stocky, her hair streaked with silver.

“Hazel, this is Sophie, the head housekeeper. She’ll manage any changes in my diet. Ask her if you need anything here, and if it’s not available, you can ask Jasper,” Raven explained.

"Sophie, this is Hazel, the new therapist who will be taking care of me.”

Unavoidably, Gia noticed Raven’s tone softening as he spoke to Sophie.

“Yes, sir.” Sophie replied, then turned to Gia.

“Miss Hazel, I hope you feel at home. Don’t mind Mr. Lindgren’s rude tone or swearing. His swearing is just another form of breathing, so don’t take it to heart.”

“Sophie!” Raven scolded sharply. But it didn’t faze Sophie.

Casually, Sophie linked arms with Gia, guiding her out to the room she’d be staying in.

***

“Rest up; I’ll call you when dinner is ready.”

Sophie gave Gia’s back a gentle pat before leaving. The woman was friendly and seemed kind, which made Gia regret that she worked for someone like Raven.

As soon as the door closed, Gia leaned against the wall beside it, slowly sliding to the floor. She pulled her knees up, burying her head in them.

The meeting with Raven had lasted no more than twenty minutes, but it felt as if all her energy had drained away. Gia began doubting her ability to last months here. And there was one thing that infuriated her even more.

Instead of the huge relief she expected to feel when Raven didn’t recognize her voice, there was a sting of disappointment. Some foolish part of her had hoped that Raven would remember her voice and recognize her.

That foolish part is now shriveled with disappointment.