The air at night was filled with the smell of disinfectant, and it was pungent and unpleasant.At 8:30 pm, Earl led Catherine in through the ward’s door.Adina’s fingers, which were hidden underneath the blanket, curled up. She looked indifferent as she said, “Ms. Catherine, I apologize for my reckless behavior. I hope you’ll forgive me.”Catherine pursed her red lips coldly.All her life, she had never been slapped in the face.If Earl had not called her personally, she would not have come to treat Adina.She pursed her lips without answering, and Earl glanced at her menacingly.Only then did she purse her lips and say, “That’s in the past. I didn’t mind it.”She walked up to the bed and appeared to get to work. “Ms. Daugherty, can you describe your condition to me?”Adina lay in bed and remained silent.“Mr. Winters, can you leave for a moment?” Catherine turned around and said, “It’s best not to have a third party present during psychotherapy. Please cooperate.”Earl look
It made her jealous to the extreme.She held her pen tightly, and the tip of the pen punctured the paper in her hands.As if Adina did not notice Catherine’s emotions, she raised her voice and called out, “Duke, are you there?”He opened the ward door at the next second. Clearly, Earl had been guarding the door.That turned Catherine’s expression a little colder.“What’s wrong, Addy?” Earl walked in and cast an unfriendly gaze at Catherine.Catherine was furious. She did not do anything!“Duke, I’d like to drink some coffee to calm my nerves.” Adina’s voice was soft and weak, while her eyes were watery. “I like the freshly ground latte from the coffee shop on Assembly Street. Can you buy one for me?”Earl stroked her hair in a comforting way. “Okay, I’ll be back in a minute.”He left as soon as he said that, as though he was afraid of delaying Adina’s coffee.Catherine’s jealousy could no longer suppress her jealousy.She stood up uncontrollably. “Is there water? I’d like to
Pete opened the medical kit that he carried along and took out the tools that were necessary for hypnosis.“Ms. Catherine, can you hear me?”His voice was as soft as the warm sunshine in spring and the warm waves of the ocean that embraced her entire being.“Ms. Catherine, you’re now in a very special place. This is your territory. You can relax. Please open your eyes and see what’s around you.”After he called out to her repeatedly, Catherine slowly opened her eyes.Standing at the side, Adina was startled as she stared at Catherine cautiously.However, she soon found that Catherine’s gaze was inactive. She was clearly being manipulated.“From now on, please keep your breathing relaxed. Breath together with me. Inhale… Now, you’re back to when you were eighteen years old. You meet a guy. He’s a very handsome man. You fall in love at first sight. You take him to see your parents, and your parents arrange a wedding date for you. I’d like to ask, what do you usually call your fian
“Daugherty, calm down first. I’ll ask her a few more questions.” Pete continued to stare at Catherine and ask, “Who sent Duke out of the country?”“It was Earl,” Catherine said dumbfoundedly. “He sent Duke away, but Duke sought death. He marched to his own death. It had nothing to do with Earl. It had nothing to do with anyone,” Catherine muttered to herself, and her pupils started to move again.It was a sign that she was about to wake up.Adina was in so much pain that it felt as if she had been shot. She had difficulty breathing.She gripped Catherine’s shoulders and lost her cool as she asked, “Where did you send him? Tell me, which country Duke was sent to?” She shook Catherine’s shoulders with great force.“Daugherty, calm down. She’ll wake up if you do this.”Pete grabbed Adina’s arm to pull her away, but right then… The ward door was suddenly pushed open.“Addy, coffee’s here. It’s still hot.”Earl held on to the handle and stepped into the ward with one foot. He wa
Adina’s indifferent eyes were filled with all kinds of emotions, and soon, they were bloodshot.She was not afraid of Earl’s cold and intense gaze in the slightest.She curled her lips into a sneer. “Earl Winters, do you think it’s interesting to live your life as someone else?”Her words were filled with sarcasm and provocation.Earl was completely enraged.He raised his hand and strangled Adina.His eyes were filled with murderous intent, and he slowly tightened his grip.Just as he started to live a normal life and be more giving, this woman dealt him a hard blow.It turned out that her obedience and harmony had all been fake.She even faked her illness.She used him to lure Catherine.What a perfect trap! And he walked in unguarded.It was so easy to fool him. This woman must be very proud.She pulled his strings and watched him slowly walk into her beautiful trap.He had actually been defeated by a woman.“Earl, you’re strangling her to death.”Catherine closed the
It seemed that no matter what happened, she could always plan the next step without changing her expression.After she learned that Duke was dead, should she not cry in pain and be extremely sad? How could she still think of making a deal with him?“What’s the deal?” he asked nonchalantly.“I can keep your secret, but you have to tell me where you sent Duke,” Adina firmly said as she stared at him.No matter what, she did not believe that Duke was dead.When Earl heard her request, his expression instantly turned cold.Duke! Duke again!This woman could pretend to be polite toward him for so many days for Duke!This woman could even keep this secret for Duke!Did she love Duke that much?Earl raised his hand and grabbed Adina’s chin. “Am I not in front of you now?” he asked in a persistent but menacing manner.Adina squinted. “Is it interesting to continue pretending?”“I’m genuinely Duke Winters. Unless you can find any evidence to prove that I’m not Duke Winters, you soun
“Addy, aren’t you in the hospital? Why are you back so suddenly?”Mabel changed her shoes and greeted Adina while holding her hand, like usual. She was startled when she touched her hand. “Why are your hands so cold? You need more layers. Don’t get sick. Come, let’s go upstairs and get you a coat.” Adina pulled her hand away. The bright lights in the living room shone on her face. Her indifferent gaze, bloodshot eyes, and the sneer at the corner of her mouth were clearly visible.Mabel finally sensed something was not right. She put down her handbag, and said with a heavy sigh, “Addy, what happened?”“You already know it, don’t you?” asked Adina.Mabel’s expression changed instantly when she heard what Adina said. She clenched her fists as she asked calmly, “What do you mean? I already know what?”“Your twin sons. Both of them are dear to you. I neither understand why you sent the eldest son away nor why you helped him kill your second son after two decades…” Adina’s smile t
‘Earl Winters killed my newlywed husband. I must get justice!’“Addy, listen to me, don’t act rashly!” Mabel grabbed her wrist again. “Duke is no more. He’s gone. If the public finds out about his death, the children will be fatherless. The Winters Corporation will lose its mainstay, and the Winters family’s honor will go downhill. From then on, no one will protect you and your children. Do you… want things to end this way?“Earl has been living in the shadows for the past two decades. He truly appreciated being able to live in the spotlight. He promised me that he will take good care of you and the children. He will be a good father.” Mabel pleaded, “Addy, please pretend Earl is Duke. Try to love him. It’s good enough if you can stay with him and protect the children together. Adina, please…”Adina harshly shook herself free from Mabel’s grip. She said clearly, “I will not pretend as if nothing has happened just to make life easier. If the children find out about this, they will