In just a few seconds, multiple conflicting thoughts flashed across Xavier’s mind, but he was the only one who knew about all that.

Winnie was utterly oblivious to his considerations.

She glanced at him dejectedly and replied, “My hubby’s heart will not ache for me because he has some problem here.”

Winnie pointed at her own head as she spoke while wearing a poker face.

At that sight, Josiah chimed in sarcastically, “That’s right. There’s something wrong with his husband’s brain. His condition has been unstable and cannot be fully cured. I can’t even bring myself to describe how awful it is. At times, he even acted no different from an insane person!”

“Exactly.” Winnie curled her lips into a fake smile and raised her hand in Josiah’s direction.

Josiah fathomed her intention and gave her a high-five.

The corner of Xavier’s mouth twitched imperceptibly as he took in his wife and his best friend collaborating to mock him.

He stared at Josiah’s hand, which came into contact with Winnie’s palm, and thought to himself. I think it’s time for someone to lose a hand now.

“Let’s get down to business. I thought that’s why you two are here looking for me,” Xavier uttered impassively.

“That’s right. I was asking you a question, but you interrupted me. I answered your question about the origin of the hypnotic incense. It should be your turn to answer my question now, right?”

Xavier frowned. “Okay. I don’t remember. I’m not sure if someone hypnotized me.”

“All right then.” Josiah nodded. “This is within our expectation. However, we suspect this to be the reason. Besides, from our investigation, we found out Yolanda studied the art of hypnosis. Since you do not remember anything, we’ll skip interviewing you. Let me talk about my—”

“Hold on!” Winnie interjected Josiah’s speech.

She turned to look at Xavier. “At that time, you remained unconscious for a long time after the needles were removed. This situation had never occurred during the previous acupuncture sessions. What happened that day? Were you feeling extra sleepy or what? Or did you hear a special sound in the end that instantaneously awakened you?”

“She’s right! Did you wake up because you heard or sensed something? This is very important. How could I have forgotten about this?” Josiah urged Xavier to answer the question.

Initially, Xavier was reluctant to tell, as the uncertainties regarding his situation were piling up.

Besides, he had planned to maintain his current condition in order to fool Yolanda.

Having said that, after witnessing how much Winnie had done for him, he could not bring himself to cause her more trouble and waste her time on irrelevant matters.

Therefore, after giving it some thought, he decided to divulge some information.

“I have the slightest recollection in this regard. At that time, I tried my best to open my eyes, but I could not control my body as if I was experiencing sleep paralysis. This lasted until I heard a series of ticking sounds, prompting me to jolt awake.”

“Ticking sounds…” Winnie mumbled that phrase repeatedly while taking off her wristwatch with her head lowered. She placed the watch beside Xavier’s ear and asked, “Try to recall your memories. Is this the ticking sound you heard?”

“The sound is similar, but the ticking sound I heard previously was louder.”

“The sound is similar, but the ticking sound I heard previously was louder.”

She nodded. “That is most likely a pocket watch. A pocket watch is a usual and convenient hypnotic tool to carry around.” Winnie kept her wristwatch and added, “I think it is highly possible Yolande had hypnotized you. Nevertheless, I could not think of her motive in doing this.”

Josiah knitted his brows. “You’re right. Yolanda is very discreet and will never tell the truth, regardless of how we interrogated her. Now, I even have the feeling that she will not provide us with the answer we need even if we catch her red-handed and torment her.”

“In that case, we shouldn’t alarm her. We can just play along with her scheme,” Xavier suggested.

Winnie furrowed her brows. “That is plausible, but we need to think of a way to counter her hypnosis because we cannot predict what instructions she’ll be giving next time. Your brain should not and cannot be manipulated further.”

Xavier nodded. Nonetheless, he did not want his wife to overwork. “We’ll let Josiah handle this since he’s a modern medicine practitioner. He should be more familiar with hypnosis. As for you, a traditional medicine practitioner, I think there’s no need for you to take part in these issues.”

Winnie could not be bothered to argue with Xavier regarding that matter. However, she could never rest assured letting Josiah deal with everything.

Josiah agreed with Xavier’s statement. “Okay. I will consult a professional when I return. Perhaps I can reply to you two by tomorrow morning.”

“Okay.” Xavier got to his feet. “It’s getting late. Let me see you out.”

“No, it’s okay…” Josiah was dumbfounded. What the heck? He’s chasing me away without even trying to be polite or subtle.

Still, he did not call Xavier out for his uncourteous behavior. “I know the way around here, so I can leave on my own.”

car

forward before realizing Winnie was still sitting

his head around and glanced at her.

have a few things I

nodded. “Oh! In that case, you two should carry on. I shall

to walk him to the door, Josiah

Josiah closed the door before turning around and shifting his pensive and calm gaze

have to talk about, Dr. Garland? Why can’t

eyes into him. “That’s not possible. This is a personal matter between us, so Josiah’s presence would not

lips into a faint

personal matter could

next to her. “Take a seat

your husband will get mad if he knows that I sit

is there any issue if I request my patient to sit next to me so that I can

facing a difficult time resisting

Even if she did not ask him to sit beside her, he had the urge to do

his arm around her waist and press the back of her head with his other hand. He wanted to let Winnie know just

not succumb to that impulse. Instead, he carefully contained the eager beast within him and slowly

deliberately left the space of an arm’s length between them when sitting on the

surge of desire within him, and that strong

control if he were overwhelmed by his desire, and that was an outcome he did

do you want to say to me, Dr.

took out her phone and launched the

only did she spare him a glance and uttered nonchalantly, “I’m afraid

the opportunity to greedily appreciate the sight of her while she lowered her head and focused on

waste her effort to create proof because I will never forget her, even if I fail to remember everyone else. Even if the virus takes control of my brain one day and causes me to forget everything, I believe I will still fall unconditionally

editing the picture, so she was

to the simplicity

send the picture to you. Remember to

rang right after Winnie uttered those words. Evidently,

and saw the picture was taken from an excellent angle. As a result, the duo appeared exceptionally at ease

he thought the captions she added were extremely

patient” beside his face and “Winnie Garland, the

the urge to laugh after seeing

kept you in

“Thank you.”

sensed that Winnie was about to go after she expressed her gratitude, but

after parting his lips as he was too

situation. All I have to do is

have my contact information, and why did I save your number under the name

him. “What do you think? In your opinion, what could

laughed. “Hmph! I must have wrongly saved your contact because you have the same

that so? In that case, aren’t you smart to have done something like that? Why don’t

was going to change the contact name as he spoke, but he could not bring himself to

before asking, “How do I spell

Winnie accepted his suggestion. She received his phone and amended the

the contact name, she did not return the device

fell silent for a few moments and directly set the picture earlier as the

arched his brow at her. “What are you

her eyes. “You call this enticing? I’ll show you what a real seduction

that, she suddenly knelt on the couch, pinned Xavier

indulging in pleasure most of the time. Perhaps a more

him she would show him the true art

tantalized by her, but being caught in that state was actually quite dangerous

mind, and the intense lust that overwhelmed his sanity prompted

and pinned her against the coffee table in

did not do that on purpose. He swore it was not his intention

yelped as her back collided with

must be experiencing significant pain due to the injury. Otherwise, she would

started

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