Chapter 240 You Like Her, Don't You?
David's frown deepened when Alexander appeared once again at the entrance to his consultation room.
The man wore a bright red dress, low-heeled pumps, carefully applied makeup, and a wig that matched Caroline's hair color almost perfectly.
If David hadn't seen Caroline with his own eyes, he might have believed she'd come back from the dead.
But what unsettled David most was Alexander's current state.
He was too calm.
Not the frantic madness of someone teetering on the edge, not the hollow emptiness of a walking corpse, but a stillness like stagnant water.
For someone in such extreme mental collapse, sudden calm was never a good sign.
But Alexander ignored David's tension entirely. He walked straight in and settled into the chair across from him.
"Dr. Ortiz, I need you to hypnotize me again."
David removed his glasses and wiped them slowly with a cloth, trying to settle his nerves.
After a long moment, he replaced them and studied Alexander carefully through the lenses.
"Mr. Hamilton." David's voice was heavy with concern. "Your current state does seem more stable than last time, but I have to tell you—this stability worries me even more. And it's been less than a month since your last deep hypnosis session. Forcing yourself into your subconscious this frequently carries serious risks. I strongly suggest we wait, at least until your body and mind have had time to—"
"That won't be necessary." Alexander shook his head gently.
"When Caroline underwent hypnotherapy, her condition was far worse than mine. I remember... she had deep hypnosis sessions seven days in a row. Every single day. Compared to what she endured, this is nothing."
David went quiet.
He certainly remembered Caroline's condition then, but that had been a matter of life and death.
"Mr. Hamilton, Mrs. Hamilton's situation at the time was indeed severe—a hundred times worse than yours is now—but the hypnosis was to save her life."
Alexander cut him off. "I'm trying to save my life too, Dr. Ortiz."
David froze.
Alexander raised his hand and smoothed his dress with delicate fingers.
"I have to stay alive. Only by living can I do right by her. I don't want to die so easily. That would... disappoint her."
He turned his gaze back to David slowly.
"Someone like me deserves to suffer—consciously, and for a long time. In dreams, in memories, in every moment I think of her. This is what I owe her. It's the only thing I can still do for her."
Looking at Alexander—dressed as his dead wife, speaking of enduring endless suffering to honor her—David felt a wave of profound helplessness wash over him.
A doctor can heal the body, but the heart is another matter entirely.
He knew better than anyone that even as one of the world's leading psychologists, he couldn't always pull patients back from the depths they'd fallen into. Especially not Alexander, not in this state.
Any rational argument would be meaningless to him now.
This man had built himself a prison of regret and willingly swallowed the key.
David let out a heavy sigh and said nothing more.
"I can't guarantee what this session will bring, Mr. Hamilton. I can't predict what you'll see. Are you certain you want to proceed now?"
Alexander didn't hesitate. He walked calmly to the examination bed, lay down, and closed his eyes.
"Begin, Dr. Ortiz. I'm ready."
After the familiar wave of dizziness, the scene before Alexander's eyes gradually brightened.
Afternoon sunlight filtered through the dense sycamore leaves planted around the high school campus, casting dappled patterns on the walkway.
"Alex! Alex, listen to me!" A clear, sweet voice rang in his ears.
Alexander frowned and turned his head somewhat mechanically.
Sixteen-year-old Edith's delicate, beautiful face filled his vision.
She was holding his arm, looking up at him, chattering excitedly about something that had happened at school.
Alexander's body went rigid for a moment.
Edith again.
This girl who had once consumed all his attention and thoughts now only stirred an instinctive revulsion in him. He was about to pull his arm away when he saw Edith's eyes light up.
"Oh! Look! Isn't that Caroline?"
Edith pointed at a figure in the distance on the tree-lined path and gave Alexander an excited push.
"You like Caroline, don't you? Go on! Don't let her walk away alone!"
Alexander froze, staring at Edith in confusion.
What was she talking about?
But Alexander didn't have time to process it.
His gaze was already drawn irresistibly to that slender figure.
It really was Caroline.
Alexander shook off Edith's hand almost instinctively and hurried after her.
"Caroline! Wait!"
The figure ahead hesitated, paused, but didn't turn around.
Alexander caught up to her quickly, her name tumbling breathlessly from his lips. "Caroline..."
Caroline looked up at him.
"Alexander, I thought I made myself clear last time."
She paused, gathering her thoughts, then spoke more firmly. "I admit I have feelings for you. But I can't accept that kind of... affection from you."
Alexander's heart sank.
"Your affection is too intense, too heavy. You've denied your past feelings and carelessly redefined others. It makes me uneasy. It makes me question whether this affection is genuine or lasting."
She drew a small breath, watching Alexander's eyes dim instantly, and continued.
"So I think—apart from the normal courtesy between our families—we shouldn't have much private contact. It would be better for both of us. It's a form of respect. And protection."
With that, she nodded politely but distantly, hugged her books closer, turned, and walked away.
Alexander stood frozen, watching her retreat, a dull ache spreading through his chest.
But after a moment, he followed stubbornly, trailing a few steps behind Caroline in silence.
Caroline seemed to notice and quickened her pace.
She walked into the cafeteria and ordered pasta, a salad, and a glass of lemonade.
Alexander followed and ordered the same.
Then he carried his tray close behind her, searching for a seat in the crowded cafeteria.