Chapter 177
Grace's POV
His fingers are still intertwined with mine, and I can feel the tension leaving his shoulders as he thinks about me rather than whatever demons Albert might be here to uncover.
"Her optimism," Alex says finally, his voice taking on that soft quality it gets when he talks about us. "Grace sees possibilities where others see problems. She has this way of making the impossible seem... manageable."
I feel my cheeks warm. He makes me sound like some kind of miracle worker.
"And her strength," Alex continues, his thumb tracing circles on my hand. "She's been through hell, but she doesn't let it make her bitter. She gets up and keeps going."
"I could list her qualities all day," Alex says, his voice dropping to that intimate tone that makes my heart skip. "And every single one of them fascinates me completely."
I squeeze his hand, suddenly feeling self-conscious under their observant gaze. "Maybe we should talk about something else," I suggest quietly.
But Albert seems pleased with Alex's response. "Actually, that tells me a great deal about your emotional foundation together." He makes a note, then looks back at Alex. "When do you feel most at peace, Mr. Morgan?"
Alex doesn't hesitate. "Late at night when I wake up and see my wife beside me. Or like right now, when she's just quietly here with me, even without talking. As long as I know she's there, I feel completely safe."
Safe. The word hits me harder than I expected.
Albert pulls out what looks like a professional assessment form. "I'd like you to complete this evaluation, Alex. Grace, your presence during this process could be very beneficial."
I watch Alex take the papers with steady hands, his attitude shifting to one of complete openness. "I want to be completely honest," he says, and I can see he means it.
As he works through the questions, I'm surprised by many of his responses. The way he processes fear, his relationship with control, his deepest anxieties—so many of his thoughts are completely different from mine. We're still learning each other, I realize. Still discovering how differently our minds work.
After what feels like an hour, Albert reviews the results with a thoughtful expression. "Your reluctance to make phone calls stems from childhood experiences of calling out and receiving no response," he explains gently. "For you, an unanswered call represents abandonment—a place of no return."
My eyes fill with tears. All those times I didn't answer immediately... I had no idea what that meant to him. The thought of little Alex calling for help and getting nothing but silence makes my chest ache.
"If my phone ever doesn't go through, you can be angry with me," I say impulsively, reaching for his hand. "I promise—I'll always answer your calls first."
Alex's control wavers, and I can see him fighting the urge to pull me close and kiss me right here in front of Albert. His eyes are bright with emotion he's struggling to contain.
"Can you tell me about the first time you experienced a trauma response episode?" Albert asks.
Alex's jaw tightens, but he answers. "A family gathering. Someone was insulting my stepmother Daisy, calling her a 'stepmother' and 'barren.' I threw wine at them to defend her. They hit Daisy and called me a 'bastard who killed his real mother.' I lost consciousness and nearly caused serious harm."
Jesus. I can barely breathe thinking about what that must have done to him. No wonder he loses control when people he cares about are threatened. I can picture him watching someone hurt Daisy and snapping completely.
"Your episodes occur when important people in your life are threatened," Albert observes. "Your subconscious believes these people will leave, and you're powerless to stop it. This stems from psychological conditioning—your father Leon's influence made you never forgive yourself for your mother's death."
The pieces click together with horrible clarity. He's been carrying this guilt his entire life, thinking he's responsible for losing everyone he loves. Leon's psychological manipulation runs so much deeper than I realized.
Albert closes his notebook with surprising finality. "Well then, that's all for today. Mr. Morgan, you're going to have a completely new life ahead of you."
I blink in confusion. "That's it? But shouldn't there be more sessions? This seems too quick—how can one session be enough?"
"Mr. Morgan doesn't require continued treatment," Albert says with certainty.
How can he be sure after just one conversation? I look between them, feeling like I'm missing something crucial.
"But what if he loses consciousness again?" I ask, unable to hide my worry. "What if something triggers him and I'm not there to help?"
Albert gives me a knowing look. "Alex, you were awakened by Grace during an episode."
"People will do irrational things to protect those they love," Albert explains. "But they'll also stop themselves from causing harm for the same reason." He turns to Alex with a slight smile. "You must protect her, even when unconscious. For her sake, you'll always stop."
I look at Alex, understanding flooding through me. Even if he loses consciousness, he'll stop for me.
The relief in Alex's eyes is overwhelming. He's been terrified of hurting me, and now he knows he won't.
Eleanor returns as we're finishing, announcing that dinner is ready for all five of us. Albert apologizes for his tight schedule and prepares to leave. Alex and I walk him downstairs together.
"Healing from trauma takes time," he tells us at the door. "But love and understanding are the best medicine. I wish you both happiness."
We watch his car disappear into the evening, then walk hand in hand back toward the house. I feel lighter somehow, like a weight I didn't know I was carrying has been lifted.
But as we approach the community gate, I see a figure waiting by the entrance.