<h4>Chapter 342: What Is She nning?</h4>


    Cadence stared at the woman walking along the shore, his eyes fixed on her every movement. There was nothing particrly unusual about her, but he had a feeling. A quiet, persistent feeling in his gut that she was nning something. He just knew it. He couldn’t prove it. He had no evidence. But still, he watched her, waiting for some sign that would tell him what she was upto.


    And yet, the longer he looked at her, the harder it became to hold on to suspicion. The more he stared, the more he found himself imagining something else entirely. He pictured walking up to her, reaching for her hand, and feeling her fingers close around his. He imagined them strolling together along the shoreline, their hands intertwined without tension. The way they used to be in the past, before he made the biggest mistake of his life of trying to keep her here.


    He held on to that image for as long as he could. But it didn’tst as his thoughts were interrupted by the doctor, who had been observing her as well, "Could it be that Melody is suffering from some psychotic disease? Because she was terrified when she was brought here, and in that state, she might have begun to believe that she <i>is</i> Mnie, her sister?" The doctore murmured.


    The words pulled Cadence back to the present with a jolt and he turned his head to look at the doctor, wondering if the doctor had lost his own mind. What a hoax? What a ridiculous analysis. Cadence didn’t say it aloud, but the scowl on his face spoke for him.


    Still, the doctor continued,pletely unaffected by Cadence’s growing irritation. "It could be schizophrenia. Dissociative identity confusion, perhaps. After all, by your own ount, the Melody from before wouldn’t even hurt a fly."


    Cadence said nothing. His lips pressed into a hard line, his arms crossed as he looked back at the woman walking along the sea, hoping the man would stop talking. But of course, he didn’t. "At least Melody would never have stabbed you with a butter knife. And with enough force to cause real damage."


    The doctor’s voice trailed off, perhaps realizing he had said too much as Cadence stiffened.. Or maybe even he had begun to hear how absurd it sounded.


    Cadence didn’t answer him though.


    Instead, he looked down at his left hand, the one now wrapped in sterile white gauze, but still too painful. He could still feel the moment the de went in. It hadn’t been sharp, not really, but the way she had driven it into him left no doubt. She had meant to hurt him and that was why she had driven it with enough force for it to actually go inside.


    He didn’t want to admit it, not even to himself, but maybe just maybe the doctor had a point. What if she really didn’t remember who she was? What if she truly believed she was not Melody and Mnie?


    What if... the Melody who had once looked at him like he was her entire world was gone?


    The thought squeezed something sharp and cold around his heart. He had done everything to keep her close and to bring her back to his side. And while, he didn’t mind this Melody, he wanted the old one back. The one who used to look at him with a mix of adoration and fear in her eyes.


    "Doctor," he said finally, his voice quieter than usual. "Is there a way to bring her back? The real Melody. The one I knew?"


    The doctor gave him a long, considering look, and finally spoke. "I don’t think you should aim to bring Melody back, Cadence."


    Cadence’s frown deepened. "What do you mean I should not try to bring her back? Do you think she should continue living in this delusion that she is Mnie? Then what am I supposed to do? Just watch her spiral further into this... violent persona? What if she tried to hurt herself?"


    But the doctor shook his head and quickly exined, "It’s not a delusion, Cadence. Not in the way you think. This isn’t about pretending or lying. She’s in a psychological state where her mind is protecting itself. She’s not bing a biolent person. She is defending herself.


    Cadence didn’t respond and turned to look out of the window again, where his Melody was walking. Wind lifted her hair, and even from here, he could sense her wariness, the way she constantly scanned her surroundings like she was thinking about jumping into the water to escape here.


    Just then, the doctor continued, "She’s in survival mode. Right now, she doesn’t feel safe. And when a person doesn’t feel safe, they don’t have the space to be themselves. They operate out of fear. Suspicion. Instinct."


    Cadence swallowed hard. "So what do I do?"


    The doctor turned to him fully now and said slowly, "You stop trying to get the old Melody back. And you start making this version of her feel like she doesn’t have to fight anymore. You don’t force her to remember. If she insists she is Mnie, let her be. Don’t try to relive your old memories or whatever. You simply... give her peace. Let her do what she wants to."


    "Peace," Cadence repeated, almost as if the word was foreign to him.


    But the doctore continued, "Yes. Show her kindness. Be patient. Make herugh again, if you can. Woo her, if you want to. But not to win her back. Do it to let her feel like she’s not being hunted anymore. Once she feels safe, the real Melody will emerge."


    Cadence looked down again at his wrapped hand. "What if she wants to leave this ind? I cannot let her run away. So, what should I do then?"


    The doctor paused, wanting to tell Cadence that it was oaky if he took her out, but knowing the man, he swallowed the words and said carefully," Maybe you can use a bait? Tell her, if she behaves well and you feel, down the line, that she can be trusted, then you will take her? That way, she will even have something to look forward to and want to cooperate more."