Keen chatted with Ste for a while.


    She was still weak from her illness, and by around ten o''clock she began to fade.


    "Mom, you should sleep now," Keen said considerately. "If you need anything, just call me."


    Ste nodded. "When you get sleepy, Keen, have Abbye take your ce."


    "Okay, Mom," he replied.


    Around midnight, after his sixth yawn, Keen''s phone finally vibrated softly. His eyes lit up, and he quickly picked it up. As he''d hoped, it was a message from Mr. Joshua.


    "Keen, is Star asleep?"


    Keen immediately replied, "Mom is sleeping, and Abby went to rest in the next room. It''s just me in here now. Mr. Joshua, where are you?"


    Joshua''s reply came quickly: "I''m at the door. Let me in."


    A happy expression spread across Keen''s face. He nced at Ste, who was sleeping soundly, and tiptoed to the door. He opened it a crack, and there stood a tall, slender figure. It was Joshua, whom he hadn''t seen in a while.


    Seeing him, Keen couldn''t help but hug his leg. "Mr. Joshua!"


    Joshua smiled and patted Keen''s head. "Long time no see, Keen."


    Keen led him into the room, whispering, "Come in, Mr. Joshua. Mom''s asleep."


    He assumed Joshua had visited his mom while she was asleep out of some misunderstanding, not wanting her to know he''d been there.


    Joshua walked to the bedside and gazed down at Ste, his expression unreadable in the dim light.


    Keen said, "Mr. Joshua, you can talk to Mom. I''ll stand guard at the door for you. If anyonees, I''ll let you know." Even though his mom was asleep, he remembered that when he was sick he could still hear her talking to him. He thought that if Mr. Joshua exined things, maybe his mom wouldn''t be angry with him anymore.


    "Thank you, Keen," Joshua said.


    Keen dutifully went to the door to stand watch.


    Meanwhile, in Aetheria, at the Gardner family estate.


    Jake knocked on Joshua''s bedroom door. "Mr. Gardner, it''s almost time for your treatment today."


    There was no response from within. He knocked again, but still got no answer. Jake figured Joshua might be asleep and hadn''t heard hir Considering Joshua''s severe


    insomnia, he thought it bestel


    let


    him rest and decided not to disturb him further.


    Half an hourter, Jake''s phone rang. A cool, clear female voice came through the line. "Jake, the doctor told me that Joshua hasn''t gone for his treatment yet today?"


    Jake exined, "I went to call him just now, but Mr. Gardner didn''t answer. He''s probably asleep. I thought I''d let him rest a little longer."


    The voice on the other end was silent for a few seconds. "Joshua''s head condition is serious. This current treatment n is the best we have, and it can barely keep his condition under control. We can''t afford any dys. If we can''t control it the only option left is hypnosis But hypnosis has its risks. If the hypnotic state weakens, the sudden flood of memories and emotions could cause even greater trauma to his brain. Unless it''s absolutely necessary, we should avoid it."


    Jake sighed softly. "I understand. I''ll go wake Mr. Gardner now." He paused, then added, "Ms. Quinn, thank you for everything... He doesn''t even know all that you do for him."