Ste looked at Laurel Quinn. "What exactly are the things he forgot?"


    Laurel Quinn shook her head. "There are some things I''m not entirely clear on. I can only say that before undergoing hypnosis, Joshua''s condition was terrible. He was on the verge of being unable to distinguish reality from illusion. If left untreated, he would have be aplete madman."


    Ste instinctively gripped Joshua''s hand. "And now?"


    Laurel Quinn looked at her, her gaze moreplex than ever before.


    After a long moment, Laurel Quinn finally said, "Ste, I want you to leave him."


    Ste''s eyshes fluttered. She was about to say something, but Laurel Quinn cut her off.


    "Ste, have you ever wondered why Joshua was so easily deceived this time?"


    Ste asked, "Why?"


    Laurel Quinn''s voice was cold as she spoke, word by word.


    "It''s because, from the very beginning, his condition never improved. He deceived the doctors, deceived everyone, deliberately faking the appearance of getting better. He has been suppressing and restraining himself all this time. This incident was just the trigger."


    Ste was stunned. "Joshua wasn''t better? Why would he lie to the doctors?"


    Laurel Quinn said, "He likely cooperated with the treatment at first but found it wasn''t very effective. Joshua is very smart. He probably knew that if that treatment n failed, the next step would be hypnosis."


    Laurel Quinn looked directly into her eyes. "He didn''t want to forget you. So, he pretended he was getting better."


    Ste''s eyes widened in shock.


    She instinctively said, "Even if he was hypnotized, I could start over with him..."


    Laurel Quinn said, "Ste, do you know what you mean to Joshua right now? A vulnerability and a weakness. Of course, I''m not saying you''re weak. I''m trying to tell that Joshua''s enemies will O constantly use you to attack him... just like this time. Because they know that nothing else can harm Joshua. So, they will repeatedly use you to provoke him, to drive him mad.


    the


    "Also, Joshua''s emotional needs are much greater than you imagine. He needs someone who can love him with their whole heart. His heart has only you, but your heart is full of too many people. You''re destined to be unable to reciprocate his deep


    affection. For now, he can control himself and hasnt caused you any harm. But over time, no one knows what might happen.


    "And..."


    Laurel Quinn met Ste''s flickering gaze. "Ste, have you ever heard of the curse


    that the heads of the Gardner family don''t live past thirty?"


    Ste''s fingers tightened, but she said nothing.


    Laurel Quinn continued, "If you stay with him, you might very well be the death of him. I know he has hurt you in the past. But what he has given you has long since surpassed that harm. Before this, I hoped he could find happiness. But now, it seems this happiness will lead him to utter ruin, or even death. For you, love is just an extra, not a necessity. You might feel its absence, but you won''t die. But to Joshua, you are more important than his own life. I know this is also cruel to you. But for the sake of all the times he''s helped you and his deep love for you, I hope you can leave him. Consider it giving him a path to survival..."


    Just then, the eyshes of the man on the bed fluttered.


    Laurel Quinn''s words stopped abruptly as she looked at Joshua with a hint of joyful surprise.