Ste felt a sudden wave of suffocation.


    The old Joshua wasn''t like this. It had to be his illness messing with his head, twisting his personality. His condition needed to be treated, and fast.


    Reminding herself that he was sick gave her an extra reserve of patience. Since she wasn''t nning on going into the office muchtely and he needed to focus on getting better, if he wanted to tag along, she would let him. He would just be driving her around or keeping herpany at contract signings anyway.


    "Okay," Ste relented. "You cane back and work for me for now."


    A genuine smile finally broke across Joshua''s face. He dipped his head and kissed her deeply. "You''re the best, Star."


    Seizing the opportunity while he was in a good mood, she whispered, "Joshua, I really want to take the day off today."


    His hot breath ghosted over her neck. His dark eyes were staggeringly intense, burning like wild, leaping mes.


    "Alright," he murmured in a gravelly voice. "I''ll take it easy today."


    And with that, he leaned down and captured her lips once more.


    After running a thorough background check on Dr. Winter and finding no red gs, Ste reached out and arranged a meeting.


    Dr. Winter spoke fluent, unented English. "I love a challenging case. I''m very interested in this gentleman''s condition. I can fly out to Solmaris tomorrow."


    Once the time was set, Ste told Joshua about the arrangement.


    He didn''t have much of a reaction. He had already promised Ste that as long as it didn''t involve hypnosis, he was willing to try any treatment n.


    The next day, Dr. Winter arrived exactly on time. She looked just like her photos― around thirty years old, with blonde hair, blue eyes, and striking, deep-set features. Likely due to her Western upbringing, she was quite tall and imposing.


    After introducing herself, she proactively reached out to shake hands with them. "Ms. Cameron, Mr. Gardner. It''s a pleasure. I''m Dr. Winter."


    She pulled a man folder from her bag and handed copies to both of them. "These are my medical licenses and various identification documents. You can review them to verify my credentials, and you''re wee to keep the copies for your records."


    Ste took the folder, flipped through it briefly, and looked up at her. "Are you always this thorough, Dr. Winter?"


    Dr. Winter smiled professionally.


    "Mental health is quite different from a standard physical ailment, and the clients I work with are generally high profile individuals is only natural to be rigorous and dispel any concerns upfront. If a patient is uncooperative or harbors suspicions about me, the efficacy of the treatment drops drastically."


    linked to abination of gics,


    environmental triggers, and abnormal brain function,


    cognitive,


    manifesting in emotionat


    Stepletely agreed with that logic. She handed Joshua''s medical file over to her. "You can review this first."


    Dr. Winter went through the file meticulously, her expressionpletely serious.


    It took her about half an hour to finish going through the basic data.


    She looked up with a polite smile.


    "Psychiatric conditions are typically


    or behavioral irregrities. Congenital gic defects are the hardest to cure; the best we can usually do is manage the symptoms and prevent secondary triggers. Given Mr. Gardner''s specific case, the absolute best course of treatment would be hypnosis.


    "However, since both of you are opposed to that route, my team and


    I can research alternative treatment


    ns. But I must be upfront-l cannot guarantee sess, and


    drawing up a new protocol will take time. In the meantime, Ms.


    Cameron, you are more than


    wee to continue consulting


    other specialists so as not to dy


    his care."


    Dr. Winter was remarkably genuine. She didn''t make any grandiose promises, opting instead toy out all the potential oues so Ste could manage her expectations.