You can''t drag me into the light, only to shove me back down into the abyss."


    Ste lowered her gaze. "Joshua, once you undergo the hypnosis, you''ll forget all about me. You won''t feel any pain."


    "Star," he replied coldly. "I refuse to break up, and I refuse the treatment."


    Taking a few steps back, she spun around to leave.


    "Then we have nothing left to discuss."


    Joshua caught her wrist. "Where are you going?"


    She frowned. "To work."


    Realizing she wasn''t actually packing her bags, he slowly released his grip.


    Ste retreated to her study, shutting the door firmly behind her.


    Drained of all energy, she leaned heavily against the wood and slid down until she hit the floor.


    Pulling her knees to her chest, she sat in a daze for what felt like hours.


    The sharp ring of her phone finally shattered the dead silence of the room.


    Pulling it out, she saw Dr. Winter''s name shing on the screen.


    Forcing herself to soundposed, she answered.


    "Dr. Winter."


    The doctor''s voice was as soothing as ever.


    "Ms. Cameron, do you have some time tomorrow? I was hoping toe by and observe Dr. Hunt''s session."


    Normally, Ste would have dly agreed.


    But this time, she let out a long breath before replying, "I''m sorry, but starting tomorrow... Joshua won''t be receiving any more treatment."


    Dr. Winter was taken aback. "What happened?"


    Exhaustionced Ste''s words. "Your theory was correct. Joshua lied to me. Dr. Hunt works for him. He was just putting on a show to make it look like he was recovering.


    In reality... he hasn''t improved at all.


    Thank you for warning me, Doctor.


    If we had wasted any more time, his condition would have deteriorated beyond repair."


    A heavy sigh echoed through the receiver.


    "There are precious few viable treatments for a case like Mr. Gardner''s.


    Even hypnosis is just a temporary bandage, not a cure. It only dys the inevitable onset.


    It''s a vicious cycle.


    Wipe his memories, and he stabilizes for a time.


    Then a trigger cracks the mental wall, requiring another session. Eventually, the mind fractures


    hallucination blur, leading to total copse.


    Historically, this is the grim fate of the Gardners."


    In crude terms, it was like a terminal illness: do you undergo grueling treatment just to buy a few extra months, or do you forgo the misery


    and enjoy whatever time you have left?


    But Joshua wasn''t at death''s door yet. It was too early to wave the white g.


    No one in their right mind would give up at this stage.


    Even when all hope seemed lost, human nature demanded you fight until your dying breath.


    Ste''s agonizing decision was entirely understandable.


    She just wanted the man she loved to survive.


    "Are you absolutely certain about this, Ms. Cameron?" Dr. Winter asked gently.


    Ste bowed her head, her long hair falling forward to mask her devastation.


    "Yes," she murmured, stripping all emotion from her voice. "I''ve made my choice."


    "I highly doubt Mr. Gardner will surrender to this easily," Dr. Winter warned.


    "Building a rtionship takes


    immense effort," Ste said hollowly.


    "But


    stroying one is remaowly.


    simple


    "He strikes me as a man who doesn''t let go of what''s his."


    Ste simply replied, "I know," signaling the end of the conversation.


    Sensing her distress, Dr. Winter didn''t push.


    After exchanging brief pleasantries, Ste hung up the phone.