Mirabe seemed unfazed by Zach''s unease as she murmured, almost eerily, "One prick from me, Zach, and you''ll be as tame as a kitten."


    Zach was at a loss for words.


    Was his sister even human?


    Scaring her own brother with threats of needles!


    Nick, watching from the side, couldn''t help but smirk at Zach''s timid reaction. Growing up, Zach had been the family''s little troublemaker, always up to some sneaky trick that drove everyone nuts. It was hard to believe he was now so scared of his little sister.


    Mirabe, meanwhile, calmlyid out several silver needles, sterilizing them with practiced precision. Clearly, she did this often.


    "Mirabe, are you really going to give Nick acupuncture?" Zach asked,


    scratching his nose.


    He''d heard his sister talk about needles before, but he''d always thought it was just to scare people. Now, it seemed all too real.


    Mirabe nodded and quickly had Nick lying on the bed, dragging a chair to the foot of it.


    Seeing this, Zach whispered, "Should I step out?"


    "Up to you," Mirabe replied without looking up.


    Zach decided to stay, pulling up a chair a little distance away, quietly observing.


    Mirabe, just as she had done before, inserted the needles at precise points on Nick''s scalp, carefully monitoring his reactions.


    Once Nick waspletely rxed, she pulled out a pendant ne from her pocket and held it above his forehead, letting it dangle.


    This sudden movement made Nick''s eyes snap open in shock. It was a scene he had experienced countless times with his psychotherapist.


    Nick''s body tensed, his hands curling into fists by his sides.


    "Nick, rx," Mirabe said, trying hypnotherapy for the first time after studying numerous clinical guides. She chose this simple technique as her first attempt.


    Despite being a novice, there was no hint of nervousness in her eyes. They were steady and focused on Nick.


    "Just take it easy, follow my lead, and try not to think about anything. Do what I say, and that''s all," she instructed.


    The pendant in Mirabe''s hand remained still, swaying only slightly as she spoke.


    Nick had always resisted psychotherapy, even though he needed it to help his body reach a state of rest. Facing his sister, he was utterly unable to rx, his mind fiercely rejecting the hypnosis.


    His scalp, taut with tension, made the needles feel like thorns. His brow furrowed tighter, and beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.


    Seeing this, Mirabe put away the pendant and instead pressed her fingertips to his temples, gently massaging the tension away until he rxed once more.


    She didn''t pursue the psychological therapy further, realizing his resistance. Any additional effort would be futile.


    Once a person mentally rejects something to the point of conditioned reflex, it''s incredibly difficult to delve deeper.


    Mirabe realized that whatever had happened to Nick in the past must have been excruciating, so much so that the pain had seeped into his very marrow.