"Dr. Nocturne?"


    Upon seeing Juniper, Celine''s miserable expression transformed into a radiant smile. A secondter, she bolted towards her, her eyes wide with excitement. "You''re here!"


    "I''m here."


    A wave of sadness washed over Juniper as she looked at Celine''s innocent face. By now, her sister should have been twenty-three years old, just graduating from college like any other young woman. What a waste.


    "Celine!" Warren rushed out after her, holding a bowl of medicine. He was clearly flustered; the back of his shirt was damp with sweat.


    When he saw the "man" standing before him, his gaze instantly turned to ice. He made no effort to hide his hostility.


    "I don''t want to drink it," Celine protested, hiding behind Juniper. Her voice was full of grievance. "It''s bitter. I won''t."


    "Let me try." Juniper frowned at the dark liquid in the bowl and said firmly.


    "Don''t trouble yourself." Warren sidestepped Juniper''s outstretched hand, his face cold. "Celine only takes things from me."


    With that, Warren tried to move closer to Celine. But for every step he took, Celine took one back, her lips trembling and her eyes welling with tears as if she were about to cry from fear.


    Juniper''s jaw tightened, her own tone turning sharp. "The medicine is getting cold. If you don''t want to affect her recovery, give it to me."


    Warren hesitated for a few seconds before reluctantly handing the bowl to the “man” across from him. Celine hated taking her medicine; he always had to spend ages coaxing her. If he couldn''t manage it, what chance did this guy have? Did he really think that pretty face of his was all-powerful here?


    Just as Warren was preparing to watch him fail, he saw Celine frown, hesitate for only two seconds, and then drink the entire bowl of medicine that Juniper offered her.


    The sight stunned Warren. Celine was that obedient for this "man"? What did that make him? A joke?


    “Have some water,” Juniper said, holding a ss for Celine to sip from before giving her a mango-vored candy.


    "Thank you," Celine whispered, tears still clinging to hershes. But with her sister by her side, she felt fearless.


    Warren stood frozen in ce, a terrible premonition taking root. It was possible Celine had truly moved on and fallen for another man. If it were anyone else, that would be one thing. But this man... this man was into other men, yet he still had the audacity to pursue Celine!


    "Dr. Nocturne, have you decided on Celine''s treatment n?" Warren asked, forcing down his rage.


    "Hypnotherapy," Juniper answered,


    not hiding anything. A detailed exnation would be tooplex so she gave him a brief summary "Before she can undergo the treatment, I need to test hero receptiveness. If the intensity is too high, it could backfire and cause her harm."


    "What do you propose to do?" Warren asked. He had already been suspicious of Nocturne''s identity, but ever since learning he might be Specter, he was terrified he would use the treatment as a pretense to harm Celine.


    “A small test,” Juniper said, enunciating each word clearly. “If you agree, we can


    start now. You can stay and observe if you''re worried."


    "Fine," Warren agreed after a moment of thought.


    Soon, the small hypnotic test began. Celine fell into a deep sleep. As Juniper''s voice guided her, her expression gradually became


    pained First, she frowned, theol


    beads of sweat formed on her forehead Tears streamed down face as her features twisted in agony.


    "What are you doing to her?" Seeing Celine''s torment, Warren shot to his feet and violently yanked Juniper away.


    The force was so strong, and Juniper was so focused on the hypnosis, that she was caughtpletely off guard. She stumbled backward, her body mming into the corner of a table. A sharp pain made her grimace.


    Warren held Celine in his arms, his voice shaking with fury. "Seize Specter! Arrest him now!"