Chapter 236
236 Smoke and Mirrors.
The man descending the stairs wore a tailored dark blue suit, with a simple silver cufflink at the collar engraved with half a blooming night–flower. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the FindNøvᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access s of novels early and in the highest quality.
His steps were silent on the marble, but as he passed Grace, he glanced faintly at the ash she’d flicked near her feet.
“Father said to let Ms. Lane in.”
Grace’s expression shifted, but under this man’s gaze, she didn’t dare erupt.
Scarlett noticed her fingers trembling slightly on the armrest, clearly intimidated by this man’s authority
She grew curious.
Mr. Samuel’s biological son had passed away. And yet this man called Samuel “Father .
This must be Roberto–the orphan Samuel had adopted years ago.
Rumor had it he now controlled a fair share of the Kramer family’s resources.
He and Grace were said to be equals in power.
But from what Scarlett could see, Grace didn’t even come close. She was afraid of him.
This family dynamic was getting interesting.
“Ms. Lane, please,” Roberto said politely, stepping aside with a courteous gesture.
Scarlett shook her head. “Never seen someone invite a doctor and put her through an interrogation first. I’m tired. We’ll talk another day.”
She turned to leave.
“Oh, drop the act! You think we can’t manage without you?” Grace snapped, stepping forward, seething with rage. “Some nobody just back from Jandale dares to act so arrogant!”
“Grace,” Roberto’s calm voice stopped her mid–lunge.
He turned to Scarlett, warm and composed. “Ms. Lane, please don’t take what just happened to heart. On behalf of the Kramer family, I apologize.”
Scarlett turned back, letting out a light laugh.
“An apology?”
“Well, you’re right. One is owed.”
“But it shouldn’t be coming from you.”
Grace instantly realized she was being singled out and shouted, “Scarlett, don’t push it!”
Scarlett smiled. “That’s a strange thing to say. If someone gives me an inch, why can’t I take a mile? Ms. Grace, you questioned me just now. Isn’t it reasonable that I wouldn’t want to cooperate?”
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236 Smoke and Mirrors
Grace flushed scarlet with anger.
“ You’re just relying on my father’s favor
“Exactly. And what are you going to do about it?”
“ You-!” Grace clenched her fists.
She burned with the urge to teach Scarlett a lesson.
She cursed under her breath that the people she’d sent out earlier hadn’t managed to stop Scarlett from showing up unharmed.
Rage and humiliation churned inside her, her eyes nearly bloodshot.
“Grace,” Roberto said softly.
His voice was like pressing pause on a chaotic scene.
Grace instantly froze.
“Apologize to Ms. Lane.”
Grace clenched her jaw tight. But she didn’t argue.
She lowered herself just enough and muttered, “Ms. Lane, I was out of line earlier. I shouldn’t have questioned you. I’m sorry. I hope you won’t hold it against me–and will still see my father.”
Scarlett was taken aback.
Was Roberto using some kind of mind–control spell?
How else could someone as prideful as Grace cave like that?
“Words are easy,” she said slowly. “Let’s hope the Kramer family’s actions show they mean it.”
Roberto smiled. “When you leave, we’ll have a proper gift prepared. I only ask that you show the compassion of a healer and don’t let these minor matters hinder treatment.”
“Alright,” Scarlett replied, casting Grace one last glance before nodding. “Let’s go check on Mr. Samuel.”
Thanks to her earlier warning, the old man was already prepared.
Just as Scarlett was about to enter, Roberto stopped her at the door.
“Father trusts you deeply. But I’d still like to understand your method of treatment.”
“I don’t mean to question you,” he added gently. “I’m just curious. If it’s inconvenient, please pretend I
never asked.”
He spoke with genuine respect, hot arrogance.
And as the patient’s family, he had the right to ask.
230 Smoke and Mirrors
Refusing would make her look unreasonably aloof.
Besides , there was something about him–too composed, too unreadable.
She unlocked her phone and pulled up a brainwave chart.
“ Hypnosis is about guiding the subconscious into a focused state. In Alzheimer’s patients, hippocampal atrophy causes fragmented memory.”
She paused, studying him.
He listened intently, revealing nothing beneath his calm.
So she continued.
“During hypnosis, theta brainwaves stimulate the limbic system, allowing the patient to safely reassemble fragmented memories in a subconscious state . ”
“If all goes well, we can find the trauma’s ‘anchor point‘ in their mind and build a ‘memory safe zone ‘ around it. That way, they confront the anchor–rather than being tormented by scattered memory fragments.”
Roberto nodded slowly as he listened, every bit the attentive student.
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