Chapter 3

Two weeks later, when I stepped out of the bedroom, I found that the estate had been completely rearranged.

Speakers were everywhere, playing music that made me deeply uncomfortable.

My heart suddenly began racing, and my hands clenched involuntarily.

Andre poked his head out of the study.

“Alice said your treatment should start with prolonged exposure to low-volume sound so you can gradually adjust.”

I rushed over, and just as my fingers touched one of the speakers, Andre grabbed me from behind.

“Alice said this is a necessary part of the process. If we turn it off now, everything we’ve done will be for nothing.”

“Every time you panic, you run away. How are you ever going to get better like this?”

His grip was so strong that he had me completely pinned in his arms.

“I don’t need to adjust!”

I broke free of him, my voice trembling violently.

“Turn off the music.”

“Monica, calm down.”

His tone was still gentle, but there was impatience underneath it.

I wrenched myself away from him and picked up a ornament.

I walked over to the speaker and smashed the ornament against it with all my strength.

The noise stopped.

“Monica!”

Andre’s expression changed.

“Have you lost your mind? Do you have any idea how much thought Alice has put into treating you?”

Andre rushed over and snatched the ornament from my hand.

“Monica, can you stop assuming the worst about everything? Alice is only trying to help you. If you keep resisting treatment like this, your condition will only get worse.”

Andre took a deep breath, then walked over with his phone in his hand.

The video call was already connected, and Joey appeared on the screen with a frown.

“Monica, Andre told me everything.”

“Is there something wrong with you? She’s spending her time and money trying to help you, and this is how you respond? Do you have any idea how hurt Alice and Andre must feel?”

“Brother, the doctor said…”

“Stop using the doctor as a shield!”

He cut me off sharply.

“You’ve always been like this, ever since you were a child. You’re afraid of everything and you run away from everything. You’re lucky Andre is willing to take care of you!”

He paused for a second.

“Alice and Andre are still trying to help you, and this is how you repay them—with ingratitude.”

I stared at his reddened face on the screen.

I remembered how, on stormy nights, he used to run into my room and tightly squeeze my hand.

He would smile at me and say, “Don’t be afraid. Your big brother will always be by your side.”

The video call ended.

Andre came over and sat beside me, his voice deep and serious.

“Monica, Alice genuinely wants to help you. Think about it. Besides me and her, who else would be willing to put this much effort into dealing with your condition?”

He gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

“You heard your brother. He said you should cooperate.”

I said nothing, feeling as though a huge hole had been torn open in my heart.

At eleven that night, I was already lying in bed.

Andre’s phone rang in the living room.

Alice’s voice drifted in from the phone’s speaker, choked with tears and hurt.

“Andre, am I just meddling where I’m not wanted? Does she think I’m trying to hurt her?”

Andre’s voice was low and gentle.

“It’s not your fault, Alice. I’ll talk to her properly later.”

I lay in the darkness with my eyes closed.

If it wasn’t her fault, then it had to be mine.

Five minutes later, he came back.

“Monica, send Alice a message and apologize.”

“Alice genuinely wants to help you. Can you stop going against her all the time?”

He looked at me.

“Think about it. Besides me and her, who else would be willing to put this much effort into dealing with your condition?”

I opened my eyes and looked at him, but I could no longer see even a trace of the man he used to be.

“Okay.”

My voice was barely a whisper.

“I’ll apologize.”

I picked up my phone, typed out a message, and sent it.

“Alice, I’m sorry.”

I put down my phone and closed my eyes.

Andre, I will never believe you again.