Chapter 296
hapter 296
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When I had first met Irvin as Timothy, he had coolly told me to focus on his medical records instead of his face. It had been because he felt the urge to wheel himself up to me and hug me tightly whenever he met my gaze.
At the time, Irvin hadn’t yet suspected that he wasn’t Timothy. He had thought he was married to Grace, and as such, couldn’t accept that he had been attracted to me.
He had refused to believe he was the kind of man who would lust after another woman just because of her appearance. That was why Irvin had acted so standoffish toward me back then.
Looking back now, he realized it hadn’t been lust at all, but rather stinctual love.
Irvin’s words reminded me of what I had said to him on our wedding day.
I had said life was neither long nor short. And given how handsome he was, he would undoubtedly face many temptations in the
future.
I had told Irvin that he could just tell me if he ever stopped loving me, and we would get a divorce.
However, I had also said he could never ever taint himself by cheating on me or sleeping with another woman. Because once he did, not only would I not want him anymore, but I would also seek revenge against him.
I had said those words very seriously and firmly back then, which was probably why it had left a lasting impression on his psyche.
Suddenly, Irvin held me tightly and stared at me. His gaze was filled with anguish.
“I don’t know what has happened between us that’s made you deny my identity even though you’ve personally verified it. Right now, all I know is that I’m living in constant fear and am absolutely terrified!” Irvin revealed.
He continued, “These people hypnotize me every day, trying to implant memories in my mind that weren’t mine. They’re trying to turn me into a completely different person and want my real self to disappear.
“But I don’t want to disappear! I don’t want to become someone else! I don’t want to live every day as though I’m on a movie set, and I sure as heck don’t want to become some puppet without free will!”
During every hypnosis session, Irvin would pretend to have been hypnotized. To keep his mind alert, he had been poking himself with a sharp object.
He was worried the Hardwells would discover this, so he always made sure he stayed in character when around them–like just
now.
Irvin had pretended to be apathetic toward me, acting as though I was a stranger because members of the Hardwell household’s staff had been present. But once they left, he had immediately broke character and sought my help.
I had always found it hard to refuse Irvin whenever he looked at me so pitifully. And right now, it was aggravating the pain I had already been feeling from mourning his loss of freedom to be himself.
Be that as it might, I couldn’t tell him the truth.
“You’re reading too much into things, Mr. Hardwell. The people around you aren’t actors, and you aren’t living on a movie set. Plus, the Hardwells are your family. You’re just feeling paranoid because of your memory loss , ” I said.
I had hoped my words would sway Irvin and convince him he was just overthinking things.
But unexpectedly, he said, “You’re afraid they’ll hurt you and me as well, aren’t you? That’s why you’re refusing to acknowledge
who I am.”
I stayed silent.
“You don’t need to worry about that,” he reassured. “We can just acknowledge each other when we’re alone and in private.
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Then , once my legs are healed and I have the strength to protect you, we can reveal everything! No one will date lay a finger on you when that time comes–they won’t be able to!”
Before I could say anything, he quickly continued, “Please, don’t worry. There’s nothing to be afraid of. The real Timothy is probably gone, and since he is, I’m the only heir the Hardwells have left. They definitely won’t harm me. And as long as I’m around , I won’t let anything happen to you!
“So please , please don’t just leave me to suffer. You can tell how serable I am , right? So please, help me…” he pleaded.
The sadness in Irvin’s eyes intensified as he spoke. It was impossible to refuse him when he looked so pitiful and desperate.
Thus, I couldn’t help asking “But what if the real Timothy died while trying to save you?”
He was taken aback at first, but he quickly replied, “That’s impossible!”
I frowned. “Why do you say that?”
“The real Timothy would never sacrifice his life to save mine!” Irvin declared confidently.
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