the two-faced Adopted Girl Who Melted CEO's Ice-Cold Heart

Chapter 1204: Her Memories Inflicted Severe Psychological Trauma, She May Lose Her Sanity

Leah had met Cassius Turner a few times and had a pretty good impression of this Professor Turner. After all, in her view, any man was better than Ignatius Leclair.

When Leah arrived at Imperial City Linguistics University, she went straight to Cassius Turner’s office to wait for his class to finish. However, before she could see him, she received a message from Dr. Liao, saying that a surgery of his had been canceled last minute, allowing him to conduct her test earlier.

The university was close to the hospital, so seeing that there was enough time, Leah texted Cassius Turner, saying she would come by later to pick up the materials, and then headed to the hospital.

Dr. Liao put down his phone, instructed someone to prepare a treatment room, then took off his white coat, wearing only a regular sweater and trousers, put on glasses, looking scholarly, and entered the treatment room.

The lighting in the treatment room was very soft, with sunlight streaming through the window. Dr. Liao placed the hourglass he held on the side of a black leather recliner and lit incense. Seeing Leah Squire had not yet arrived, he took a book and sat quietly by the window reading.

Leah arrived at the hospital in less than half an hour. Under the guidance of a nurse, she knocked on the door and entered, surprised to see Dr. Liao wearing glasses and reading a book by the window.

In such a fast-paced world, especially in a demanding field like medicine where every second counts, it was rare to find a doctor calmly reading like this.

"Hello, Dr. Liao," Leah greeted with a smile as she entered.

Dr. Liao stood up, put down his book, nodded, and smiled at the two bodyguards behind Leah, his gaze lingering for a moment on Cornelius Turner, who had the most intense aura, without saying a word.

Cornelius, with his trusted men, checked the treatment room equipment to ensure everything was in order, then asked, "Dr. Liao, how long do you estimate the treatment will take?"

"Ideally, about twenty minutes should suffice, but it depends on Miss Squire’s condition. However, the test is mainly to see whether Miss Squire is resistant to my hypnosis therapy, so this time should generally be enough," Dr. Liao replied calmly.

The duration wasn’t long indeed, and Leah was quite vigilant herself, so there shouldn’t be any issues.

"Miss, I’ll be waiting outside. Just give a shout if you need anything," Cornelius said, showing no regard for Dr. Liao, coming across as extremely stern and unapproachable.

Leah nodded, understanding that Cornelius’s presence was meant to intimidate Dr. Liao.

Dr. Liao remained unfazed, keeping his smile. After the events eight years ago, the Squire siblings were more cautious than ever. Even for a hypnosis test, they brought bodyguards, but he had no ill intentions.

"During the treatment, if you feel any discomfort, just say so, and I will stop immediately," Dr. Liao gestured for her to lie on the black leather recliner. He did not draw the curtains, positioning the recliner so it sat within both sunlight and shade.

Dr. Liao was well-versed in psychotherapy, having shifted from psychological therapy to neurology. Sunlight provided a sense of security, while shade allowed subconscious hypnosis. For someone as wary as Leah Squire, only gentle guidance would work.

Leah lay on the recliner, her gaze landing softly on the hourglass on the small coffee table, softly saying, "Let’s start, Dr. Liao."

She closed her eyes, adjusting her mindset.

Dr. Liao didn’t rush into the process, merely saying in a faint tone, "There’s no need to be nervous. I’m not performing deep hypnosis, just guiding you to open the forgotten Lightgate. Whatever you see beyond, it’s your secret. I won’t ask if you don’t wish to share. The purpose is to recover your memory. As for what that memory is, I am not concerned."

Leah nodded, relaxing slightly.

The incense burning in the corner emitted a faint, calming aroma, making one drowsy. The hourglass trickled silently, and Dr. Liao’s voice grew soft and slow, with an ethereal melody, resembling clouds drifting across the sky.

"The sluggish sunlight drapes over you. You cross the grassy field, retracing your steps to where your memory begins. What do you see?"

"A little wooden cabin." She opened her eyes to a square wooden cabin, dense forest, oppressive heat, and buzzing mosquitoes. She lay immobile, struggling to breathe.

"Inside the cabin, there is a door. Walk over and push it open with your hand."

Leah shook her head and said with difficulty, "I can’t, I’m unable to move."

Dr. Liao observed her struggling visage, captivatingly beautiful. No wonder even the notoriously abstinent Richard Shaw had fallen for her. Her memories likely began when she had just escaped an explosion, he thought. Gently, he continued, "The door is right in front of you. You just have to reach out slightly to touch it, to see beyond the door."

Leah strained to wiggle her fingers, then felt enveloped by a brilliance, entering a foreign realm. A torrent of voices invaded her mind, fragments coalescing into a familiar, aloof face.

"I can offer you marriage, all that I possess, except for love. Still, do you wish to marry me?" He had said in the deep silence of the night at the Shaw Mansion.

On Chinese New Year’s Eve, he turned away coldly.

Eight months of peacekeeping, a long wait—she stayed at the Shaw Mansion, waiting season after season until the flowers bloomed and withered.

"The bond between people is fleeting, be it kinship or love; unions and separations come as they please," Hawk Howard counseled her calmly, meditating at the mountain peak of Clear Creek Bay.

"I have a brother. I joined the army, he became an outlaw; we haven’t met in over ten years."

"Leah, you must live well," a man’s bloodied hand brushed her face, light vanishing from his eyes.

"I repaid your brother’s life debt."

The explosion rang out. He sheltered her, and darkness engulfed the world. Someone lifted her gently, calling her name.

In the moment her eyes closed, she saw a ground soaked in blood, a shattered bulletproof vest, bodies obliterated.

Leah sprang upright, her face deathly pale, gasping for air. Her hand reached to her own face, feeling wet, as though it had rained.

Dr. Liao waved his hand in front of her, speaking loudly, yet she couldn’t hear him. She shoved him away forcefully, stumbling towards the door. At the sight of Cornelius, she slumped and fainted immediately.

Cornelius’s face turned sharply pale, catching Leah and signaling for his men to restrain Dr. Liao, demanding harshly, "What have you done?"

"Lay her down. The memory has inflicted severe trauma on her psyche. A sedative must be administered immediately, or there’s a significant risk of her losing her sanity," Dr. Liao stated with composure.