Reluctantly, Natalie agreed, “Alright, I’ll go see her.”
Brandon held her in his arms, their foreheads touching. “Listen, it’s not your fault,” he whispered with tender compassion.
Ever since Charis died, Natalie had been haunted by nightmares every night. The image of Charis’ unrecognizable face in the heavy snow tormented her relentlessly.
Later that afternoon, Natalie had an appointment with the psychologist, who greeted her warmly. “Just think of me as a friend. Don’t be nervous.”
After chatting for a while, the psychologist identified the source of Natalie’s frequent nightmares. She also recognized that part of Natalie’s psychological pressure stemmed from Brandon.
“How is Mr. Larson doing?” the psychologist inquired gently. “Perhaps both of you should undergo treatment together.”
Excited by the possibility of helping Brandon regain his memory, Natalie felt a glimmer of hope. The psychologist explained that some memory loss could be caused by psychological factors.
Eager to explore this avenue, Natalie proposed the idea to Brandon when she returned home. However, he immediately became resistant, dismissing the suggestion.
“I don’t need it. As long as she can help you, that’s enough. Don’t worry about me,” Brandon retorted, clearly annoyed.
Confused by his strong aversion to psychotherapy, Natalie pressed him for an explanation. She knew him well enough to understand that forcing him into something he had already formed a negative opinion about would be difficult.
Unbeknownst to Natalie, Brandon had previously undergone psychotherapy after his mother’s death, which had left a bitter impression on him. It hadn’t been a pleasant experience and had only exacerbated his suffering.
Realizing his reluctance, Natalie didn’t push further. Instead, she had a backup plan in mind.
That evening, Natalie prepared a lavish dinner, hoping to entice Brandon. When he saw the table adorned with numerous delicious dishes, he hesitated. He sensed that Natalie had a motive behind this extravagant meal but decided to join her anyway, wanting to enjoy the moment together.
As Natalie served him with a smile, she said, “It feels like we’re back to the early days of our marriage.”
However, Brandon’s eyes reflected bitterness as he couldn’t recall those memories she spoke of. Sensing his confusion, Natalie continued, “Brandon, can you please go see the psychologist with me? We’ve been through so much lately. I want us to take a break. And… I also want to have a child. Remember how much you loved children before?”
Natalie tenderly held Brandon’s warm palm, her eyes shining with hope.
Brandon had always longed for a complete family, including children. With Natalie by his side, he felt his dreams were slowly coming true. After contemplating for a while, he finally mustered the courage to say, “Okay.” Natalie was overjoyed, knowing Brandon wouldn’t refuse her. They both wanted to be happy together.
The next day, Natalie accompanied Brandon to the clinic. As they entered, Natalie noticed a tall, familiar-looking woman. She tapped the woman on the shoulder and exclaimed, “Elizabeth, it’s really you! What are you doing here?” Elizabeth turned around, surprised to see Natalie. After regaining her composure, she greeted Brandon and Natalie with a hint of shyness. “Well, I’m here to see the doctor.”
Natalie couldn’t believe that Elizabeth needed to see a psychologist. Despite Elizabeth’s quiet nature, everyone at work found her easy to be around, and she didn’t seem to have any mental issues. Just then, a man approached Elizabeth, dressed in a unique outfit consisting of distressed denim jacket, white turtleneck sweater, tight black jeans, and black army boots. Although handsome, Natalie couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t a good match for Elizabeth.
“Hey, why are you all standing here? It’s almost our turn,” the man said to Elizabeth, glancing at Natalie and asking, “Who’s this?” Elizabeth softly replied, “She’s my colleague,” lowering her head. The man sneered and crudely looked Natalie up and down, saying, “How come I never knew you had such a beautiful friend?” He extended his hand to shake Natalie’s, but she instinctively pulled away, uncomfortable with his lascivious eyes and flirtatious tone.
Protectively, Brandon stepped in front of Natalie, glaring intimidatingly at the man. Elizabeth shot him an angry glare and apologized to Natalie, explaining, “I’m sorry. This is my boyfriend, Jorge Anderson. We’re here for counseling. He tends to talk nonsense. Please don’t take him seriously.” She pinched Jorge’s arm and urged him, “Let’s go in.”
As Natalie watched them leave, she couldn’t shake the strange feeling she had about the situation. “I never expected Elizabeth needed counseling. It seems like many people need help nowadays,” she sighed heavily. Brandon held her hand, pulling her closer. He gently stroked her soft hair and said, “Everyone has their own problems. The key is to find meaning in life and live it to the fullest.” Lowering his head, he looked at Natalie affectionately and added, “Fortunately, I’ve found mine.”
Natalie blushed and averted her gaze, feeling moved by his words. She tugged at his collar, standing on tiptoe to kiss his lips softly. Clearly, his words had touched her deeply. Soon, it was their turn to enter the psychologist’s office. However, instead of asking about Natalie, the psychologist’s first question was directed at Brandon. “Mr. Larson, were you on any medication recently?”
Confused, Natalie looked at Brandon. Medication? She had no idea he was taking any. The psychologist noticed her confusion and explained, “I checked Mr. Larson’s medical records and found that he had been taking a lot of painkillers. Such medication can lead to addiction.” Natalie’s eyes widened in shock. What was going on?
Brandon’s body tensed as he heard the psychologist’s question, realizing his mistake of not being cautious enough. He had forgotten to ask Frank to handle his medical records, leading him to provide genuine information to the psychologist. It was evident that the psychologist had discovered Brandon’s prescription for painkillers, leaving him with no choice but to come clean.
“I’ve seen multiple doctors before, but none of their prescriptions worked,” Brandon confessed, panic evident in his voice. “Gradually, I felt even worse. Every time I tried to recall the past, I would have a splitting headache that only painkillers could relieve. But don’t worry, I’m not addicted or anything. In fact, I’m reducing the dosage now.”
Natalie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Didn’t my father introduce you to a doctor?” she asked, her disbelief apparent. “I thought you were getting better…”
Brandon reached for Natalie’s hand, trying to comfort her. “That doctor said there’s no way to cure me,” he admitted, his voice low and filled with regret.
The more Natalie thought about it, the more distraught she became. She shook off Brandon’s hand and confronted him angrily. “How come you didn’t tell me sooner? Brandon, you’ve got some nerve!”
Brandon pursed his lips, falling silent for a moment. Then, in a low voice, he replied, “I just didn’t want you to worry too much.”
Anger consumed Natalie, making it difficult for her to even look at him. Throughout the consultation, she remained silent, seething with frustration. When they finally left, they walked home together in silence, the tension between them palpable.
Once they arrived home and put down their things, Brandon approached Natalie, attempting to mend the situation. “Honey, do you want to go to the supermarket? We can cook up a nice meal together.”
Natalie shot him a furious glare and sneered, “No, thanks. I’m not eating tonight. I’m already full—of anger.”
She wanted to storm upstairs, but Brandon stopped her. “What do you want?” he asked, his face flinching in anticipation of a slap.
Natalie, hand poised to strike, sighed and said, “Anywhere but the face.” She was bluffing, though. How could she really slap him? With that thought, she turned around and went upstairs, slamming the door behind her.
