Chapter 507 Connor Once Knelt for Jasmine
Evan's breath hitched, his face going pale like a fish out of water.
"I couldn't stand Connor's arrogance, so I half-jokingly made him kneel," Elbert said, frowning. "He never respected my opinions. But then he knelt, saying he was sick and his approach was extreme. He suggested we team up, combining our strategies to save Jasmine."
Connor desperately wanted Jasmine to be okay.
Elbert was stunned.
He never thought someone as self-centered as Connor could fall for anyone, but when he did, he was all in.
Connor loved Jasmine deeply but never showed it.
He felt unworthy of her.
Elbert once asked Connor why he didn't try to keep her close if he liked her. With Connor's skills, making Jasmine fall for him would be easy.
Psychiatrists are usually good at that.
But Connor said he wasn't worthy of Jasmine.
Elbert asked, "Then who is?"
Connor replied, "Ethan."
It was the first time Elbert saw someone give up the person they loved to another man.
But Connor was right; two patients together couldn't find true salvation.
They'd just hurt each other more.
"Jasmine's not as okay as she seems. Just because she has everything now doesn't mean she's cured. She'll become more dependent on it all. If anything changes, she'll break," Elbert said, looking at Evan, who was in too much pain to speak.
This was punishment and torment.
For Evan, living in pain was worse than dying.
Elbert thought he might have his own issues, finding satisfaction in Evan's suffering.
"In prison for five years, she tried to kill herself countless times and had numerous MECT treatments. At her worst, she couldn't even take care of herself. Compared to that, your current issues are nothing," Elbert said, shoving Evan into the car.
"Do you know what MECT is? It's modified electroconvulsive therapy," Elbert said coldly, closing the car door.
Evan probably couldn't understand what it was like to be put under anesthesia and have a machine force electric currents through your body to erase bad memories.
But the brain's nerves are more complex than the stars; there's no precise treatment.
It's all self-deception.
"Connor and I were both Jasmine's doctors, but I didn't really understand her," Elbert said. "I just followed Connor's treatment plan. But I know what she went through, how much she suffered."
"Who do you think deserves to die the most?" Elbert asked.
Evan didn't answer, leaning against the car window like a dead man.
He wanted to die.
But Elbert wouldn't let him.
But the tension would eventually snap.
Elbert looked at Evan, feeling conflicted. He resisted Connor's reverse treatment plan, but he would use it himself one day.
And Evan was his chosen test subject.
It was heartless, but necessary for research.
When they got home, Evan's face was still pale.
Evan's palm was scarred from a cigarette burn, but he kept gripping it, inflicting pain on himself.
He thought about how much it must have hurt when he burned Jasmine's face with a cigarette.
How much it must have hurt when Jasmine cut her wrists countless times at night.
And how desperate she must have felt during MECT treatments.
That night, Evan tried to kill himself.
He didn't really want to die; he just wanted to feel the pain of cutting his wrists.
He made deep cuts, and blood was everywhere.
The housekeeper screamed when she saw him.
Evan just put a finger to his lips and said, "Shh. Don't scare Aunt Evelina and Alex."
When Jasmine tried to kill herself, no one cared.
In the end, he couldn't fully atone for his sins.
The next day, when Ethan came to see Elbert, Elbert already knew about Evan's suicide attempt and hospitalization.
But he wasn't too worried because Evan wasn't ready to die; he probably just wanted to feel the pain.
"Ethan, long time no see." Elbert, from a prestigious family as well, had met Ethan before.
Plus, he was Raymond's cousin.
Ethan was surprised. The last time he saw Elbert, he was a skinny middle schooler.
Now, Elbert was taller and more confident.
"I'm here to see you about my wife," Ethan said, sipping water nervously. "Her situation is complicated. I'll give you a brief overview, and you can ask for details."
Ethan described Jasmine's situation to Elbert.
He never mentioned her illness, just that she was struggling with past feelings.
Elbert watched Ethan closely. To Ethan, Jasmine wasn't a patient, just emotionally sensitive.
It was clear Ethan loved and protected Jasmine deeply.
Connor's choice seemed right.
"Ethan, have you heard of 'overprotection'?" Elbert didn't mention Connor's plea for Jasmine. "Kids today have weaker immune systems because they're too protected. An overly clean environment can lower immunity."
Seeing Ethan silent, Elbert continued, "I don't know much about your wife, so I might not be much help. Did she have a psychologist before?"
Elbert knew Connor was the most dedicated psychologist to Jasmine.
"Yes," Ethan said, frowning at the mention of Connor.
"Then it's best not to change psychologists easily. For someone with scars, changing doctors means reopening wounds for someone else to see."
The process would be very painful.
Elbert added, "It takes time for a patient and psychologist to build trust."
Ethan was silent. Elbert made sense.
Without more conversation, Ethan left.
On the way back, Ethan heard about Evan's suicide attempt.
Frowning, Ethan felt irritated.
Evan deserved it, but he was special to Jasmine.
Twenty-one years of sibling affection couldn't be easily replaced.
Standing by the window, Elbert watched Ethan leave.
"Elbert, a lady named Annabelle has booked your next available time."
Elbert raised an eyebrow.
Annabelle probably didn't know he and Connor were working together.
She was truly a foolish and malicious woman.
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