When Aerin overheard Lucian utter the devastating phrase, "Kai has CPTD," she rushed toward him, her face a mask of disbelief. "Lucian, what happened to you? What did you say? Did Kai...?" Aerin's voice trembled.
"Ah, Aerin, what are you doing here?" Lucian asked, immediately panicking.
"Ah, I came to talk with Dr. Sebastian. He told me to come back yesterday. But what is happening here? What about Kai?" Aerin pressed.
Lucian realized stalling was impossible, but telling the entire truth was dangerous. "Yes, Aerin, it's true. Kai is suffering from CPTD from childhood, after his mother's death."
"Ahhhh, he's suffering from childhood? But... but how did you know all this?" Aerin asked, deeply confused.
"Ah... ah..." Lucian struggled to formulate a believable story that didn't reveal his own abuse.
Steven, observing Lucian's distress, quickly stepped in. "Ahhh, Lucian, when will you come to my home? As I said, I need to talk with you first."
"Ah, Sir, Kai is in treatment. After he wakes up, I have to talk to him, but I can't tell him the truth. I have to lie to him," Lucian said, hoping Steven understood the coded message.
"What lie? And who is this?" Aerin demanded, her head snapping between the two men.
"Ahhh, Aerin, this is Rowan's father. He's a businessman, but also a psychiatrist who only treats family and close friends. Rowan approached his dad to take Kai on for therapy," Lucian explained.
"Oh, hello, Sir! I'm Aerin, Kai's friend and Lucian childhood friend," Aerin introduced herself. "So, what are we waiting for? Please take Kai with you, Sir, if he can be cured fast!"
Lucian sighed. "Ahhh, actually, I need to go first because Rowan's mother asked me to come home. So, I have to go. After that Sir Steven will take care of Kai, but until then, Kai needs someone to watch him."
"Oh, that's it? I'll take care of him, don't worry!" Aerin declared, seeing a perfect opportunity to prove her devotion. "Ah, but you literally need to take care of yourself first! How will you—" Lucian started.
"Ahhh, you don't worry about me. Just go and come back fast! I'll call my mom here; let her take care of me, and I will take care of Kai!" Aerin insisted, overriding Lucian's concerns.
Suddenly, a call came through Steven's phone. "Ah, Lucian, you both talk to each other. I'll be back; I have some errands at the business office," Steven said, excusing himself.
Lucian reasoned that Kai was safer in the hospital than loose outside, giving him a small window to rest and plan.
"Lucian continued Ah Aerin, listen one thing: don't tell him anything that I was here! And don't tell him that Rowan and I picked him up and admitted him to the hospital!" Lucian warned.
"But why??" Aerin asked, utterly confused by the secrecy.
"Just do as I say, Aerin. You already know this kind of illness is similar to yours—if you give him too much mind stress, he'll be weak. So, don't tell him too much!" Lucian fabricated the lie, knowing Kai's state was too fragile for the truth.
"Ah, okay. But what if he asks who admitted him?" Aerin pressed.
Lucian thought quickly. If Kai wakes up and sees Aerin, he might lose his mind again,He decided to lean into Aerin's devotion. " Please Aerin just say to him you're the one who picked him up from Kai's old house and admitted him here."
"Ahhh, Kai's old house?" Aerin asked, confused by the strange location.
"Do as I said! But remember, don't be panic if he gets uncontrollable—"
"I know how to handle it, don't worry," Aerin cut him off, radiating confidence.
Lucian thought: If Kai believes Aerin admitted him, his mind might swing toward her kindness instead of losing control. It was the fastest way to stabilize Kai.
Rowan and Nadia returned.
"Ah, where's Dad?" Rowan asked.
"Oh, he went back to the office for some business call," Lucian said, repeating the excuse Steven had given him earlier.
Nadia, Lucian, and Aerin exchanged greetings. Rowan then pulled out his phone and called his father.
"Ah, where are you, Dad?" Rowan asked into the phone.
Steven's voice came clearly through the receiver, overheard by Lucian: "I just going to the office; manager called. It's urgent, so I'm taking the other route to go back there fast!"
"Okay, Dad, come back fast!" Rowan said.
"Ahhh, Lucian will come with us, and I'll take a leave business now," Steven said, and finished the call.
Steven, however, did not drive toward his business office. His "short cut route" took him near the lake.
He slowed the car, then pulled to a stop. Through the window, he saw the dilapidated structure. It was the same familiar old house near the lake—the one he loved to stay at, the one he had owned for years.
He got out of the car, his expression unreadable, and stared at the house. This is the same house!
He noticed a subtle disturbance in the dirt near the back.
My love...
Steven stopped looking at the house and turned toward the faint disturbance in the dirt. He moved closer, kneeling to examine the ground. He looked up at the house again, then back down at the disturbed dirt, his face tightening with a realization.