Chapter 124

Louie furrowed his brow, “Explaining this is a bit complicated. But think of it as a sort ofpsychological suggestion”

Cordelia, puzzled, asked, “Psychological suggestion?”

Louie chuckled, “Yeah, like when you nod while talking, it subconsciously makes people agree withyou more. There are tons of examples. Often, the person being influenced doesn’t even realize it.Sometimes it’s a look, sometimes a gesture.”

Cordelia found the idea fascinating, as if a door to a new world had been opened to her. “Is there away to stop the suggestion?”

As she spoke, a tight sensation gripped her chest, and the thought, “Probably not,” popped into hermind.

uninvited.

Lost in thought, she saw Louie’s eyebrows bunch together in a sigh, “Not at the moment.”

Cordelia managed an “Oh,” about to speak further when Louie added, “But I might be able to helpsuppress it.”

Suppress it… Cordelia thought about her recent turmoil with whether or not to kiss Everard–if itcould be suppressed, could she go back to the simplicity of just holding hands?

Her eyes lit up, “How can we suppress it?”

Louie pulled a small bottle from his bag and handed it to her, “This can help keep things underwraps for at while, but it’s not a cure. It’ll just… slow down your romantic progress.”

Cordelia took it, noticing the lack of a label, and nodded obediently, “Okay.”

But Louie didn’t leave. His handsome features tightened as he gazed at her, and with a deep sigh,he gently patted her head, “Be careful with this guy. You don’t want to mess with him.”

Cordelia blinked, “Louie, you know Everard?”

Loule, avoiding a direct answer, said, “Based on what you’ve told me, he doesn’t seem to mean youany harm. No need to be overly cautious, but don’t get too entangled either.”

Cordelia listened and nodded again..

Checking the time, Louie realized they had been talking for twenty minutes. Reluctantly, he lookedat Cordelia one more time, his eyes warm but tinged with a hint of reluctance, “I’ve got to go.”

Cordelia was still detached, “Sure, see you, Louie.”

With a wry smile, Louie got in his car and drove away.

Cordelia stood there for a moment longer, watching his car disappear before heading back inside.

In the living room, Lorna and Mathilda were pressed against the window, peering out with littleregard for appearances.

Lorna frowned, “What could Lia and Dr. Adams have to talk about for so long?”

Mathilda chimed in, “Did they know each other before? The first time they met, Lia escorted him out.Something’s fishy!”

As they spoke, Cordelia entered. They quickly straightened up, and Lorna coughed before asking.“Lia, what do you think of Dr. Adams?”

Cordelia, grabbing her backpack, replied, “He’s handsome, and has a nice temperament.”

With that, she went upstairs.

Mathilda was puzzled, “What did Lia mean by that?”

Chapter 24)

Lorna mused, “Lia fell for Everard because he’s handsome, and that’s how she got him Their eyes met, sharing a silent conversation.

Mathilda hesitantly added, “Lia doesn’t think Dr. Adams is good–looking too, does she?”

Lorna was perplexed. Considering Cordelia’s attitude towards Everard and her recent twenty–minute ‘reluctant farewell‘ to Loule, it seemed that Lia might have a bit of a… player streak.

Well, suddenly Everard seemed even more pitiable.

Unaware of the downstairs speculations, Cordelia entered her bedroom and sat down, staring at thesmall bottle.

If it was all psychological suggestion, Louie, as a psychologist, could have fixed it with hypnosis. Buthe couldn’t, which meant it was probably something else entirely.

Louie knew more but wasn’t sharing. He had his reasons.

And Everard, he was definitely not as straightforward as he appeared.

Cordelia opened the bottle and found brightly colored pills inside, resembling vitamins. Withouthesitation, she took one, trusting her gut–and her gut had never steered her wrong.

The next day proved the pill’s efficacy. Instead of waking up to a dull ache in her chest, remindingher to visit Midnight Scent and see Everard, there was only a slight discomfort.

Amazed by the difference, Cordelia’s spirits lifted. She had been worried about the possibility ofthings. escalating to a point of intimacy with Everard, and she was only in her senior year of highschool!

Now, with the medication’s help, she could likely make it to college.

Descending the stairs with a spring in her step and a glimmer of joy in her eyes, she was met byLorna’s curious voice, “Lia, did seeing Dr. Adams yesterday put you in such a good mood?”

Cordelia nodded, “Yeah.”

Lorna was left speechless, sharing a knowing look with Mathilda. Both let out a sigh.

While packing breakfast, Lorna couldn’t resist adding extra beef pastries, recalling Everard’sfondness for them, “Last time he was here, he mentioned he liked beef pastries.”

Cordelia, not recalling this detail, offered a noncommittal, “Oh.”

Before Lorna could finish packing, the phone rang. She dashed to answer it while Mathildacontinued packing Cordelia’s breakfast.

Ready to leave with her breakfast in hand, Cordelia paused as Lorna exclaimed in surprise,‘Really?” Turning to look, Cordelia caught Lorna’s joyous response, “Fantastic, that’s wonderful!”

After hanging up the phone, she exclaimed with joy, “Guess what? The Watercolor Maestro, B.Aster, is hosting an art show in Greenmeadow, and my pal submitted my piece called “Frostfall‘.Can you believe it got selected?”

Mathilda, not quite versed in the art scene, asked, “Who’s B. Aster?”

Lorna chuckled, “He’s a contemporary giant in the world of watercolor. We’re about the same age, but he’s already the president of the National FineArts Association and the dean of the Superiority Art Academy. His real name is Ballaster Finegan,but he goes by B. Aster in the art world. His reputation is sky–high”

To Fanny, who was merely the ‘president of Greenmeadow’s Art Association, B. Aster was anational figure!

Cordelia, however, was momentarily stunned. Those titles Lorna rattled off, she had seen thembefore–that was the painter from the Pioneers Group, wasn’t it?

He must have come to Greenmeadow for Lorna, she thought.

With these thoughts in mind, Cordelia grabbed her breakfast and headed out the door.

Once in the car, it suddenly hit her that she should have asked Lorna about Lorn. She hadcompletely forgotten in the moment. She’d have to ask when she got back in the evening.

At the Midnight Scent, as Everard was setting up breakfast, Cordelia’s gaze fell upon the “Bible” onthe table. On impulse, she reached out, took the book in her hand, and discovered-