Chapter 243

For Ernesto, the book wasn’t particularly important; it was merely a family heirloom, making it somewhat precious.

So, when Olivia expressed interest in it, he agreed without hesitation.

“Alright, you set a time, and once the hypnosis is done, I’ll give you the book,” he said, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

Olivia responded, “Give me the book first.”

Ernesto tapped his fingers on the table and nodded. “Sure, you set the time.”

Olivia suggested, “Let’s do it after the International Medical Association conference.” Olivia walked into the study, picking up a book on psychology.

Athene, her companion, expressed concern, “Olivia, are you sure about undergoing hypnosis? Ernesto is quite skilled.”

Upon learning of Olivia’s visit to Mala, Athene had flown in from Gorshire the same day. “What if…

what if he has ill intentions? What will you do?” Athene was deeply worried. Contemporary medical hypnosis was primarily used for psychological therapy, aiding in comforting simple patients or unlocking their emotional knots. However, Ernesto was unlikely to employ comforting methods on Olivia.

A powerful hypnotist like Ernesto could hypnotize a person into another person. He could even make the hypnotized person commit suicide without anyone knowing through constant hints.

Athene sat beside Olivia. “Olivia, what if he has bad intentions?”

Olivia turned a page as she reassured her, “Don’t worry; I won’t go into this unprepared.”

Athene looked up, puzzled.

Olivia scratched her nose and smiled. “Silly girl, someone will protect me in the dark. If I really encounter danger, they will protect me.”

Athene nodded. “That’s good.”

The conference at the International Medical Association concluded swiftly.

Olivia and Ernesto met, and Olivia made a single request, “During the hypnosis, I must be within the boundaries of the Hushe Republic.”

Ernesto nodded and said, “Alright.”

He remembered that the persona Gillian wanted also needed to be created in the Hushe Republic.

After receiving the book, Olivia briefly flipped through a few pages and then looked up, saying, “Let’s start now.”

Upon their arrival in the homeland, Olivia followed Ernesto to his residence in the Hushe Republic.

Ernesto raised an eyebrow, concerned, “Aren’t you going to prepare anything before we start? After the hypnosis, you might not be able to handle your work normally for a while.” Olivia appeared calm and replied, “I’ve already taken care of everything.”

Then, she leaned back in a chair and said in a deep voice, “Let’s begin.”

Olivia woke up in a small village, her head throbbing as if it might split open.

What was even more bizarre was her complete lack of memory; she couldn’t recall anything.

Confused, she heard a rapid, heavy knock on the door from outside.

A woman’s voice with a strong accent called out, “Olivia, you lazy girl, get up and cook. Your sister will be back soon.”

This voice seemed to be a hand tearing through the fog, instantly clarifying everything.

15:48 Olivia remembered her name, age, education, and her role in a family of six, with a hardworking father, a nagging and biased mother, siblings running a business in town, and a sister studying in a boarding school.

Today, her sister was returning for summer vacation, and Olivia needed to prepare lunch before her arrival.

Once her memory returned, Olivia hurriedly got dressed.

Next door, in a beautiful three–story house adjacent to the Taylor family’s residence, Gillian sat by the window, staring blankly at Olivia’s room.

Ernesto sat on the couch, playing with an orange in one hand, and supporting his chin with the other, curiously observing Gillian.

“What are you looking at?” he asked.

Gillian lowered her gaze, concealing the craziness and resentment simmering beneath her eyes.

She had always been in Olivia’s shadow, with everyone openly favoring Olivia. It didn’t matter how hard Gillian worked, how dutiful she was to her grandfather, or how diligently she studied; it always amounted to nothing.

Gillian admitted that she had brought this upon herself by walking the path she had chosen.

But who could truly understand her or her struggles?

She couldn’t believe that in the same circumstances, Olivia would fare better than her, perhaps even worse!

She was determined to witness how Olivia would grapple with the ensuing challenges following her hypnotic transformation.

Dad, Mom, older brother, sister–in–law, everyone adored her intelligent, beautiful, college–bound younger sister, while they all ignored her, belittled her, and looked down upon her.

Gillian couldn’t believe that Olivia could maintain her composure amidst this!

Within the Taylor family’s residence, Olivia wrestled with ill–fitting attire. Her clothes were incongruent, her pants came up short, and her shoes felt oppressively tight.

How had this come to pass?

Olivia began to scour the room in search of a pair of shoes that offered a more accommodating fit. The air grew tense as her mother, Megan, entered. Megan’s expression was marred by annoyance, and her tone was curt. “What’s taking you so long? Why haven’t you started preparing the meal? Your sister is about to return, and that takes precedence.”

Olivia, sporting an innocent tone, replied while maintaining a modicum of grace, “My shoes are incredibly tight, and I thought about switching to a more comfortable pair.”

Megan’s patience waned; she admonished her daughter to endure the discomfort, warning of the potential dire consequences of ill–fitting footwear. Her message was clear, the imminent arrival of Olivia’s sister held greater importance than any of Olivia’s concerns.

She emphasized, “Your sister’s matter is ranked first in our family. Nothing could be more important than your sister’s meal.”

But then, something inexplicable happened. Olivia paused, her mind awash with recollections. Vivid memories of her mother’s unwavering partiality towards her sister resurfaced.

They flooded her consciousness, a stark reminder of the familial disparity she had always navigated.

She refrained from speaking further, her silence was laden with understanding.

Megan, satisfied with her daughter’s response, left the room. Amid the stillness, Olivia resumed her quest for more comfortable footwear, her eyes scanning the room.

During this moment, a voice called out to her from the window across the street. Olivia raised her and was met by a warm and lovely face.

eyes 15:48 It was her next–door neighbor, Gillian, who had taken care of her since childhood.

Olivia greeted Gillian with genuine happiness, “Gillian!”

As Olivia’s face blossomed with an unfeigned smile, Gillian’s gaze betrayed a tapestry of conflicting emotions.

She swiftly concealed the sea of turmoil that churned within her. Extending empathy, Gillian lamented, “Your mom’s bias is excessive. What harm would it be to delay the meal slightly?”

Such blatant partiality could unnerve even the most steadfast of souls, and Gillian couldn’t fathom how Olivia managed to remain so composed amidst such discrimination.

Yet Olivia’s response was not what Gillian had anticipated. Olivia, still wearing that radiant smile, directed her gaze downward to her cramped shoes.

Undeterred, Gillian continued, her tone laced with empathy and reproach, “You needn’t search for alternative footwear, Olivia. The shoes you have, they’re all hand–me–downs from your sister, and they don’t fit properly because she has a smaller shoe size. Isn’t your mom displaying flagrant favoritism?

She could at least buy you a new pair of shoes. After all, you’re her daughter as well, and the distinction is glaring.”

Olivia still did not say anything.

Gillian spoke for a long time, but there was no reaction from Olivia. She felt a little strange. “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Olivia chose to respond with care. Her words, although tender, were laced with wisdom, “Gillian, I-

understand your intentions are pure, that you’re standing up for me. But what you said earlier, it felt like lines from a TV drama where a side character tries to sow discord and coax someone into wrongdoing.” Gillian blinked, taken aback. Olivia’s words caught her completely off guard.

Gillian’s expression underwent a rapid transformation. Stunned, found herself at a loss for words, utterly unprepared for the unexpected turn the conversation had taken. She thought, “Oh, come on, I am standing by your side. Shouldn’t you badmouth your mom with me? Why the fucking TV drama line?”

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