bChapter /bb367 /b

    Brian was so embarrassed that he wanted to leave right then. But he managed to hold back, thanks to his strong willpower.

    He said, “Jessi, I’m sorry. I made

    you

    ikbad /iagain earlier.”

    Thinking back now, Brian finally realized when he’d gone after Wesley those times before, what Jessica had said wasn’t her sticking up for Wesley, bShe’d /bbeen trying to save face for him.

    “Good that you know,” Jessica huffed, turning to leave.

    Brian instinctively followed, but after a few steps, he remembered Fred and Wesley were still there. He quickly turned back. “Mr. Finch, …”

    “I get it. Go take care of your wife,” Fred said. “Your dad and I go way back. No need for all the formal stuff.”

    Brian let out a breath, thanked him, then hurried after Jessica, and walked off.

    As soon as they left, Fred pulled Wesley aside and pressed him to say how he knew Brian and Jessica.

    Wesley wasn’t about to tell the truth, of course. He made up some random excuse to brush Fred offb, /bthen found a chance to get away, and sat alone in a

    corner to rest.

    Meanwhile, Brian followed Jessica out to the garden.

    The party had just started, and most igues /i

    were still in the ballroom, making the garden nice and quiet–perfect for being alone.

    Jessica picked a chair at random and sat down.

    Hearing footsteps getting closer behind her, she didn’t look up. “If you’re going to ask how I know Wesley, I’d suggest you don’t even start.”

    Even though her secret had been bound toe out the second Brian found out who Wesley was, Jessica still couldn’t bring herself to talk about her mental illness. It was too humiliating.

    She had acted so carefree when she left Brian, but it hadn’t been that long before she developed a serious mental health problem. ‘If I tell anyone, who won’t suspect I’m doing it to make Brian feel guilty? Some may even think I’m putting on an act,‘ she thought.

    The more Jessica thought about it, the more worked up she got. She couldn’t help turning around and snapping at Brian, “Can’t you just let me be for a

    bit?”

    Brian’s eyes went red right away. “Jessi, I…”

    “Don’t say anything. I don’t want to hear it,” Jessica cut him off.

    Her mind was in a whirl at that moment. ‘Why couldn’t Brian get it?‘ she thought.

    Brian lowered his eyes. The cold wind ruffled his hair. Jessica watched with a nk face. They stayed like that for a while until Brian finally bbroke /bbthe /bsilence. “I get it.”

    He stepped back dejectedly. “Rest well. I’ll head back first.”

    He thought, ‘If my presence upsets Jessi, I’m willing to disappear.

    Jessica stared at his lonely retreating figure, feeling a hollow ache in her chest.

    ‘This bis /bwhat I want. So why am I not happy now that it happened?‘ she wondered.

    Jessica leaned back in her chair, gazing up bat /bthe starry sky in the flowerb–/bscented evening breezeb. /bbShe /bbcouldn’t /bbrecapture /bbthe /bbmood /bbshe’d /bbonce /bbhad /b

    ?b113 /b

    It was like her rtionship with Brian. Time had passed, and things had changed. No matter how hard bthey /btried, they couldn’t bgo /bbback/b,

    ‘Brian, when will you understand that?‘ Jessica was lost in her thoughts.

    In the shadows behind her, Brian, who’d left and returned, watched her back silently.

    He stayed there, watching, for as long as she sat there.

    When the party ended, Wesley looked at Brian who’d stopped him without the slightest surprise.

    “Dr. Finch, do you have time now?” Brian asked, his eyes deep and intense.

    Wesley didn’t answer. Instead he nced behind Brian. “Has Ms. Grant gone back?”

    “Yes.”

    Wesley nodded. “I do.”

    Brian didn’t stand on ceremony. “I’d like to invite you upstairs for a while, if you don’t mind.”

    The deep worry in his heart made him unable to wait a moment longer.

    Wesley didn’t refuse. They went up to the open–air café on the top floor.

    Once Wesley had ordered, Brian spoke right away. “Dr. Finch, please tell me. What’s really going on with Jessi? How long has she been seeing byou /bbfor /bcounseling?”

    Wesley’s profession, the times Jessica had gone to see him, and the obvious improvement in her mood after those visits–Brian couldn’t fool himself

    anymore.

    Jessica and Wesley were definitely more than just ordinary friends.

    Wesley looked steadily at him after hearing that. “Sounds like you’ve figured it out, Mr. Atkinson.”

    “Yeah.” Brian was in a heavy mood, and it showed in his tone.

    Wesley watched the worried Brian across the table, growing more curious about his and Jessica’s past.

    Wesley said, “In that case, before you ask me, Mr. Atkinson, maybe you should tell me about what happened between you and Ms. Grant.

    “I’ve asked her many times before, but she never wanted to talk about it. That’s not good for her right now.”

    Brian had been about to refuse, but thatst sentence made him change his mind.

    Staring at the lights of the city in the distance, Brian started speaking slowly. “Jessi and I met 10 years ago. It was an office romance. We were young and hot–headed. Once we got together, we got married pretty quickly.

    “But back then, I wasn’t mature enough. Andter, I got spoiled by Jessi’s constant love over those 10 years. I totally took her efforts for granted.”

    Brian gave a general ount of his and Jessica’s married life and how they’d ended up splitting.

    Finally, he looked at the thoughtful Wesley and asked, “I’ve told you. Now can you answer my question?”

    Wesley shook his head. “I’m sorry, but without my patient’s consent, I can’t share her private-infob./b”

    Brian’s face went dark right away. “Are you messing bwith /bme?”

    Wesley took the coffee the waiter handed himb, /btook a sip, and said, “No. This is my professional bethics /bbas /bba /bbdoctor/bb. /bbI /bbdon’t /bbthink /bbyou’d /bbwant /bbMs. /bbGrant /bbto /b

    have a doctor with no ethicsb, /bMr. Atkinson.”

    b2/3 /b

    Brian didn’t say anything, but his face stayed dark.

    Wesley’s expression stayed the same. He sipped his coffee calmly, waiting for Brian to work it out on his opt

    Brian was silent for a long while before speaking in a defeated voice. “I’m just worried about her. Can’t even get a little information to help me take better care of her?”

    “Do you think Ms. Grant would want you to know?” Wesley shot back.

    Brian fell silent. ‘Of course, she wouldn’t,‘ he thought.

    He knew that better than anyone. But he really couldn’t bear to leave with nothing.

    He stared hard at Wesley. “Jessi’s condition is getting worse, isn’t it? Dr. Finch, as her treating doctor, are you! go under?”

    really just going to stand by and watch her

    Brian thought, ‘Jessi has mental health problems. That exins hertely changing moods and sudden shifts in taste

    Brian thought back to how he’d been getting on with Jessica these past few weeks, and the more he remembered, the more scared

    Wesley put down his coffee, nced at the busy traffic below, and after a few seconds said, “Mr. Atkinson, do you know what my first patient was?”

    Brian didn’t get why Wesley was bringing this up, but he went along. “No.”

    Wesley smiled, “It was a bipr patient who’d been setting mental rules for themselves for a long time but got pushed to the edge of breaking by conflicting realities.”