chapter1775

He rarely refused her requests.

With Joshua's approval, Stella arranged a meeting with Laurel Quinn that very

evening.

Laurel seemed to take the matter very seriously, scheduling the meeting for the very next day. She would come to the house.

The next day, Laurel Quinn arrived on time.

As if she knew Beckett was disliked, Laurel came alone.

When she saw Joshua, Laurel greeted him, and he responded with a cold, dismissive nod.

After showing Laurel into the study, Stella turned to Joshua. "Joshua, I'd like to talk with Ms. Quinn alone for a bit. Could you wait in the living room?"

Joshua was quiet for a few seconds, clearly reluctant, but he ultimately respected Stella's wishes.

"Okay."

Stella's study was on the second floor, and one could keep an eye on the door from the living room below.

After leaving the room, Joshua didn't go downstairs. Instead, he leaned against the hallway railing, rubbing his aching temples.

Inside the study, Laurel looked at Stella and dispensed with the pleasantries, getting straight to the point.

"I thought you would try to hide this from Joshua."

"Joshua is very smart," Stella replied. "Even in his current state, he would have likely guessed. He'll need to cooperate with the treatment later, so there's no point in hiding it from him."

A faint hint of admiration appeared in Laurel's eyes. "You handled that well."

Time was short, so Stella also skipped the small talk. "What's the current situation with Joshua's illness?"

Laurel took a file from her bag and handed it to Stella, speaking bluntly. "Six months ago, Joshua had a relapse However, as long as he strictly followed the treatment plan I provided, his condition could have been effectively managed. But he ended his treatment early to come back to Solmaris to find you."

Stella looked at Laurel. ""Managed?' Does that mean his illness can't be cured?"

"That's right," Laurel said. "I'm sure

you've heard the rumors about the Gardners can only say that the

rumors are true. The reality might be even harsher than you imagine.

Since you've decided to be with Joshua, there are some things you absolutely must know.

Although Joshua's situation is difficult, it's not entirely without options. The worst- case scenario is hypnosis.

Hypnosis sounds simple, but it's actually a very risky option. We're not at that point yet, though. If possible, I'd rather not resort to it.

After all, hypnosis is like locking away a part of his memory. If that lock is ever broken, the flood of suppressed memories could be even more dangerous."

She looked directly into Stella's eyes.

Bet

"Ms. Cameron, no one knows Joshua's condition better than I do. So I hope you will be there to

encourage him to actively pursue treatment when he needs you most.

Of course, if you find his illness hard to accept, it's not too late to leave him now."

"I won't leave," Stella said. "I'll be with him while he gets treatment for his illness."

Looking at her, Laurel slowly revealed a smile and adopted a serious expression. "In that case, let's begin."

Laurel first explained the precautions for his condition. "Joshua's illness is a type of mental disorder.

The universal rule for this kind of condition is to avoid extreme emotional fluctuations and severe shocks."