Chapter 1
The night Elvira Currey was assaulted, I was with her the entire time.
There were no cameras on the street where it happened, and I was the only witness.
But someone knocked me out with drugs, so I had no memory of anything.
Even though the doctors found traces of sleeping pills in my system, the police still wouldn't rule out the possibility that I set it all up myself.
It was all because Elvira once said that as long as she was around, she'd never let me marry her brother and become part of the Currey family.
Elvira's parents were completely convinced I was the mastermind behind her death.
They sent five thugs to my place, venting their rage on me by making me suffer the same abuse Elvira had endured that night.
I was completely broken and helpless, so desperate that I thought about ending my life just to prove I was innocent.
It was Jeff Currey who pulled me back from the brink of death.
He kept repeating to me, "Gina, don't be afraid. I believe you..."
For my sake, he even went so far as to cut ties with the Currey family.
Afraid I'd be haunted by what happened, Jeff always made time to go with me to every counseling session, no matter how busy he was.
But this time, I woke up a little earlier than usual.
"Mr. Currey, we've already put Miss Macy under deep hypnosis seven times, and her answers have always been the same. She really doesn't seem to know anything," the doctor said.
Jeff replied coldly, "Do it three more times."
The doctor warned, "Mr. Currey, this hypnosis technique isn't fully developed yet.
"It could cause irreversible damage to the central nervous system. If we do it three more times, she could end up in a vegetative state at best, or even die."
"I said three more times!" Jeff ordered coldly.
It was only then that I realized that Jeff had never believed in me at all.
If that was what he wanted, he could have my life.
*****
Jeff and the doctor were still talking.
I didn't dare make a sound, just lay there in bed, listening in silence.
The more I listened, the more my heart froze.
The doctor said, "Mr. Currey, Miss Macy's mind is all messed up. She's showing signs of memory confusion and dissociation.
"Every time you make her relive that night, you're just piling on more trauma. She's at her breaking point."
Jeff snapped, "She'll just have to deal with it. Elvira was attacked by five drunks that night. When they found her, there wasn't a single inch of her left untouched.
"My sister's dead, so why does Gina get to live like nothing happened? As long as she's still alive, I'll make her talk, no matter what!"
The doctor pressed, "Mr. Currey, she really doesn't know anything. What do you expect her to say? And those guys your folks brought over, weren't you the one who called them?
"Do you honestly think what she suffered was any less than Elvira?"
I couldn't believe it.
It turned out those thugs Elvira's parents brought over were actually sent by Jeff.
Everything that happened was just a twisted act he orchestrated, all to force the truth out of me.
Jeff cut the doctor off without a hint of emotion.
"That's none of your concern. I'll bring Gina in for the next session in a week. Make sure you're ready," he said coldly.
The doctor's voice shot up several notches. "Are you out of your mind? Once a month is already pushing it.
"This hypnosis experiment has only ever been done three times in a row, and Gina's already had seven sessions. You want to do another one in just a week? Are you trying to kill her?"
"I said, that's none of your concern!" Jeff snapped.
*****
Half an hour later, the hypnosis was finally over.
Just like always, Jeff carried me off the bed and personally put my shoes on for me.
"Gina, Dr. Clarke said your mental health is getting a lot better. How about I come with you again next week?" Jeff said, his voice soft and caring.
For the first time in a while, there was a rare smile on his lips, as if he was really happy for me.
Now that I knew the truth, even my fingers were trembling uncontrollably.
Right before my eyes, Jeff's face blurred and twisted into the faces of those five thugs.
I scrambled back in terror until I dropped to the floor.
Jeff hurriedly knelt down in front of me, pulling me into a tight hug and gently patting my back.
"What's wrong, Gina? Don't be scared, I'm here," he said softly.
His act of tenderness almost made me lower my guard.
My mind drifted back to our college days.
Back then, we'd just started dating, both of us so naive and awkward.
He'd always ask before kissing me, so careful and gentle.
"Gina, can I kiss you?" he'd ask, looking at me nervously.