Chapter 235

Adrian Roland set down his glass with an impassive expression. "Nothing like that."

"Really?"

"Mhm." He walked to the wine cabinet, fingertips grazing the bottles before selecting a Bordeaux. "Just didn't want to appear too cold in front of the children."

Mr. Xavier exhaled in relief. "It's been three years. Time to let go."

"I know my limits."

"That's why I'm here." Xavier frowned. "This villa is too remote. Inconvenient for work."

Adrian swirled his wine. "Been house-hunting. Nothing suitable yet."

"How's the wedding prep?"

The glass froze mid-air.

"Called it off."

"Why?"

"Wasn't right."

Xavier looked startled. "You praised her just days ago."

"She wanted too much." Adrian stared at the swirling liquid. "Emotional commitments... I can't give that."

"This is for the best."

"...Yeah."

An engine growled outside.

Grant Rubenstein entered leaning on his cane, scanning the room. "Miss Stella's not here? Saw you two canoodling at the doorstep earlier."

Xavier's face darkened.

Adrian chuckled. "Poor eyesight, Grant. I was holding my daughter. You must've seen Victor."

"Victor?" Xavier looked skeptical.

"He's always been attentive to Stella."

Seeing Adrian's composure, Xavier forced a laugh. "Easy mistake in this dim light." He turned to Grant. "Let's go."

As the taillights disappeared, Adrian hurled his glass against the floor.

Shards exploded like frozen tears.

He pulled out his phone and dialed.

One hour later, the doorbell rang.

"Dr. Klein?"

The bespectacled woman nodded, eyeing the pill bottles on the table. "Who prescribed these?"

"My previous psychiatrist."

"Not effective?"

"Insomnia worsened. Emotional outbursts increased."

Dr. Klein opened her notebook. "Rapid-fire test. Answer immediately."

"Apple or banana?"

"Apple."

"Red wine or white?"

"Red."

"You have gastritis."

Adrian hesitated. "Occasional drinks."

"Continue. Day or night?"

"Night."

"Black or white?"

"Black."

"Love or not?"

"Love."

His head snapped up mid-word.

Dr. Klein closed her notebook. "Mr. Roland, your subconscious contradicts your narrative."

"Meaning?"

"The scenes you're suppressing—moonlit nights, starry skies, flowering trees, photographs." She adjusted her glasses. "And someone you deeply love."

His knuckles whitened.

"Bipolar disorder festers on cognitive dissonance. Loving while resisting love—that撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂感撕裂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