Eric trembled, trying to slip through with a mixture of truth and lies. He lowered his head in guilt, not daring to meet Yvette's gaze.

Yvette smiled faintly and said softly, "Sit back down."

Eric froze, thinking he had misheard. He hesitated, asking uncertainly, "W-What did you say?"

Yvette's brow twitched with slight impatience. Seeing her gesture, Eric instinctively recoiled against the wall. He knew he hadn't misheard. Crawling back onto the chair in the interrogation room, he sat still, not daring to move.

Yvette produced an old-fashioned pocket watch, its cracked surface hinting at its age. Eric watched, puzzled, wondering what she planned.

Yvette stared at Eric, her delicate hand gently swinging the watch. As he gazed at it, his eyes began to lose focus, the room blurring, including Yvette's exquisite face. The watch swung faster and faster until Eric completely lost consciousness, his eyes vacant, his sanity lost. Yvette pursed her lips, pocketed the watch, and softly asked, "Who told you to crash into Zachary's car?"

Eric's eyes were blank, his voice dull. "It was my brother, Jason Wilson. He told me Zachary's brakes had failed. All I had to do was wait at the middle section of Marine Road, wait for his car, then crash into it. Afterward, I was to pretend it was from overwork at the police station. He promised the best lawyer and $1.5 million to buy a house and marry a wife back home."

Yvette, her pale hand resting on her face, leaned back casually. "Does Jason have a grudge against Zachary?"

Eric's face paled as he shook his head. "No. It's the Smith family. Jason is their butler, Jason Davis. No one knows his real name is Jason Wilson. He's worked for Dennis for years. He knows the Smith family went bankrupt because of the Chambers family, so he's been seeking revenge. The brake failure was also his doing."

Yvette's eyes were indifferent. Slowly, she snapped her fingers.

Eric snapped back to reality, but remembered nothing. He felt his mind had been blank for a few minutes. Looking up at Yvette, still unaware of his confession, he stubbornly said, "You don't need to investigate further. I did it. No one hired me."

Yvette sneered, crossing her legs and raising an eyebrow. "Is your brother Jason Davis or Jason Wilson?"

Eric stared, shocked. His face drained of color as he struggled to deny it. "What are you talking about? I don't understand."

Yvette, having obtained the information she wanted, lost interest. She stood and walked toward the door, pausing. Her voice, laced with coldness, said, "You know your brother is using you. If he cared, you wouldn't be here, unable to even marry. Do you know how much the Smith family's gardener makes a month?"

Yvette opened the door and left. Behind her, Eric's cries echoed, his last hope gone. He collapsed onto the table, crying uncontrollably.

He had known, since childhood, that Jason looked down on him. When he failed exams, Jason went to university and left, returning only after twenty years to ask him to harm others. Eric had clung to that fragile familial bond, but now regretted it. The very affection he longed for had ruined his life.

In the next room, they had witnessed everything. Seeing Eric hunched over the table, Wyau sighed. He felt Eric was pitiable, used by his brother yet still protecting him. He hadn't expected the Smith family's involvement.

The Smith family's bankruptcy had negatively impacted Seacrity's economy. Zane didn't know the history between the Smith and Chambers families, but found the family grudge terrible. He hadn't expected a butler to harm others for a deceased employer. More surprising was Yvette's knowledge of hypnotism.

Years ago, he'd discussed hypnotism with a psychologist. He knew timing, environment, and the hypnotist were crucial. The human mind was complex, and hypnotism wasn't easy. Looking at Yvette, he thought, 'Jeremiah's woman is no ordinary one!'

Andrew pinched his chin, eyes gleaming with curiosity. Turning to Jeremiah, he said with a flattering smile, "Yvette is impressive. I thought hypnotism was only on TV. How did she do it? Just a pocket watch? I must ask where she bought it."

Jeremiah smiled with pleasure.

After Yvette left, Jeremiah tilted his head, shadows flickering across his face. "From the moment she entered, she laid everything out step by step, guiding Eric's emotional changes. When his mental defenses collapsed, she seized the opportunity to hypnotize him." He chuckled softly, wondering at Yvette's surprises.

Zane looked at Andrew. "Hypnotism uses psychological suggestion, bypassing the conscious mind to enter the subconscious. Verbal or non-verbal cues influence the individual. The practitioner uses language, voice, gestures, and eye contact to plant suggestions, changing thought patterns and behaviors. The depth varies depending on the individual's sensitivity and the practitioner's skill."

He paused, admiration evident. "I've seen this in investigations, but psychologists need tools and time. Ms. Zeller's speed with just an old pocket watch impressed me."

Zane's praise was genuine. He thought Yvette's skill would solve any case, but knew it was impossible, daring not to mention it.

Zane's explanation was professional, showing his understanding. Andrew understood. He only knew Yvette was incredible. As Yvette stepped out and was about to knock on Jeremiah's door, she found it open. Jeremiah stood there, taking her hand and rubbing it gently. He said in an intoxicating voice, "Hypnotism, huh?" Yvette paused, letting him hold her hand. "I just know a little," she said.

The others understood. She was being modest.