Chapter 86

After Hector’s treatment, Cynthia had improved significantly. However, Shirley's return, coupled with Selena's abandonment and hatred, and the betrayals of Lilian and Filip, caused Cynthia's depression to relapse, developing into bipolar disorder. This led to her wrist-cutting attempt; Hector saved her from a complete breakdown.

Cynthia felt a hidden bomb within her heart. While appearing open-minded and carefree, she daily battled negative emotions, experiencing periods of both success and failure in managing her condition. Her most significant struggle was the debilitating headaches that accompanied her illness's flare-ups.

These headaches had plagued her since childhood. Selena had taken her to numerous treatments, including a stay in Betrico during her youth. While present throughout her life, they had been infrequent until three years prior, when various problems exacerbated the condition. When the pain became unbearable, she relied on painkillers.

Pulling her car to the side of the road, Cynthia tremblingly retrieved her usual painkillers from the glove compartment. She hadn't needed them recently, however, as life with Jonathan had improved her sleep and reduced headaches. Opening the box, she found it empty.

Anger surged. A frantic search of the car yielded nothing. The pain intensified, fueling her growing irritability. Her gaze fell upon Lilian's diary, reigniting painful memories and escalating her anger.

Suddenly, Cynthia started the car and drove to a condominium. Despite the dizziness and excruciating headache, she reached Tulip Condominium, Lilian's residence. Stumbling from the car, she ascended to the second floor, barely supporting herself.

Reaching Lilian's door, she knocked. Lilian opened it, surprised. "Cynthia, why are you here?"

Ignoring Lilian, Cynthia grabbed her by the neck, her eyes bloodshot. "Lilian, why did you hurt me? I was so good to you. Why did you ruin everything?"

Cynthia's grip tightened. Her boxing training gave her exceptional strength. Lilian, unable to fight back, her face flushed, could only try to pry Cynthia's hands loose, to no avail.

Cynthia's grip intensified. Her beautiful face contorted into a monstrous expression under the pale light. "Lilian, go to hell," she hissed, pressing harder.

Lilian's lips, then eyes, nose, and ears bled profusely, the blood staining Cynthia's hands, yet she remained oblivious. With a sickening crack, Cynthia broke Lilian's neck.

She awoke, gasping, "I killed someone! I killed someone!" She found herself on a comfortable couch. Sitting up abruptly, she stared at her hands, repeating, "I killed someone." The vision replayed in her mind, leaving her breathless and disoriented.

A cup of warm milk was offered, accompanied by a gentle voice. "You didn't kill anyone. You had a hallucination."

Cynthia clutched her face, sighing in relief. "I thought I killed her." Calming down, she accepted the milk. "Dr. Xenos, how did I get here?"

Hector explained, "You called me before the onset of your illness, and I located you. Your car was parked by the roadside, and you were in a minor coma."

Cynthia had no memory of this. "My medicine's run out. Can you prescribe more?"

"Certainly," Hector replied. "Your illness has been stable. Why the sudden attack? Was it this diary?" He noticed Cynthia clutching the diary.

He offered it back. "Don't worry, I didn't read it."

Cynthia refused. "You can read it. It might help with my treatment."

Hector, Cynthia's psychiatrist, knew everything about her: the sexual assault, the betrayals, past relationships. They hadn't been in touch for months, however, since her condition stabilized.

He put the diary aside. "Leave it here."

Cynthia seemed to regain clarity. "Where's my phone?"

Hector gave her her bag. Checking her phone, she saw it was 4:00 AM.

Surprised, she exclaimed, "I slept that long?"

Hector answered, "You woke up once. You had a dissociative episode and tried to kill me, so I gave you a tranquilizer."

Cynthia suffered from depression and a mild dissociative disorder, with only two episodes prior to this one. During these episodes, she lost control, potentially developing alternate personalities and experiencing amnesia. Her first episode occurred on the night she cut her wrists—an event she didn't remember.

She hadn't anticipated Lilian's diary triggering a dissociative episode. Feeling unexpectedly weak, she realized her condition had worsened.

09:35 Wed, Nov 6. Chapter 86 BB

Cynthia looked at Hector's neck, noticing a red mark. The hallucination wasn't entirely an illusion. She apologized, "I'm sorry, Dr. Xenos."

Hector adjusted his glasses, smiling gently. "Don't worry. Don't be a stranger."