Chapter 4

I’d almost believed Evelyn.

But when she showed me the security footage, a chill ran down my back.

I instinctively glanced toward the south bedroom. Haze was still drifting out from beneath the door.

Evelyn’s need to control Ethan was terrifying. The camera in the study had captured every detail of Ethan and me—even the pores on our faces.

Even if Ethan really was mentally ill, he was only twenty-four years old.

What had caused his illness?

Why was the target of his persecutory delusions the mother who supposedly loved him most?

I pushed down my doubts and forced a smile.

“All right, Ms. Evelyn. I admit Ethan contacted me privately. But I’ve also studied psychology, and I can recommend a more qualified doctor for him.”

“Either way, I’ve already accepted his down payment. Please understand that I still need to be involved in Ethan’s treatment—”

The instant I finished speaking, Evelyn seemed to become a different person.

She gritted her teeth and smashed the glass on the coffee table. Her eyes reddened as she glared at me.

“Get out!”

“I thought you were a psychologist, so I let you get close to my son! How dare you lie to me? You and Ethan are working together against me. You’re hurting him!”

“I’m his mother! Why would I hurt my own son?”

“I’m warning you—stay away from him! I’ll do anything for my son!”

She seemed to lose control. She stood and slowly advanced toward me.

Her thin body suddenly radiated such force that even I began to panic.

I swallowed hard. I was about to apologize and get out of there when a noise suddenly came from Ethan’s room.

In an instant, Evelyn snapped out of her rage.

Her face transformed. The fury vanished, replaced by a mother’s concern and affection.

She rushed past me and into Ethan’s room.

My tense body relaxed. I took several deep breaths and began thinking quickly.

Evelyn had been polite when she thought I was a psychologist.

But after she discovered through the security footage that Ethan and I had made other arrangements, her attitude had completely changed.

I had hidden things from her, but I was still a psychologist. I had no intention of hurting Ethan.

What was she afraid of?

Was she afraid I’d discover something?

And besides…

I’d heard her clearly.

She had just called Ethan “Mikey.”

Could there really be another person?

My eyes drifted toward the south bedroom.

The haze seemed to be spreading across the floor. Its faint, strange fragrance made it difficult to breathe.

Evelyn was in Ethan’s room. I was alone in the living room.

Maybe one look inside the south bedroom would give me all the answers.

The moment the thought appeared, I couldn’t suppress it.

I walked over and took out my lock-picking tools.

This time, the lock opened easily. Within a few breaths, I had disengaged the cylinder.

I gripped the doorknob and was about to open the door when my phone suddenly chimed.

That was the special notification sound I’d assigned to Daniel.

He must have found something about Evelyn.

I hurriedly checked the message.

As I read, a bone-deep chill spread through my body.

Evelyn had been purchasing psychiatric medication for a year. She’d used every method available to cut Ethan off from all his friends and acquaintances. She frequently visited religious temples and spiritual shrines.

She was even connected to a death.

What was she trying to do?

My breathing grew rapid. I couldn’t wait any longer.

I opened the door.

The horrifying sight before me made every hair on my body stand on end.

Behind me, Evelyn gave a cold, quiet laugh.

“I told you to leave. Why did you insist on staying?”