Chapter 3

Evelyn's POV

Gideon did come back.

He brought Mia's favorite mousse cake, wearing that nauseating mask of devotion on his face.

"Mia, I'm sorry. I've been too busy with the company these past few days and neglected you."

Mia sat on the sofa, holding a pair of scissors, cutting up the designer bags Gideon had given her.

The floor was littered with scraps of leather.

Gideon's eyelid twitched. He put down the cake and tried to rush over to grab the scissors.

"Mia, what are you doing? Don't hurt yourself!"

Mia looked up, her eyes somewhat unfocused yet carrying a strange excitement.

"Gideon, you're back? Look, there seem to be bugs in these bags. They keep making noise. It's giving me a headache. I cut them open and the bugs ran away."

This was the script I'd taught Mia. A touch of neurosis, but not too exaggerated.

Gideon froze for a moment, then turned to look at me standing in the corner.

I gave Gideon a slight nod and mouthed the words "having an episode."

A flash of barely concealed pleasure crossed Gideon's eyes, but he hid it well, immediately putting on an expression of distress.

"Mia, have you been under too much stress lately? It's okay, I'm here. Evelyn, go call Dr. Hayes. Have him come check on Mia."

Dr. Hayes was Gideon's college friend, now a psychiatrist at a private clinic.

In the original timeline, it was Dr. Hayes who repeatedly issued false diagnoses for Mia, calling normal anxiety bipolar disorder and insomnia a precursor to schizophrenia.

I'd been waiting for Dr. Hayes to make this move.

"Of course, Gideon. I'll contact him right away."

I turned toward the kitchen, pretending to make a call, but actually pulled out a packet of powerful laxatives from my bag.

Dr. Hayes arrived quickly, carrying his signature silver medical case, wearing gold rimmed glasses, the very picture of a refined scumbag.

"Gideon, how is Mia's condition?"

"Not good. She was just cutting bags, saying there were bugs inside. Dr. Hayes, please take a look. Has that illness gotten worse?"

Gideon spoke while giving Dr. Hayes meaningful looks.

Dr. Hayes understood perfectly. He sat across from Mia and began the diagnostic routine he'd rehearsed countless times.

I walked over carrying water I'd just poured.

"Dr. Hayes, thank you for coming. Have some water."

I deliberately handed the doctored glass to Dr. Hayes, my movements respectfully flawless.

Dr. Hayes took the water without suspicion and drank a large gulp.

"Miss Lancaster, have you been hearing strange voices lately? Or seeing things other people can't see?"

Mia hugged her knees, trembling. "Yes, many people are cursing me, saying I don't deserve to live..."

Her acting skills. Such a waste she wasn't winning Best Actress awards.

Gideon put his arm around Mia's shoulders with false concern. "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Those are hallucinations."

Less than ten minutes later, Dr. Hayes's expression began to change.

Sweat broke out on his forehead. He clutched his stomach, his face contorting.

"Um... Gideon, may I use the restroom?"

"Over there."

Dr. Hayes practically waddled into the bathroom with his legs squeezed together.

While Gideon went to the balcony to take a call, probably reporting the situation to Lydia, I quickly walked to Dr. Hayes's medical case on the coffee table and opened his laptop.

I knew Dr. Hayes's password. In the previous timeline, when he was on trial in court, this password was made public as evidence. It was his first love's birthday.

The computer booted up quickly. I rapidly located a folder named "Patient Files."

Inside was a medical record for Mia that had been prepared in advance, brazenly stating "severe bipolar disorder with violent tendencies, recommend involuntary hospitalization."

Besides Mia's, there were several other false medical records of billionaire wives. Dr. Hayes was apparently a repeat offender.

I pulled out a flash drive and copied the entire folder as fast as I could.

The progress bar crawled agonizingly slowly. I kept my eyes on the screen while listening for sounds from the bathroom and balcony.

The toilet flushed, followed by the sound of the door handle turning.