Chapter 11

After sending Yvonne away, Harriet followed the man into the clinic.

“It just so happens that my next appointment was canceled, so I have some free time.”

Eugene was a psychiatrist, and his workplace, though small, was a cozy clinic.

“It’s cramped, isn’t it? I just opened recently, so it’s still a bit disorganized and embarrassing.”

“No, it’s nice. It has a warm atmosphere.”

Harriet smiled at Eugene, who looked embarrassed, and slowly glanced around the clinic. It seemed to be an old building, with dark wooden walls and floors that stood out. The carpeted floor had two modest but comfortable couches, and in front of a well-lit window was a personal desk and chair.

On the wall were his medical license, a diploma from a prestigious medical school, and a membership certificate from a long-named association, proving he was a doctor.

“Do you have many patients?”

“Not many yet. I’m gradually getting more. I also need to hire new staff.”

Harriet nodded and took a sip from her teacup. As Eugene said, apart from an elderly nurse in the waiting room, there were no other staff.

The gray-haired nurse, stifling a long yawn, served Harriet and Eugene a warm cup of tea before quickly leaving the clinic.

“It’s delicious. What kind of tea leaves do you use?”

Harriet asked suddenly, savoring the fragrant tea scent lingering in her mouth.

“I’m not sure. I’m not good with these things. I’ll ask Dora later.”

Eugene replied naturally, hinting at a future meeting, and Harriet stared at him intently.

Eugene, perhaps feeling shy under her gaze, glanced away and took a sip of his tea. He seemed to have drunk it too quickly, as he suddenly placed the cup down, startled.

“Are you alright?”

“Oh… yes. It’s embarrassing.”

Eugene laughed awkwardly and cleared his throat. Harriet couldn’t help but let out a small laugh at his clumsy actions.

“Why are you laughing?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know if I should say this, but you’re cute.”

“…”

“You seem different from the last time.”

Harriet quickly added after speaking.

“Of course, in a good way.”

“Psychiatrists aren’t usually very sociable, after all.”

Eugene shrugged, taking her words in stride.

“By the way, may I ask what happened?”

“As I said, I just felt unwell.”

Harriet tried to evade the question, but Eugene looked at her steadily. Feeling burdened by his gaze, Harriet fiddled with her skirt and finally raised her head.

“It’s not about me.”

Although it was a top-secret matter, she wanted to confide in someone, and it was even better if that person was someone she didn’t know well. The person in front of her seemed discreet, and most importantly, he hadn’t made a fuss despite recognizing her identity. He seemed like a decent man.

“A friend had something happen in the past that they wanted to forget, and they said a similar thing happened in front of them again.”

“Interesting. How does your friend feel?”

“Well, I’m not them, so I’m not sure… They seem confused, and also…”

Eugene continued Harriet’s hesitant words.

“They’re angry. They must be sad, too. They don’t know how to react, and they probably just want to stay still.”

He was spot on. Harriet, startled, stared at Eugene in turn. Eugene, with an inscrutable smile, was about to say something when a knock sounded, and the nurse entered.

“Doctor, your scheduled patient is about to arrive.”

“Alright. Please have them wait for a moment when they arrive.”

The silence was broken. As soon as the nurse left the clinic again, Harriet gathered her belongings and stood up. Eugene, who also stood up, stopped her.

“Annie. If it’s alright, would you visit again? Not at the social gathering, but here. I’d like to hear more about your friend’s story. Of course, everything I hear will be taken to the grave.”

“…I can’t promise. And.”

Harriet smiled faintly and extended her hand.

“My name is not Annie, but Harriet Coco Vanetti. As you probably know.”

It was the first time a woman had so boldly initiated a handshake. Eugene, hesitating for a moment, took her hand.

As their hands clasped, Harriet blinked silently, feeling a different sensation. There was no tingling current or thrilling tension, but rather a sense of comfort and relief. She had confided some of her secrets to someone she had only met twice, yet instead of feeling anxious, she felt as if a burden had been lifted. It wasn’t… bad at all.

“My secretary must be waiting at the office. I should get going.”

Harriet savored the strange feeling for a moment before withdrawing her hand and turning to leave the clinic. Eugene, who had been silently staring at his own hand, snapped back to reality at the sound of a knock.

“Come in.”

As soon as permission was granted, the door swung open. Eugene’s face lit up with recognition upon seeing the person who entered.

“There was no last name on the reservation, so I wasn’t sure, but it really is you.”

The man stepped inside and plopped down in the seat Harriet had just vacated.

“It’s been a while, Lennox. How have you been?”

The man, snorting, folded his arms and lifted his chin. His sharp gray eyes scrutinized Eugene as if piercing through him.

“Don’t act familiar. You opened a clinic after returning home and didn’t contact me once.”

“Sorry. I’ve been busy settling in and dealing with family issues.”

“How is your mother?”

“She’s the same. Without sedatives, she can’t sleep, and the maids are suffering because she throws things whenever she’s slightly irritated due to her nervous breakdown.”

It was a harsh but honest reply. Lennox, who had been listening quietly, unfolded his arms. Eugene, smiling faintly, confessed honestly.

“It’s okay. I’m used to it. In fact, it’s much more bearable now that she no longer tries to control my life with her life on the line like before.”

“If necessary, you can stay abroad a bit longer. The support…”

“I don’t want to owe you more after the tuition support. I don’t want to be a burden to you for life. I already owe you a mountain of debt.”

“I’ve told you dozens of times you don’t need to repay it.”

“And I’ve refused dozens of times.”

Eugene swallowed a bitter smile and shook his head.

They were ostensibly equal classmates and friends, but in reality, there was a clear hierarchical relationship between them.

Lennox, who was considered perfect both inside and outside, and Eugene, who was diligent and smart but ultimately from the working class. Their connection, which seemed to have no intersection, began during their school days.

“Boasting about studying well despite being a penniless nobody. You’ll be stuck in the lower class for life.”

“…”

“Do you have anything to say… Y-young Master?”

“Why did you stop talking? Go on.”

“Well, we… I mean…”

“If you have nothing to say, then I will.”

“…”

“You’re not even smart. Nor are you a good person. Is it something to brag about when all you have is what your parents gave you?”

Lennox had intervened when he saw a group that was bullying Eugene and treating him like an eyesore.

He didn’t know what about him Lennox liked, but after that, Lennox approached him without hesitation and became his friend. Thanks to him, Eugene was able to receive the remaining scholarship he couldn’t get due to being second in his class from the Diorne family’s scholarship foundation, and he could attend a foreign university with full support for tuition and living expenses.

He was indeed a benefactor to whom Eugene was grateful and indebted, but because of that, he couldn’t feel entirely comfortable around him.

“By the way, a woman was here. Have you started dating someone?”

Lennox’s words made Eugene’s eyes widen. The door Harriet had just exited and the door Lennox entered were different. Even if their entry and exit times coincided, the corridors were different, so they wouldn’t have seen each other.

Startled by the unexpected keen observation, Eugene stared at his friend.

“How did you know? Did you plant someone in my clinic? In the ceiling, perhaps?”

“Why would I go to such lengths for a fledgling psychiatrist’s clinic?”

Lennox furrowed his brows at the absurd joke and listed his reasoning swiftly.

“I smelled perfume. A subtle rose scent. It’s not something you’d wear to see a doctor. Nor is it a scent meant to seduce someone. It’s probably someone you’ve recently met or just started a relationship with.”

“That’s creepy. Do you have a knack for women’s perfumes?”

“Not really, but the woman I mentioned before often wears this perfume.”

“Ah.”

Finally understanding, Eugene burst into laughter. Relaxing into his chair, he leaned back and changed the subject.

“Enough about me. Did you come because of that woman? Do you have something on your mind?”

Lennox took out a cigar from his jacket pocket and, instead of answering, lit the end with a match. After letting the long smoke dissipate like mist and taking a deep breath, he got to the point.

“There’s some advice I need from you.”