CHAPTER 34: CHAPTER 34: THE TWO GET INTIMATE IN THE DANCE STUDIO

In order to overcome her psychological barrier sooner, she actually went to the hospital to register for the psychology department, wanting to use the extreme method of immersion therapy.

This therapy is also known as exposure therapy or shock therapy, where the patient faces the most intense fear stimuli head-on.

It’s like making someone with a fear of heights stand at the edge of a rooftop a hundred stories high, staring into the abyss.

According to Vera Sheridan’s current psychological state and fear level, she is not suitable for such therapy at all and can only undergo gradual desensitization therapy.

"Maeve, I know you don’t want me to suffer, but I can’t wait any longer, I want to try," Vera said with a determined look in her eyes.

It was a determination to head towards Ian Kane without any hesitation.

Maeve Holloway had heard about The Kane Family’s situation over the phone. Although Ian Kane didn’t want Vera to make any sacrifices, Vera was a person with a high sense of morality and responsibility and was also very strong-willed; she didn’t want to hold Ian back.

"Vera, what can I say about you... this kind of therapy is very extreme, I’m afraid of the side effects, hurting you even more!"

Vera smiled, "I just had a heart function test, and the doctor said my heart is healthy and strong, able to withstand it."

"As long as I can endure it, after multiple rounds of shocks, maybe I can overcome it. I’ve always wanted to overcome that shadow and become a complete person. Psychological therapy is better than going for IVF, I think Ian and I are a normal couple, and our child should come into this world naturally... for love."

Maeve looked at Vera, filled with anticipation, and recalled the old Vera, who seemed aloof but actually retreated into her shell.

Having said so much, there was no point to persuade her further, so she simply supported her and let her head towards happiness.

Vera reminded her again, "By the way, don’t tell Ian Kane, he can’t bear to see me wearing myself out."

Maeve nodded.

...

Vera had just pushed open the door of the therapy room, and what greeted her was complete darkness.

The projection screen on the wall suddenly lit up, with fresh red blood splattering, almost as if splashing right at her face, the air filled with the smell of iron, reminiscent of the smell of blood from her memories.

Vera wanted to scream, but her throat felt like it was filled with concrete, unable to make a sound.

On the screen, naked bodies of men and women intertwined, the air filled with suggestive moans, her stomach started to turn, stumbling backward, she slowly crouched down along the wall, hugging her knees and covering her mouth, crying silently.

In the monitoring room, the psychologist noticed she was regressing to the moment when she was eight, being taken by her mother to catch her father cheating...

The psychological treatment ended, and Vera leaned over the trash can, vomiting from nausea.

...

Ardendale had entered the humid rainy season.

In the evening, the entire Kane Residence was enveloped in a moist curtain of rain.

Ian Kane stood tall and straight, standing by the side of the traditional Chinese corridor, answering a call.

"President Kane, Madam has recently been secretly visiting the hospital for psychological treatment, using the extreme shock therapy, which will be very painful. Do you want to intervene?"

Ian Kane squinted slightly, his gaze fell on the white wall base, the heavy rain hitting the green plantain leaves.

After a while, he replied, "Pretend not to know," then turned back to the main house dining room.

At the long rectangular rosewood table, Old Master Kane sat at one end, saw Ian Kane return, put down his chopsticks, and wiped his mouth.

His keen eyes looked at Ian Kane, "Ian, your elder brother’s family is expecting to welcome a new member by the end of the year. Are you not in a hurry?"

Hearing this, Jean Crowe tightened her chopsticks and listened to her sister-in-law beside her, who chuckled and said, "Dad, Ian loves his wife, Vera is a dancer and needs to maintain her figure."

After speaking, her sister-in-law glanced at her, as if to say, "Isn’t it because she can’t have one!"

Jean Crowe instinctively looked at her son across the table.

He was her only support in this family, her pride.

Ian Kane used the serving chopsticks, picked a piece of grouper, and carefully removed the bones before placing it in front of his mother.

Jean Crowe’s eyes warmed.

After Ian Kane sat down, he wiped his hands and then looked at the somber-faced Old Master Kane, "Grandfather, I heard you’ve been studying ’The Book of Changes’ lately, seems true, you even predicted the year’s end event!"

He spoke with a slight smile, obviously hinting at something.

Old Master Kane’s graying eyebrows slightly raised, his gaze sharp, staring at him.

Mrs. Kane, being straightforward, chuckled and said, "Ian, your sister-in-law just had her prenatal check-up three months ago, of course delivering by year’s end! No need for divination, what a joker, this child!"

Ian Kane raised his tea cup, gently skimming the tea leaves with the lid.

Just then, urgent footsteps approached from afar.

"Madam, something terrible has happened—" The person had just entered the main house, shouting anxiously.

The First Madam Crowe stood up, ready to scold the maid for shouting, only to hear her say, "The young mistress was... doing that with a man outside... miscarried! She’s in surgery now!"

These words plunged the entire hall into a deathly silence.

Old Master Kane looked grim, Mrs. Kane swayed, her lips trembling, even Jean Crowe was too shocked to move.

Only Ian Kane leisurely sipped his tea.

The First Madam Crowe came to her senses, left her seat without saying a word, and hurried out.

Jean Crowe fingered her Buddha Beads, silently chanting, "Namo Amitabha..."

Inwardly cursing: "What goes around comes around!"

Teaching them a lesson for slandering her all those years ago!

Old Master Kane suddenly slapped the table, "Ian Kane! You—"

He had orchestrated this!

Ian Kane set down his tea cup, meeting his understanding gaze, lips slightly curved, "Grandfather, it seems your ’Book of Changes’ studies aren’t thorough enough, this reading, I already figured out."

Old Master Kane’s forehead veins bulged, staring emptily at his well-dressed, elegantly behaving but ruthlessly scheming grandson, unable to find the words to speak.

Ian Kane stood up, picked up his suit jacket, and looked down at him, "Someday we should spar together."

"Mom, I’ll head back first," he softly said to his mother, then strode away.

Outside, the main house maid respectfully handed him a food box, which contained the meals he had ordered the kitchen to specially prepare for Vera.

Just about to step out, Old Master Kane’s indignant voice came from inside, "You may have schemed this time, but you won’t scheme the next!"

Confident that he and Vera couldn’t have children!

Ian Kane squinted his eyes, his tall figure leisurely strolling through the corridor, gradually disappearing into the night...

...

Vera endured four treatments.

With the dance troupe’s tour concluding, the girls resumed normal training, and she would occasionally visit the dance studio.

"Nina Sullivan’s boyfriend seems to have arrived, and the two of them are being romantic in the dance studio..."

"Did you see who it was clearly?"

"No, they were in suit and tie, with extraordinary poise."

Vera had just reached the corner of the second floor when she heard the girls’ conversation drifting down from the third floor.

She went up to the third floor, standing by the railing, instinctively looking towards the parking spaces at the dance troupe’s entrance, seeing only one luxury car, her own Phantom.

There was no sign of Quentin Hawthorne’s car.

Compelled by an inexplicable impulse, Vera walked towards Dance Studio 3, where the back door was ajar, and inside was all dark, with all curtains drawn.

She raised her hand and knocked on the door panel.

The door panel creaked open.

In one glance, Vera saw Nina and a familiar man’s figure in the corner...