He Does Not Deserve My Devotion-Chapter 15: Hypnosis

"Let go of me."

Nina Walsh struggled, but Aiden Sinclair held her down.

Nina Walsh sneered. "You don’t love money? If you don’t love money, then what do you call your constant schemes and struggles against Julian Sinclair? Playing house?"

Aiden Sinclair grabbed her by the jaw, forcing her to look at him. "What if I give you money, then? How about I keep you for another two years?"

’Keep me? So in his eyes, I’m just a kept woman, a mistress.’

As if she’d heard the most ridiculous joke, Nina Walsh shoved Aiden Sinclair’s hands away with all her might.

"I’ll sleep with anyone before I ever sleep with you again. Aiden Sinclair, stop debasing yourself."

Aiden Sinclair’s face darkened. He strode forward, swept her up by the waist, and lifted her into his arms.

Nina Walsh’s head spun as she was thrown onto the sofa. Aiden Sinclair’s mountain-like body pressed down on her. A button from his shirt, torn off in the struggle, flew to the floor with a sharp CLICK.

"Don’t forget, I have proof that you stole my files. The freedom you have is a gift from me."

Aiden Sinclair was threatening her with the stolen files, but Nina Walsh shot back, "That’s right! And you’re the one who killed my child!"

Aiden Sinclair’s expression dimmed, and the strength in his hands suddenly slackened.

Nina Walsh sneered. ’Could the ruthless Aiden Sinclair actually feel guilty and ashamed about the child? I don’t believe it.’

She stood up, turning her back to him to fix her clothes.

"You keep hurting me because you think I stole those so-called files of yours, don’t you? I didn’t steal your files! If I did, may heaven strike me down and make it so I can never have a child or be a mother for the rest of my life!" Nina Walsh raised her hand to the heavens and made a solemn vow.

Aiden Sinclair’s heart trembled. Something he had always believed without a shadow of a doubt suddenly began to waver.

"If you need money, you can come to me anytime."

Before leaving, Aiden Sinclair didn’t forget to toss out one last insulting remark.

Nina Walsh gritted her teeth. ’Even if I die, I will never be Aiden Sinclair’s lover!’

...

When Nina Walsh returned to the Sheridan Family estate, she received several messages on her way. Declan Grant reminded her to take her medicine, Michelle Quinn asked if she had gotten home safely, and Milo Preston asked if she was free tomorrow to go to the movies with him.

Nina Walsh took the medicine bottle she carried with her out of her bag, took a picture, and sent it to Declan Grant. Like he was coaxing a child, he replied: ’Good girl.’

As Nina Walsh was looking at her phone, the door to her room suddenly opened. Wendy Sherman was standing in the doorway. "Dad wants you downstairs."

The smile vanished from Nina Walsh’s face. She casually put her bag down. "I know."

"If you want that five million, you’ll go down right now," Wendy Sherman said aggressively.

Nina Walsh had no choice but to turn and follow Wendy Sherman downstairs. Once they were downstairs, Wendy doubled back and snuck furtively into Nina’s room.

Wendy Sherman rummaged through Nina Walsh’s room and found her bag. Inside was a container of pills with no label.

Wendy stealthily took one pill and hid it in her pocket.

...

Downstairs, Nina Walsh was negotiating with Brian Sherman.

Nina’s attitude was firm. "There are ten hours left. Is everything ready?"

Brian Sherman, his face looking as if he’d just eaten shit, produced a file folder and a check.

"Everything is ready, but I have one condition."

"What condition?"

"Before I give you these things, you must go to the Grant Family in person and tell the Grants that you will not marry Declan Grant."

Nina Walsh didn’t hesitate. "Fine. But I want another five million."

Brian Sherman was so angry he leaped up from his chair. "Nina Walsh, don’t push your luck!"

Nina replied nonchalantly, "Don’t want to pay? Then we’ll go down together. I’ve already set up a timed message. If I don’t get what I want by tomorrow, the secret from five years ago, along with the dirty story of how you got the Breyven project, will all be made public."

Brian Sherman looked as if someone was holding a gun to his head. His expression changed drastically, and he immediately compromised. "Fine! As long as you go to the Grant Family and make things clear, I’ll give you another five million."

With that, he picked up an invitation from the coffee table. "The Grant Family is having a banquet tomorrow. As long as you publicly declare that you won’t marry Declan Grant, I’ll transfer the money to your account immediately."

Nina Walsh took the invitation and turned to leave.

Brian Sherman couldn’t resist adding a threat. "Don’t try any tricks. You’re all alone. If I really wanted to deal with you, I have plenty of ways. Take the money and get the hell out of my sight."

Nina Walsh was long accustomed to Brian Sherman’s vicious words. For a petty man who could hide his true nature in the Walsh Family for ten years for the sake of money, selling out and using his own daughter was nothing.

’She didn’t care. Right now, she just wanted to get her company and the money back as soon as possible, and then leave the Sheridan Family. That was all she wanted.’

’Business is a battlefield. Brian Sherman had snatched a project from Aiden Sinclair—it was like snatching food from a tiger’s mouth. Aiden would definitely strike back. What awaited the Sherman Group was certainly not a happy ending.’

...

「Meanwhile, at Crestfall’s most prestigious psychiatric clinic.」

Aiden Sinclair lay on the recliner with his eyes closed, his lips pressed into a thin line and his brows tightly furrowed. After a moment, his hands clenched into tight fists, his pupils darted rapidly beneath his eyelids, and his forehead was beaded with cold sweat.

The psychologist beside him saw that something was wrong, snapped his fingers, and broke the hypnosis.

A few seconds later, Aiden Sinclair opened his eyes. They were filled with exhaustion, as if he had just fought a grueling battle.

The doctor asked, "Mr. Sinclair, did you discover anything new in your dream this time?"

Aiden Sinclair recalled the dream: bone-chilling seawater, an impenetrable dark blue shadow, and an endless feeling of suffocation. It was as if he had fallen into the deep sea, watched by the terrifying gaze of Death itself. Just as he was on the verge of collapse, a young woman swam over like a fish, held him tight, and pulled him out of the water.

Every time, the dream would end abruptly at this point. But this time, he finally saw the young woman’s silhouette.

Aiden Sinclair picked up a pencil and quickly sketched the outline of a young woman on a piece of white paper. In her hair was a distinctive butterfly-shaped barrette.

The psychologist said excitedly, "Mr. Sinclair, did you see this girl in your dream? We’ve been treating you for so long, and we finally have a breakthrough!"

Aiden Sinclair didn’t seem satisfied. "But I still can’t fall asleep on my own."

Ever since he fell into the water and was rescued six years ago, he had suffered from insomnia.

Whenever he fell asleep, he would dream of being thrown into a dark abyss thousands of meters deep. Over time, the fear and suffocation made it impossible for him to sleep normally.

"When was the last time you fell asleep naturally, Mr. Sinclair?"

Aiden Sinclair thought for a moment. ’The last time I fell asleep was in the basement.’

"A week ago."

"And was it again because you were holding that girl and smelling her scent?" the doctor asked.

"Yes."

"Have you tried with any other women? Or is she the only one?"

"Only she works."

The doctor was puzzled. "Since she can effectively help you fall asleep, and you’ve been using this method for two years, why not continue with it, Mr. Sinclair? Otherwise, with chronic insomnia and the pressure of your high-intensity work, your body will be overdrawn and eventually break down."

...

「Lividia Villa」

The driver took Clara Jacobs back to the villa, but Aiden Sinclair didn’t return, even late into the night.

She couldn’t help but worry. Aiden Sinclair hadn’t been back for almost a week. Every night was either a social engagement or overtime at the office.

A maid asked, "Ms. Jacobs, the scented diffuser you ordered arrived this afternoon. Should I bring it up to your room?"

"What scented diffuser?" Clara Jacobs didn’t remember ordering one.

The maid brought over an exquisite gift box and praised, "This one. I saw you use this brand in the bathroom, Ms. Jacobs. Could it be that the Young Master ordered it for you? The Young Master is so thoughtful toward you, Ms. Jacobs."

Clara Jacobs glanced at the item. The gift box was printed with brilliant wild roses.

’Isn’t this the same scented diffuser she and Nina Walsh had fought over at the aromatherapy shop half a month ago?’

’She remembered that night at the bar, Nina Walsh had given it to Aiden Sinclair in person, only for him to throw it in the trash.’

’The people at the bar must have seen it wasn’t cheap and sent it back to Aiden.’

"Oh, this. Now I remember. I’m the one who ordered it."

As a thought occurred to her, Clara Jacobs took the diffuser back to her room and eagerly lit it.

Soon, a faint scent of magnolia drifted through the room. It was fresh and pleasant, making her feel more relaxed than a day at the spa. Clara Jacobs instantly fell in love with the fragrance.