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Chapter Seven

“IT’S NICE TO SEE YOUagain, Serenity.” Dr. Fergus shook hands with his patient.

“It’s nice to see you, too, Dr. Fergus.”

After being discharged from the psychiatric ward, a fourteen-year-old Serenity had then requested him to be her therapist. After giving the matter serious thought, he had accepted, even though it required him to fly to Amsterdam several times a year and rent clinic space in a hospital near Serenity’s home.

Today was their first meeting for the year, and at seventeen, he was pleased to see that Serenity Raleigh had blossomed into a breathtakingly beautiful woman. She was dressed fashionably in a military green parka thrown over a white diamond-printed sweater, denim shorts, and black leggings. The doctor knew that she would only become more stunning over the years and could only wish that she would also become happier. God knew she deserved to be.

Pressing the record button, he set the player on the coffee table between them and asked, “How are you?”

“I’m fine as I can be, Doctor.”

Still suffering from guilt, but less so than last year, the doctor thought. It was obvious with the way her lips curved ever so slowly and cautiously, as if the girl still wasn’t convinced she had the right to smile.

To put her at ease, he changed tack and said conversationally, “Mrs. F has been keeping me abreast of all the latest gossip about you.”

Serenity’s cheeks flushed. “Most of it isn’t true, Dr. Fergus.”

He raised a brow, asking teasingly, “So that rumor about you and a certain Continian prince—-”

She shook her head vehemently. “He is not my boyfriend and never was. I...I have never had one, Doctor.”

“I see. Why’s that?”

“Just not interested.”

The words came out as a mumble, which interested the doctor greatly. Perhaps his patient had a crush, someone she didn’t feel comfortable talking about? But if so, why?

“Do you have any crushes, Serenity?”

She shook her head quickly, too quickly.

He changed tacks again. “How’s your life at home?”

“It’s okay.” Serenity was staring hard at her hands, avoiding his gaze.

“You’re getting along with your stepmother?”

“Yes.”

“You know you shouldn’t lie to me, don’t you, Serenity?”

The younger girl bit her lip. “She’s...the usual.”

“Which means?” he prodded gently.

She shrugged uneasily. “Just that...she doesn’t talk or look at me, and I c-can’t blame her. I’m not her child, and if not for the will, we both know our lives would have never crossed.”

“And your sister?”

Serenity didn’t speak right away. Even now, the shock hadn’t really worn off. Ever since that scene during her first internship, the local media had become obsessed about her, and Serenity’s own sister had fanned the flames, using every opportunity to drop not-so-subtle hints about Willem having taken Serenity under his wing because of their relationship.

“Are you getting along well with Shane?”