Upon hearing those last three words, Hayden Crawford lowered his hand and gently raised his handsome eyelids to glance at Corvus.
Corvus felt a chill at his neck, yet he stiffened it with a sycophantic smile, "Young Master, those words aren’t mine, they... they were said by Secretary Yarrow!"
Ivan Yarrow sneezed from afar; which little rascal placed the blame on him now?
However, Corvus wasn’t lying. Since Hayden Crawford returned to the City of Aethelgard, not a single woman had been by his side. He was very repellent to women’s advances, Annette Rathborne being an exception.
Hayden Crawford coldly retracted his gaze, "Drive."
"Yes, Young Master." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net
Hayden Crawford returned to the villa at Westerley Estate, where he now lived alone. His 21st psychological expert, Dr. Kane, had been waiting for some time.
Dr. Kane was a young man with pale skin, dressed in a white lab coat, who looked at Hayden Crawford with a gentle and polite demeanor, "Hello, Mr. Crawford, please have a seat."
Hayden Crawford sat on the sofa, his long legs elegantly and nobly crossed, displaying a cold and distant demeanor.
Dr. Kane sat opposite him, "Mr. Crawford, relax, we can chat now. Have you ever dated a girlfriend before?"
Hayden Crawford shook his head, "No."
"Since you haven’t dated a girlfriend, how do you know you’re indifferent to intimacy? It’s a simple issue, perhaps we should try dating a girlfriend?" Dr. Kane suggested.
Hayden Crawford pressed his thin lips together and then spoke in a deep voice, "I’ve been physically injured."
Dr. Kane’s gaze fell on the man’s trousers, "What was the cause?"
Hayden Crawford shook his head, "I don’t know either. I can’t remember how I got injured. In any case, I’m completely disinterested in women and dislike their approach. Recently, there has been a girl around me, pure and lively, who should be my type, but I don’t feel any desire for her."
Hayden Crawford only discovered a new scar below after returning to the City of Aethelgard, yet no matter how much he tried to recall, he couldn’t figure out how it got there.
This particular wound is quite severe, making it unreasonable for him not to remember. It’s a bit abnormal.
Moreover, he is 28 years old now; though he’s not driven by desire, it’s still a vigorous age, yet he feels no inclination, and his body doesn’t react.
He knows his body has issues, either indifference or impotence.
Regarding Annette Rathborne, he should like her. Her long black hair and the occasional lively mischievousness in her eyebrows sometimes touch his heart.
Dr. Kane nodded, indicating his understanding, "Mr. Crawford, since there’s a girl around you now, why not date her a bit, interact like a couple, and see if, as your affection for her deepens, you begin to desire her. Affectionate embraces between lovers are a form of intimacy, open your heart and try letting her in."
Hayden Crawford knew about the Crawford-Rathborne arranged marriage, Jude Crawford considered Annette Rathborne his prospective daughter-in-law. Honestly, it didn’t matter to him, whoever he spends his life with is fine. After marrying her, he’d treat his Mrs. Crawford with respect, giving her status, wealth, power, including children, and ensure fidelity. Moreover, Annette Rathborne is the only girl who can get close to him so far, marrying her wouldn’t be a bad idea.
However, currently, he feels no desire for any affectionate embrace with Annette Rathborne. Today, everyone urged him to kiss her when he didn’t want to.
Hayden Crawford looked at Dr. Kane, his deep voice laced with hoarse confusion, "I don’t know why, but I feel empty inside. Life isn’t particularly good or bad; I can’t feel interest in anything. Opening eyes to get up and closing eyes when the sun sets, life every day feels monotonous and mechanical, today Zane Crawford asked me if I’m happy, and I’m not at all happy. I don’t even know what happiness tastes like. I don’t know what I want, but I constantly feel... I’ve lost something crucial in my life."
Dr. Kane looked at the man’s handsome face etched in the dim light, intuitively sensing this man had suffered great psychological harm, yet he was living very quietly now.
"Mr. Crawford, next treatment, let’s try hypnosis; I’ll walk into your world to see if I can find answers for you, discovering what you have lost."
Dr. Kane departed, Hayden Crawford returned to his bedroom, took a cold shower, and went to bed.
His current routine is quite normal, he can sleep every night, though he doesn’t know when his sleep disorders were cured. He doesn’t erupt anymore, lose control, and no longer has nightmares, sleeping soundly till dawn.
Everything has improved; he has become well.
At this moment, "ding," a message came to his phone; it was from Annette Rathborne: "Hayden brother, please drive me to school tomorrow."
Hayden Crawford recalled Dr. Kane’s suggestion, did not refuse, and sent back a single word: "Okay."
This "Okay" made Annette Rathborne on the other end extremely delighted: "Hayden brother, thank you, I’m so happy. Go to bed early, see you tomorrow."
Hayden Crawford placed the phone on the nightstand and peacefully closed his eyes.
At this time, in the City of Aethelgard’s Sterling family.
The Sterling family’s patriarch, Mr. Sterling, pushed open the door to the room, his fiery temper already flared up, spoke from deep within his lungs, "Serena, did that rascal James Sawyer give you a call just now? Need me to bag him and drag him here for a beating to vent your anger?"
Serena Sterling stood on the ornate balcony, wearing a loose white dress that accentuated her graceful figure, and her pure black hair fell over her shoulders, revealing a delicate and beautiful profile.
Not seen in three months, she looked as though reborn, merely standing there, radiating a jade-like gloss akin to Aurora, her dust-free lively aura bewitching.
Mr. Sterling bellowed loudly, which made Serena Sterling quickly put her slender white finger to her lips in a "shh," "Father Sterling, keep it quiet, you’re frightening my birds."
Serena Sterling was feeding; beside her was a birdcage with three fluffy little birds inside.
"Serena, at a time you’re still feeding birds, you’ve kept these birds with you for three months now, never parted. Aren’t they just a handful of birds flying in the sky? If you like, I can catch you a whole grove of birds for your amusement!"
Mr. Sterling was extremely robust, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, just like a warrior, straightforward and frank.
Serena Sterling quickly declined, "Thank you, Father Sterling, even if a grove of birds, they aren’t as precious as these three little ones. As for James Sawyer, he didn’t fare well this time, he’s probably fuming, we’ll withdraw the marriage peacefully. Father Sterling, I’ve just arrived in Aethelgard, please don’t cause too big a scene for me, let’s keep it low profile."