He Paid Me To Strip So I Smashed His Head Instead Chapter 16

He Paid Me To Strip So I Smashed His Head Instead Chapter 16

A few days later, the second fish contacted me on his own.

Xavier called, said he needed to see me, that he was on his way to pick me up, and that I should get

ready.

I didn’t worry he’d set me up. I just dressed and went downstairs.

Minutes later, his car arrived. I opened the door and got in.

Xavier glanced at me but said nothing. He drove onto the road.

We didn’t talk the whole way.

I didn’t ask him where we were going either.

Who cares? I’d just adapt and perform as needed.

But I never expected Xavier to take me to a therapist’s office.

The therapist looked young, early thirties, wearing glasses. Gentle, soft-spoken, polite.

I looked around.

The office was elegantly decorated. The lighting was a warm yellow. The walls were painted a soft

pastel blue.

I sat on a plush couch and practically sank in. It was comfortable-much better than my own bed. I

relaxed into the cushions.

Xavier sat in the corner, silent.

The therapist sat on the couch opposite me, smiling gently.

“Let me introduce myself. I’m Julian Astor, Xavier’s friend.”

“Don’t be nervous. We’re just here to talk.”

I lifted my eyelids and glanced at the doctor, nodding.

“Okay.”

The session began. At first, Julian’s questions were standard-sleep, appetite, emotional state.

I answered half-truthfully, painting a picture of someone fragile from family loss and illness, yet

trying to stay strong.

The live comments drifted past my eyes.

[Here we go, the rival’s performance time!]

[Bet a bag of hot cheetos she’ll play victim!]

[Xavier’s really bringing her to a therapist?]

[Anyone else think Xavier actually cares?]

After a while, Julian’s voice softened further.

“Ms. Sterling, Xavier mentioned you’d spoken about an… ‘alternate personality’?”

Here it comes.

I blinked.

My eyes turned wary. I shot a quick glance at Xavier, then looked down, my fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of my shirt.

“Actually, I’m not sure.”

I let just the right amount of confusion seep into my voice.

Julian’s face seemed to blur. My gaze grew distant, as if lost in memory.

My voice was very soft. “Sometimes, I feel like I’ve changed.”

Like there’s another me watching. That me looks down, watching me suffer, struggle… change, bit

by bit, until I’m unrecognizable.

“Later, I started to think that cold me was the real me.

I hung my head, my hair falling over my lashes. My tone became a bit rambling.

“I often get confused. Which one is me? Who am I? Who is Serena Sterling…?”

She shouldn’t be like this. She wouldn’t beg Lucas. She wouldn’t copy Chloe.

“That’s not Serena Sterling. That’s not me. The me now is the real me…”

“No, that’s also Serena Sterling. That’s her. That’s also me…”

“I’m in pain. I often feel powerless. It hurts. It really hurts…”

“They… they’re watching me. It’s so cold. So cold… Are they laughing at me?”

“I have to protect Serena Sterling. As long as I can protect her… she only has me…”

My words came faster, babbling, mixed with fear of the illness and fragments of memory-like the

confused ramblings of someone unwell.

Julian listened patiently. Seeing my emotions were off, he gently took my hand. “Ms. Sterling, take a deep breath…”

“Don’t be afraid. No one is laughing at you. You’re very brave. You’re protecting Serena Sterling

very well.”

“Serena Sterling is good. She’s very grateful to you.”

I snapped back to reality, not realizing I was already crying.

My face was cold as I wiped away the tears. Then I walked up to Xavier and slapped him hard across

the face.

I used all my strength.

Xavier’s head snapped to the side.

I said coldly, “Who the hell do you think you are?”

“Bringing me here. What are you trying to prove?”

“That I’m crazy? Or that you’re so high and mighty you can dissect my pain whenever you want?”

I rubbed my palm, meeting Xavier’s pitch-black eyes.

I leaned in close to him, almost touching his nose, Our breaths tangled.

I gave him a bright smile. “Xavier, or maybe your conscience is finally waking up? Starting to care

about your ex-fiancée’s mental health?”

I kissed his cheek. “So proud. Finally acting like a decent human being.

“Keep it up. Keep pretending to be a person.”

With that, I ignored the stunned silence and walked out.