Chapter 32 Chapter Thirty-One

George Mellis was horrified by what had happened.He nearly destroyed everything he had hoped for.George hadn't fully realized what it meant to him to own Kruger-Brent Ltd.He was content with a life of accepting gifts from lonely women now and then.And now, married to Blackwell, he had a company at his fingertips, a company his father could never have dreamed of.Look at me, Dad, I'm alive again.My company is bigger than yours.It was no longer a game, he knew he was going to die to get what he wanted. George went to great lengths to portray the perfect image of a husband.He must stay with Alexandra whenever possible.He took her to lunch and insisted on coming home early each night.On weekends, they go to Kate Blackwell's beach house in East Hampton, Long Island, or fly to Duck Harbor on the company's small private jet.Duck Harbor was George's favorite place to go.He loved the old houses, with their beautiful antiques and precious paintings.Walking through the spacious room, he thought: Soon this will all be mine.It was an exciting feeling.

George is also the perfect grandson-in-law.He went out of his way to please Kate.She was eighty-one years old, the chairman of Kruger-Brent Ltd., a strong woman with a strong hand.George always remembered that the two of them would have dinner with the old lady once a week, and every few days, he would call her and chat with her casually.He carefully established for himself the image of a loyal husband and filial son-in-law. No one would have guessed that he was plotting to kill the two people he loved so much. ※※※ George's contentment with himself was suddenly shattered by a call from Dr. John Haley.

"I've made an appointment with a psychiatrist for you. Dr. Peter Templeton." Trying to soften his voice, George said flatteringly, "That's really unnecessary, Dr. Harry. I think—" "I don't care what you think. We've made an agreement—I won't report it to the police, and you'll have to be examined by a psychiatrist. If you're going to break your promise—" "No, no," said George hastily, "if you want me to go, I will." "Dr. Templeton's number is 5553161. He is waiting for your call. Today." With that, Dr. Harry dropped the phone with a thud.

The bloody meddling!thought George angrily.The last thing in the world he wanted was to waste time with a psychiatrist, but he dared not offend Dr. Harry's instructions.He'd have to call this Dr. Templeton and see him once or twice, and he'd be done. ※※※ Eve calls George's office. "I am at home." "You—?" he asked cautiously, "How are you?" "Come and see for yourself. Tonight." "It's hard to leave right now, Alex and I—" "8 o'clock." ※※※ He couldn't believe it.Eve stood in front of him, still as beautiful as before.He studied Eve's face carefully, the terrible damage he had done to her was gone.

"I can't believe it! You—you're exactly the same as ever." "Yes, I'm still pretty, aren't I, George?" She smiled, a feline sly smile, thinking about how her plans for him would work out.He is a sick animal and cannot live.He must pay the full price for his crime, but it is not yet time.She still needs him.They stood there smiling at each other. "Eve, I don't know how to express my apologies, I—" She held up a hand: "Let's stop talking about it, it's over. Nothing has changed." But George also remembered that things had changed a bit. "I got a call from Harry," he said, "and he has arranged for me to see the goddamn psychiatrist."

Eve shook her head and said, "No, tell him you don't have time." "I said, but if I don't go, he'll report the—accident to the police." "Damn it!" She stood there, lost in deep thought. "Who is he?" "The psychiatrist? Templeton. Peter Templeton." "I've heard of this man, he's famous." "Don't worry. I'll just lie in bed for fifty minutes without saying a word, and if—" Eve didn't listen to what he said.An idea had formed in her mind, and she was pondering it. She turned to George: "It's the best that could have happened."

※※※ Dr. Peter Templeton was about thirty-five, a little over six feet tall, broad-shouldered, with a sharp face and curious blue eyes.He's a doctor by profession, but he looks more like a football player.He was frowning now at the name of a patient on the appointment form: George Mellis, Kate Blackwell's grandson-in-law. Peter Templeton isn't interested in the troubles of the rich.Most of his colleagues would be delighted to see a celebrity.Peter Templeton saw quite a few of them when he first started his practice, but he soon discovered that he was incapable of empathizing with the plight of his patients.Rich celebrity widows screaming in his office because she wasn't invited to a social event; financiers threaten suicide for losing money in the stock market; overweight married women satiate their appetites Difficult to choose between weight loss centers.The world is full of problems, and Peter Templeton has decided early on that he has no interest in helping solve them.

George Mellis.Peter very reluctantly agreed to see him.Just for Dr. John Harley's sake. "I hope you'd do well to introduce him to other doctors, John," said Peter Templeton. "My schedule is full." "Just do it, Peter." "What's his problem?" "That's up to you to make the diagnosis. I'm just an old country doctor." "Fine," Peter agreed. "Let him call me." Here he is, Dr. Templeton pressed the intercom button on the desk and said, "Send Mr. Mellis in." Peter Templeton had seen photographs of George Mehlis in newspapers and magazines, but was still unprepared for the powerful masculine energy in him.He gave new meaning to the word "glamor."

They shake hands.Peter said, "Sit down, Mr. Mellis." George looked at the bed and said, "Sitting there?" "Anywhere, as long as you feel comfortable." George sat in a chair across the table, looked at Peter Templeton and smiled.He thought he would be scared when they met, but after talking to Eve, he was relieved.Dr. Templeton would be his companion, his witness. Peter looked at the man sitting across from him.When patients come to see him for the first time, they are invariably nervous.Others mask the tension with bravado.Some are silent, some talk, and some are defensive.And Peter didn't see any signs of nervousness in the man.On the contrary, he seems to be enjoying himself.Strange, thought Peter.

"Dr. Harry told me there's something wrong with you." George sighed, "I guess I have two questions." "Then why didn't you tell me?" "I'm so ashamed that I—I insist on coming here to see you." He leaned forward and went on earnestly, "I did something I've never done in my life, doctor, I beat a woman." Peter waited for him to speak. "We had a fight, I was dizzy, and when I realized what I was doing, I realized I...had beaten her." He choked his voice a little. "It was horrible." Peter Templeton knew in his mind what George Mellis' problem was.He likes to beat up women.

"Did you hit your wife?" "My wife's sister." Peter had seen occasional newspaper and magazine reports of the Blackwell twins at charity meetings and social events.They were very much alike, Peter recalled, and strikingly beautiful.Well, the man hit his wife's sister.Peter found himself a little interested.From the tone of George Melis's voice, he seemed to have only slapped her once or twice, which also interested Peter.If this were true, John Harry would not have insisted on seeing Melis himself. "You said you hit her, so did you hurt her?" "That's exactly what happened. I wounded her badly. As I said, I was knocked out, and when I came to, I—I couldn't believe what I had done." I came to my senses, what a wonderful excuse for self-justification.I didn't do it, it was something I did subconsciously. "What do you think caused this?" "Recently, I have been under extreme tension. My father is seriously ill. He has had several heart attacks. I miss him very much. My family is very close and harmonious." "Is your father here?" "He's in Greece." It's that Melis. "You said you had two problems." "Yes, my wife, Alexandra..." He stopped. "Do you have marital problems?" "That's not what it means. We love each other, but—" he hesitated, "Alexandra hasn't been doing well lately." "physically?" "Emotionally. She has been very depressed. She always talks about committing suicide." "Has she seen a doctor?" "She refuses to do it," George said with a wry smile. Too bad, thought Peter, that some Park Avenue doctor lost his chance to make a fortune. "Have you spoken to Dr. Harry about this?" "No." "He is the family's personal physician and I suggest you speak to him. He will refer you to a psychiatrist if he thinks it necessary." George Melis said nervously: "No, I can't let Alexandra think I'm talking about her behind her back. I'm afraid Dr. Harry will—" "Well, Mr. Mellis, I'll give him a call." ※※※ "Eve, we're in trouble," said George quickly, "and we're in trouble." "What happened?" "I did exactly what you said, and I said I was worried about Alexandra because she was suicidal." "Then?" "The damned doctor is calling Dr. John Haley about it!" "Oh, God! Don't let him do that." Eve paced back and forth in the room, and suddenly stopped: "Okay. Let me deal with Harry. Do you have an outpatient appointment with Templeton?" "Have." "Go ahead." ※※※ The next morning, Eve went to see Dr. Harry at his office.John Haley has feelings for the Blackwells.He watched the children grow into adults.He lived through the tragic death of Marianne and the attack on Kate.It was he who sent Tony to a mental institution.Kate was mentally scarred too much.Then Kate broke up with Eve.He couldn't imagine why, but it was none of his business. His responsibility was to ensure the health of this family member. When Eve walked into his office, Dr. Harley looked at her and said, "Keith Webster has worked miracles!" scar."Dr. Webster intends to make this scar disappear in a month or so," Eve said. Dr. Harry patted her on the shoulder and said, "It just makes you more beautiful, Eve, and I'm so happy." He motioned her to sit down. "What can I do for you?" "It's not me, John, it's Alex." Dr. Harry frowned: "What's wrong with her? Is it related to George?" "Oh, no," Eve said hastily, "George is doing fine. In fact, it's George who's worried about her. Alex has been behaving strangely recently. She's very depressed and might commit suicide." Dr. Harry looked at Eve and said decisively: "I can't believe it, this doesn't look like Alex's behavior." "I knew it, and I didn't believe it, so I went to see her. I was shocked by the change in her. She was really in a deep depression. I was so desperate that I couldn't go to my grandma and tell her, so I came to I'm looking for you here. You have to help her." Her eyes were moist, "I have already lost my grandma, and losing my sister, I can't bear it anymore." "How long has this been going on?" "Not sure, I begged her to talk to you, at first she couldn't insist, but then I convinced her, you have to help her." "Of course, I will. Let her come to me tomorrow morning. Don't worry, Eve. We have a lot of new drugs that are very effective." Dr. Harry sent Eve to the door of the office. He hoped that Kate would not be so heartless.What a caring child Eve was! ※※※ Eve returned to her apartment and carefully painted the red scar on her forehead with cold cream. ※※※ At ten o'clock the next morning, Dr. Harry's receptionist announced: "Mrs. George Mellis has come to see you, Doctor." "Let her in." She came in slowly, in a daze, she was pale and had dark circles under her eyes. John took her hand and said, "It's good to see you, Alexandra. I hear you're not feeling well. What's the matter?" Her voice was low: "I think it's a fool to bother you, John, I'm really not uncomfortable. If Eve hadn't insisted, I would never have come. I feel fine and in good health." "What about mentally?" She hesitated a little: "I didn't sleep well." "What else?" "You'd think I was a depressed person..." "I know you won't get there, Alexandra." She lowered her eyes: "I've been feeling depressed. A kind of burnt out and... fatigue. George tried to please me and tried to try to do something with me or take me somewhere to relax. The problem was I Feeling like I don’t want to do anything or go anywhere. Everything just seems—hopeless.” He listened to every word, watching her. "What else?" "I—I want to kill myself." Her voice was so faint he could barely hear it.She looked up at him and said, "Am I crazy?" He shook his head. "No, I don't think you're crazy. Have you ever heard of an anhedonia?" She shook her head. "A disturbance of the biological clock that causes the symptoms you describe. These are quite common symptoms, and there are newer drugs that are very effective in treating them. I will examine you, but I do not believe that I will find anything really abnormal. symptom." After the examination she dressed and Dr. Harley said, "I'll give you something called Welleutrin, which is a new generation drug for depression - a very effective new drug." The Chinese name is bupropion hydrochloride, which is antidepressant and treats nicotine dependence.) She watches listlessly as he writes the prescription. "I ask you to come back here a week from today. In the meantime, if you have any questions, you can call me anytime, day or night." He handed her the prescription. "Thank you, John!" she said. "I just hope I don't have those dreams again." "What dream?" "Oh, I thought I told you. I had the same dream every night. I was in a small boat and the wind picked up and I heard the sea calling. In the water, almost drowned..." She walked out of Dr. Harry's office into the street, leaning against the building, and took a deep breath.It's finally done, Eve thought triumphantly, I'm out of trouble.She threw the prescription away.