Lavinia looked lost, her eyes clouded with confusion. She had forgotten many things, and she was
certain she didn''t know anyone named Jacob. But her dad talked as if she should know this Jacob.
Lucian knew better than to push Lavinia''s understanding too hard at this moment.
"You don''t know him. He''s just a friend of mine."
"That''s a relief. I thought I had forgotten something important."
Lucian pocketed his phone and let Lavinia wheel him away.
...
At the Pock family dinner table, silence enveloped the three of them.
Helen wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders, her eyes brimming with sadness.
"This child, she''s had a tough life. Sexton, go contact that doctor you mentioned. See what it''ll take
for her to treat Lavinia. You''ve got the means, after all. Money is no object! If it could heal Lavinia,
we''d spare no expense."
Sexton fretted over Lavinia''s condition, uncertain if Noe would agree to treat Lavinia. He couldn''t
force Noe if she was unwilling, but he hoped Noe would consider it. He hade to trust
Noe''s medical skill above all others!
Helen was getting irritated watching him pace. "What kind of medical wizard is even beyond your
reach?"
Jacob spoke up anxiously, "Dad, I can reach out!"
He could use his connections to get in touch with the medical prodigy, willing to offer anything for
Lavinia''s treatment.
Sexton found himself in a bind, caught between a rock and a hard ce. He didn''t want to pressure
Noe. His eyes lit up as Noe walked in with Palmer, feeling as though providence had answered
his call.
Noe handed a gift box to Old Mrs. Pock, "Grandma Helen, my mom bought this for you."
Helen dabbed at the tears in her eyes. "Oh, thank you, dear."
Sensing the low spirits around her, Noe frowned slightly. "If I''m intruding, I can leave now."
Palmer caught Noe''s wrist, keeping her there. He didn''t want his family''s issues to cause her any
difort. Whatever it was, it should be discussed openly.
"What''s going on?"
Sexton made up his mind and approached Noe, grabbing her hand. "Noe, I have a favor to ask
of you!"
Noe was startled by his earnest look.
Grandpa Sexton had always been kind to her, and she could tell he was in a tough spot.
"Grandpa Sexton, what is it?"
"It''s about Lavinia''s condition. I''m really putting you on the spot here, but you''re the only one I trust!"
Noe was surprised to hear that Sexton was referring to Lavinia''s illness.
Jacob''s disheveled appearance must have been because he found out Lavinia was still alive.
Jacob, in shock, asked, "Dad, is Noe the doctor you''ve been talking about?"
Sexton nodded vigorously. "If it weren''t for Noe and Marcel, I wouldn''t be here today. I trust her
medical skill!"
Noe nced around, noticing everyone’s expectant gaze fixed on her.
"Lavinia''s brain tumor surgery carries a significant risk, particrly given her rare condition and
psychological issues. Her central nervous system is more fragile than most. I''ve been working with
Professor Calvin on a treatment n. If I perform the surgery, the sess rate is just over fifty
percent."
"But if anyone else performs it, it’ll be less than thirty percent." Her voice was soft but filled with
resolve and confidence.
Jacob, taken aback, looked at the young woman standing before him.
Noe, with her hair loosely tied and an air of understated elegance, exuded calm assurance.
Meeting her serene gaze, Jacob felt a wave of trust wash over him.
"A fifty percent chance for brain surgery is already remarkable!"
Noe gently shook her head. "What I want to discuss is Lavinia''s dissociative identity disorder. It
has been overshadowed by her tumor, but I suspect her current symptoms are linked to the
disorder. Uncle Jacob, what is the Lavinia you know like? That persona is likely her core identity."
Jacob''s eyes widened in realization. "Dissociative identity disorder? You mean, Lavinia has multiple
personalities? That exins..."
He suddenly remembered the odd detail that had been bothering him.
"The Lavinia that spoke on the phone had an ent from Imperial City, but her mother was from the
south, and she grew up speaking with a southern ent. She never spoke with an Imperial City
ent before!"
Noe calmly exined, "That detail isn''t crucial; she could have learned itter. What''s important is
identifying Lavinia''s primary personality, the one that remembers ra’s existence."
That Lavinia knew she had a daughter and remembered Jacob too!
"The brain tumor actually protected Lavinia, making her particrly forgetful. She forgot the bad
things, or rather, the thing that hurt her the most."
Dissociative identity disorder was actually a way for Lavinia to protect herself.
"Uncle Jacob, I needed to know what Lavinia''s primary personality was like in order toe up with
a treatment n."
The one who understood the old Lavinia the best in the world was Jacob!
Jacob sank into memories, trying to piece together the Lavinia he once knew.
“Lavinia was always bold and confident. As researchers, she possessed a sharp mind, akin to
ra''s, with top-notch data uracy. She had a heart of gold, the kindest soul I''ve ever met. ra,
well, wasn’t much like us. She resembled a Schnabel more, possessing the easy grace of your
brothers and the ability to stand her ground. Even when I ticked her off, Lavinia would calmly
exin things to me. ra...she''d just tell me I''m nuts."
Noe raised an eyebrow.
Was Jacob equating ra''s sharp tongue to self-defense, much like the legendaryebacks of
the Schnabel boys? Thinking about it, she did share a striking resemnce in temperament with
her siblings.
The kids from the Schnabel family, unmistakably cut from the same cloth!
Jacob had a lot to say, and Noe took mental notes of it all.
"Alright, I''ll work on this with Professor Calvin."
"Let me know as soon as you find something!"
Noe nodded, promising to do so before she said her goodbyes.
Sexton nudged Palmer. "It''s pitch ck outside, and it’s not safe for Noe to walk home alone in
the dark. Go walk her home! Don''t worry abouting back; just make sure Noe gets home
safe!"
Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.
The Pock and Schnabel residences were just a short walk from each other, and the streets were
well-lit. How was it pitch ck?
Noe watched quietly as the old man fibbed.
Ever amodating, Palmer walked Noe back to the Schnabel Manor. Upon reaching the
doorway, illuminated by the moon’s soft glow, Palmer looked at her with gentle eyes, his demeanor
calm.
"Noe, thanks for agreeing to treat my aunt-inw."
Noe smiled softly. "Don''t mention it. I''m just helping my sister find her mom!"