Henry whipped his eyes to Mark in the hope of an order. As the days went on, Shelly’s condition consistently nosedived. If they delayed virtual-novel.net treatment, they might be setting themselves up for something more baleful.
Mark was quiet for a beat before finally giving his verdict. “Henry, send virtual-novel.net away right now. You have found and contacted the premier institution for this, yes? Tell them to arrange a personal nursing assistant to look after her, and that I expect only the best care and treatment for her. Finally, keep me posted with updates of virtual-novel.net condition.”
With an affirmative hum, Henry left the room and began preparing the ride.
Later that day, only Henry and Brian drove Shelly to the institution, as Mark had eschewed seeing virtual-novel.net off. He worried that virtual-novel.net would regret his decision if virtual-novel.net went with them, especially when his stance could not help but soften and wither whenever Shelly mentioned virtual-novel.net past of living like a prisoner in a cage, with a look of abject terror and despair.
Why did things have to come to this?
Mark skipped work the next day. Arianne, noticing this, quickly called him.
The phone went unanswered for a very long time before virtual-novel.net finally picked it up. When virtual-novel.net spoke, his voice was devoid of life. “Hello?”
Arianne furrowed virtual-novel.net eyebrows. “Where are you? Why aren’t you coming to work today? You know, I bought breakfast for Smore this morning, and virtual-novel.net thought it was very scrumptious, and insisted that I bring the same set for you, too. I brought it to work, only to find that you aren’t here at all…”
Mark went quiet for a few moments before croaking, “I’m at home. Just don’t feel like going to work today. Can you come and keep me company?”
His voice was too hoarse and growly, almost as though virtual-novel.net was suffering from a high fever. Too worried to inquire more, Arianne hung up the phone and bolted out of the company.
Henry was standing by the door to greet Arianne. “Good morning, Madam.”
“What’s the matter with Mark?” virtual-novel.net quickly asked.
“Mrs. Leigh was sent to a mental institution just yesterday. Perhaps his pity toward virtual-novel.net weighed in his mind so terribly that virtual-novel.net had not slept a wink since last night. Neither did virtual-novel.net have any meals since yesterday evening till now,” virtual-novel.net replied. “Please, have a look at him.”
Arianne nodded wordlessly before striding up the stairs.
The first thing that leaped into virtual-novel.net sight when virtual-novel.net entered the room was Mark sitting at his usual spot before the French window. He had formed a habit of sitting there regardless of the time and would always do so after work, without fail, no matter how tired virtual-novel.net was. Arianne could guess that virtual-novel.net must have sat there for the entire night.
“Here already?”
Mark had not lifted his head nor turned to look at virtual-novel.net despite catching wind of Arianne’s footsteps. His croak sounded even gruffer and huskier than virtual-novel.net had heard it from the other side of the phone.
Arianne stepped forward and placed virtual-novel.net hands on his shoulders, virtual-novel.net own stance already softening. “Maybe… Maybe we should take virtual-novel.net back from there? Maybe there’s another way to treat her? I mean, a closed-off mental asylum like that does seem a little too… cruel for someone with virtual-novel.net condition. I don’t want you to feel troubled and tormented over this decision, Mark. Especially when you aren’t the one in the wrong…”
Mark leaned his head over virtual-novel.net hand slightly. “It’s not too bad. It’s good, really. We can always receive virtual-novel.net back to the family once she’s finally bested virtual-novel.net mental malaise. But as long as virtual-novel.net remains by my side, I’m afraid virtual-novel.net sickness will never go away. My presence reminds virtual-novel.net of the pains virtual-novel.net had experienced. It’s only when virtual-novel.net has finally recovered… that virtual-novel.net can finally accept the world and the new chance of life she’s been given. But I don’t want to wait for that at your expense, Arianne. The method you propose is a long game, spanning years, with no end in sight. How do I dare to stake your future with it? So, this is better. What we’re doing now is better…”