"Those are signs of long-term abuse, sir."
The words rang violently in Edmund's head, like an alarm that refused to stop.
"What did you just say?"
"They are signs of—"
Before Daniel could finish, something flew past him. He froze as a cold breeze brushed against the side of his face.
CRASH!
The loud sound of something shattering filled the office. Daniel's ears began to ring, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead. He swallowed hard, his body trembling as he clenched his fists and slipped them into the pockets of his lab coat.
Behind him lay an unrecognisable object. It was almost impossible to tell what it had once been, judging by how thoroughly it had shattered.
The atmosphere in the room grew colder, and the pressure weighing down on Daniel intensified. His breathing became so difficult that he had to part his lips and take small, shallow breaths.
His gaze shifted to the desk, where a precious vase had once stood.
Now, however, it was gone.
Well, there goes millions, Daniel thought miserably.
Even under the terrifying pressure, he couldn't help feeling a pang of sorrow over the loss of such a priceless vase.
What finally pulled him out of his thoughts was the cold stare directed at him. A shiver ran down his spine. He knew that look all too well.
Edmund Devereux was furious.
Daniel lowered his head, staring at his shoes. He had absolutely no desire to become the next thing scattered across the office floor.
Edmund could barely contain his rage. He wanted to release the anger building inside him, but he forced himself to remain calm. Now was not the time to lose control. There was a far more important matter to deal with.
He leaned back in his leather chair, raised a hand to massage his temples, and frowned. After a moment, he closed his eyes.
"Can she be treated?"
His voice was low and deep, carrying a trace of anger. Yet beneath it lay something he could neither hide nor control.
Worry.
Fear.
Daniel raised his head slightly and glanced at the man before him. He carefully considered his response, mentally choosing his words as though the wrong ones might cost him his life.
"Yes..."
He paused.
Edmund almost released a sigh of relief, but Daniel's next words stopped him.
"But the mental damage is different."
Daniel hurriedly finished his statement.
Edmund's eyes snapped open, fixing him with an intense stare.
"What do you mean?"
Daniel swallowed. His throat was beginning to feel dry.
"We don't know the exact cause of her memory loss, sir." He paused, studying Edmund's expression before continuing. "However, there are several possibilities. The abuse she suffered may have contributed to her memory loss. It's also possible that her mind is blocking certain memories. And then..." He hesitated briefly. "There may be other underlying causes we haven't identified yet."
Edmund's expression darkened further.
Daniel immediately regretted having to continue.
"Continue."
Daniel shivered but forced himself to speak.
"If we treat her physical injuries now, we can help her recover physically. But the psychological effects are more complicated. We can't force her to recover memories or determine exactly how she'll respond. She may begin remembering things on her own, but we'll need to monitor her condition and assess her as more information becomes available."
When he finished speaking, Daniel silently prayed that nothing would go wrong. He held his breath, waiting for Edmund's response.
"Can her memory be recovered?"
Daniel paused, quickly gathering his thoughts before answering.
"Yes, sir. It's possible, but it depends on several factors. We can't guarantee when or how much she'll remember. We need to understand her condition better before making any predictions."
Edmund fell silent, deep in thought.
Daniel stood before him like a statue, not daring to move.
After a while, Edmund spoke again. The coldness in the room had eased slightly, but the expression on his face remained icy.
"How long before she fully recovers?"
Daniel didn't dare delay his answer.
"Her vital signs are stable, and her physical condition is improving rapidly, sir. If her recovery continues at this pace, she may be able to recover from her physical injuries within a month. However, her memory and psychological recovery are different matters. I can't give you an exact timeline for those."
Silence settled over the office.
Finally, Edmund waved his hand dismissively.
"All right. You may leave."
Daniel wasted no time.
He practically sprinted out of the office, and the moment the door closed behind him, he dropped to his knees and bowed three times.
"Thank God I survived!"
A small tear slipped from the corner of his eye.
The guards standing nearby glanced at him before turning their faces away. They were already accustomed to this behaviour, so it didn't surprise them in the slightest.
In fact, some of them even thought it was the least anyone could do to express gratitude after surviving an encounter with their boss.
They had to admit that working for Edmund Devereux was truly terrifying.
Meanwhile, inside the office, Edmund remained seated, lost in his thoughts.
His anger had not disappeared, but beneath it lay something far more painful.
Guilt.
"How could I have been so foolish?" he muttered, scolding himself.
"I was there. I saw her with my own eyes. Why didn't I notice? Why?"
His voice grew desperate, each question carrying the weight of his regret. He covered his face with both hands, unable to bear the thoughts tormenting him.
How had he failed to notice?
How had he allowed himself to overlook the signs?
He was her father. He should have been able to protect her.
Yet somehow, he hadn't.
"How can I even call myself a father?"