8 – Cypress Mosaic

As ​soon ​as ​he ​knocked, a voice ​answered, ​telling ​him ​to ​come in.

“Doctor, you called ​for ​me.”

Sitting in front ​of her computer, ​she ​pointed ​toward ​the ​sofa ​set in front ​of ​her.

“Ah, ​Elian. Come and ​sit over here.”

Rising from ​her chair, ​Dr. Morgan ​walked toward ​the coffee ​bar ​opposite ​the desk.

“Would you ​like some ​coffee?”

“I’m fine. Thank you.”

“Today ​was the day of ​Ratna’s interview, right?”

“Yes.”

“The guardian’s ​satisfaction is ​high. ​And in my view, the child’s ​emotional state has stabilized ​considerably. ​You’ve ​done ​a ​great job, Elian.”

“It’s ​all thanks ​to ​your guidance, Doctor. ​I’m ​learning a lot.”

Responding to the ​polite answer ​with ​a smile, the ​doctor ​started ​the ​coffee ​machine. The ​small ​hum of ​the machine spread through the room. At ​the same time, ​the fragrant aroma ​of coffee would have ​been wafting ​through the air, ​but ​Elian could not ​perceive it.

The primary ​reason Elian ​had ​moved from ​Chicago ​to New ​York ​was to ​get ​close ​to the Lockhart ​family. ​But that ​wasn’t ​everything. ​The ​prospect of training under Dr. Morgan was also one of the factors that led him here. Dr. Celeste Morgan was a figure Elian had admired since the time he first began dreaming of and preparing to become a counselor.

The doctor approached the sofa carrying a mug of coffee.

Her glasses, with their primary-blue frames, suited her glossy dark [unauthorized copy]skin well. The blue [Read on Read BL Novels]horn-rimmed glasses, equipped with a long strap to hang [unauthorized copy]around her neck, were practically her trademark.

After taking a sip of coffee, Dr. Morgan rested the mug on her lap and looked at Elian with a serious gaze.

“There is a case I would like you to take on.”

Elian immediately showed interest through his expression.

“It’s a six-year-old boy who was adopted two years ago. I’m told he had been returned twice before. This was his third adoption.”

“Is it a case regarding attachment issues after adoption?”

Dr. Morgan shook her head.

“No, it’s not that. Although the adjustment period was somewhat long, they say the child’s emotional state improved greatly over time.”

“Then…”

“The reason for the request is that the child’s anxious behavior has resurfaced following the recent death of his adoptive father.”

“Is the applicant for counseling the adoptive mother?”

The doctor shook her head again.

“It was a single-father household from the time of adoption. The guardian who applied is a legal sibling. An older brother with a significant age gap. Because they had almost no interaction, he seems to have no idea how to handle the child’s situation.”

With a serious expression, Elian gave a barely perceptible nod.

“It sounds like a quite complex case.”

“Exactly. That’s why I personally want to recommend you, Elian.”

“I’m not sure if my capabilities are sufficient. I’m still in training…”

Elian’s tone was cautious.

“In cases like this, experience is important, but persistence and patience in dealing with the child are more important than anything. I believe you are the right person for the job.”

Taking another sip of coffee, Dr. Morgan looked across at Elian with a faint smile.

“What do you think? Would you like to try an interview?”

It seemed like it would be a very difficult case. However, he wanted to gain new experience. It was only natural that he couldn’t grow as a counselor if he only took on cases he felt confident in.

Having made up his mind, Elian looked at Dr. Morgan and nodded.

“If that is your judgment, Doctor, I would like to take it.”

Her smile deepened. It was a smile that seemed to say she knew he would react this way.

Taking off her glasses and letting them hang from her neck, the doctor looked at Elian with large eyes sparkling with intelligence.

“However, the environment might be a bit demanding. Will that be alright?”

“Demanding in what way…?”

“The client and guardian is a Lockhart.”

“……”

“Lorenz Lockhart.”

“Lorenz… Lockhart?”

Elian couldn’t help but ask back in surprise.

No matter how hard he had tried for months, he hadn’t been able to get anywhere near the name Lockhart. That name was like an impregnable fortress, surrounded by walls and a moat. And yet, in a single day, opportunities to approach both Lockharts had come one after another.

Rising from the sofa, the doctor walked to the desk and returned with a small piece of paper.

Elian took it instinctively.

“It might feel burdensome because it’s a famous family, but as long as you focus solely on caring for the child regardless of the client’s social status, there shouldn’t be much of a problem.”

Elian agreed with the doctor’s words.

He wanted to encounter various children and families in diverse environments and wanted to do his best to help them. That was why he had decided to become a counselor in the first place.

“If possible, he wants the interview to take place today.”

“The situation must be quite bad.”

Elian looked up at Dr. Morgan. His face could not hide the bewilderment that everything was happening so suddenly.

“The child is also showing signs of selective mutism, which reportedly started before the adoptive father’s death. That’s why they seem to be in a hurry.”

Returning to her seat, the doctor added as she picked up her mug again.

“And, there is one more condition.”

“What is it…?”

“They want you to work as a live-in. When running a center in Manhattan, these requests aren’t very rare. One can expect a significantly faster improvement than receiving counseling once a week.”

Live-in… That meant he could enter the Lockhart estate.

Elian looked down at the business card in his hand.

Lorenz Lockhart.

It was undoubtedly the name of Lorenz Lockhart.

Unconsciously, his grip tightened on the card. He slowly raised his head to face Dr. Morgan. Then, with a calm expression and tone, he delivered his decision.

“I’ll do the interview.”

■

That night, Vincent visited Elian’s room with a six-pack of beer.

Vincent perched himself diagonally on Elian’s bed as if it were a sofa, while Elian took the chair in front of the desk.

The guy had been rushing Elian, claiming he couldn’t focus on work all day because he was so curious about the story Read on Read BL Novelsof meeting Joshua Lockhart. But now, that was only part of the story. More [visit our site]things had happened since the morning he had spoken with Vincent.

As the story continued to what happened at the center, Vincent’s face grew increasingly vacant. The speed at which he drank his beer slowed down significantly.

Elian, who had been telling the story calmly, became slightly emotional toward the end. Whether it was due to anticipation or the alcohol, his cheeks were flushed redder than usual.

“And, the client Dr. Morgan mentioned was Lorenz Lockhart.”

The moment the name Lorenz Lockhart left Elian’s mouth, Vincent’s upper body jerked forward violently. It was a relief he didn’t spray the beer he was drinking.

“Wha… What?”

The pupils of his deep brown eyes dilated.

“Who did you say?”

“Lorenz Lockhart.”

Elian fully understood his reaction.

It was a huge event just that Joshua Lockhart had appeared and left a phone number, but to now be entangled with Lorenz Lockhart as well. Elian himself still felt dazed.

“So you’re saying… that yesterday Joshua Lockhart showed up at the bar and gave you a card, and today… you’ve already gone and met Lorenz Lockhart?”

Elian took a sip of the beer, which tasted almost entirely bitter, and shook his head.

“No. I didn’t meet Lorenz Lockhart. I did the interview with someone who is the butler.”

“What’s that about?”

Vincent added with a frown.

“He’s hiring someone to live in and provide Read on Read BL Novelsintensive counseling for a child, [visit our site]yet the butler does unauthorized copythe interview instead? What about the great heir?”

“They said Lorenz Lockhart is away on a business trip.”

“Ah, a business trip.”

Vincent sneered as if he knew exactly what that meant, took a sip of beer, and snorted.