Chapter 179 - 178: Protecting Me is Asher’s Instinct

Chapter 179: Chapter 178: Protecting Me is Asher’s Instinct

"Dr. Quinn..." One of the other doctors looked troubled. This was clearly inhumane.

Any doctor with a conscience wouldn’t want to torture a psychiatric patient like this.

Asher was a psychiatric patient, but he was also a person.

They averted their gazes, angry but not daring to speak out.

At Meridia Psychiatric Hospital, Victor Quinn was second only to the director.

Besides, Victor Quinn was the director’s son-in-law, which essentially made him the one with the most power and influence.

No one dared to oppose him.

And certainly, no one dared to question him.

Victor Quinn shot the other doctor a cold look. "This kind of experimental data is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

I gripped Asher’s hand tightly, glaring at Victor Quinn. "You’re the real demon."

Victor Quinn just looked at me coolly, his expression unreadable.

Beside me, Julian Fletcher seemed to realize something was wrong with Asher’s condition. "Dr. Quinn, you just need to take him back as soon as possible. There’s no need to..."

"Julian," Erin Whittaker interrupted, her eyes red as she saw him about to intervene. "Julian, Sebastian Lancaster is terrifying when he has an episode. We should stay out of it. The doctors must have their reasons."

Julian Fletcher frowned and subconsciously glanced at me.

He seemed to be waiting for me to beg him.

’As if he’d continue to speak up for me if I just asked.’

But I didn’t.

I just held Asher’s hand tightly. "Can you hang on? Let’s go home."

Asher’s breathing was growing heavy, and his eyes were losing focus.

He was like a walking corpse—numb... soulless.

The chemical agents could trap his soul, paralyze his body...

A smile played on Victor Quinn’s lips; he knew the drug was taking effect.

"Asher, come here," he said again.

His voice was laced with a thread of excitement, as if he were conducting some bizarre experiment.

Asher’s body stiffened. He furrowed his brow slightly, as if desperately fighting something.

He let go of the hand that was shielding me.

In that instant, I couldn’t stop my tears... I hugged him helplessly, not wanting him to be controlled by the drugs, yet knowing it was inevitable, that this wasn’t what he wanted.

"Asher, push her away and come back with me," Victor Quinn commanded once more.

Asher pushed me away and started walking forward.

The other staff from the psychiatric hospital breathed a sigh of relief.

’So there’s nothing special about him after all. His resistance to the drug is just a bit stronger than the average patient’s.’

Victor Quinn’s lips curved into a smug smile, his gaze on me growing more provocative. "Julian Fletcher, take care of your woman."

He was warning Julian Fletcher to keep me in line.

Julian Fletcher stepped forward, reaching for my hand. "Cece... he should go back and continue his treatment."

"Do you know what the most effective treatment for psychiatric patients in mid-20th century Vespera was?" Victor Quinn turned back, deliberately provoking me.

I clenched my fists tightly.

"Surgically destroying the frontal lobe..." Victor Quinn pointed to his own head.

"Victor Quinn! I’ll kill you!" I lost control and charged at him. In that moment, I truly wanted to kill someone.

Julian Fletcher wrapped his arms around me, trapping me in his embrace. "Cece! Calm down."

’I knew Victor Quinn was just trying to provoke me, that he had no right to perform that kind of surgery on Asher, but I was still terrified...’

’People this terrifying would treat the law as if it were nothing.’

I suddenly understood what Asher had told me before. We could run... but we could never escape.

’Cece...’

The escape he spoke of, the enemy he feared, perhaps wasn’t a "person" but these chemical drugs that could control the human body, its nerves, its very cells.

Just as no one can fight against anesthetics, not even wild beasts.

"Cecilia Caldwell, he’s mentally ill. A psychiatric hospital is where he belongs. Don’t let him out to harm people again," Erin Whittaker sneered, looking at me mockingly, as if she had won.

I must have been triggered. My breath came in ragged gasps as I shoved Julian Fletcher away.

My mind went blank again...

Just like before, when I came to, everyone was staring at me in horror.

My hands ached to the point of numbness, trembling uncontrollably.

I had smashed the glass, letting the shards slice open my hands.

I stood there, my hands covered in blood, and called out to Asher in a trembling voice, "Asher... let’s go home."

He was trailing numbly behind Victor Quinn, but when he smelled the blood, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

’If protecting me is his instinct... if I hurt myself, will it snap him out of it?’

"Cecilia!" Julian Fletcher looked at me in a panic, urgently calling for Mrs. Wright to bring the first-aid kit.

I shoved Julian Fletcher away like a madwoman and reached for the glass on the floor again. "Asher! Come home with me."

Just as I held the shard of glass, about to stab my own neck, Asher’s hand shot out and grabbed the bloody glass in my hand.

"Lunatics, two of them..." Erin Whittaker backed away in terror, her legs gave out, and she collapsed, fainting on the spot.

There was blood on her forehead.

Only then did I realize I had grabbed her hair and smashed her head against the glass.

"Miss Whittaker!" the butler exclaimed.

Julian Fletcher couldn’t worry about anything else and ran over to check on Erin Whittaker.

I didn’t care if Erin Whittaker lived or died. With trembling hands, I cupped Asher’s face, pressed my forehead against his, and whispered, "Asher, let’s go home..."

Victor Quinn stared at Asher and me with a look of disbelief, his eyes cold and sharp.

Then, he broke into a manic laugh.

Outside the courtyard, a car screeched to a halt. Zeke Shaw, Madeline Quinn, and Lucas Grant had arrived.

Lucas Grant saw Asher and me with our hands covered in blood and angrily produced a document. "Jack York has already withdrawn his complaint! Asher’s violent behavior was a provoked response! We do not believe Asher lacks the capacity to control his own actions! He is still a natural person, and his guardian will decide where he stays!"

I breathed a sigh of relief. ’They’re finally here...’

I had sent Zeke Shaw a message for help just as I was coming downstairs earlier.

’I never expected Lucas Grant to come and help Asher...’

"Cece..." Madeline Quinn rushed over in a panic, her eyes fixed on my hands.

I gave her a small smile and shook my head.

’Finally... we won one.’

Our people arrived before the arrogant Victor Quinn could take Asher away.

Victor Quinn gave me a cold glance, a smile still playing on his lips, as if telling me we could never truly escape.

"What’s going on with him?" Lucas Grant came forward, grabbing Asher to take a look. Noticing his strange state, he frowned and asked me.

"That lunatic... he injected him with some kind of drug," I whispered.

Lucas Grant flew into a rage and strode forward, punching Victor Quinn. "Looks to me like you’re the one who needs psychiatric treatment! Who gave you permission to drug him!"

Victor Quinn wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and sneered. "If Mr. Grant finds our use of medication unreasonable, you can report me to the Health Commission or any other department."

Lucas Grant gritted his teeth. "Don’t worry, I will."

Victor Quinn let out a laugh and walked away, full of confidence.

He was confident that all his actions and treatment methods were justified.

"Asher, let’s go home..." I took Asher’s hand.

His eyes were vacant, but he followed me obediently.

Just like... an obedient puppet.

"Cece!" Julian Fletcher was in a hurry to take Erin Whittaker to the hospital, but he called out my name anxiously, not wanting me to leave with Asher.

"Worry about yourself, and the woman in your arms. Next time, it won’t be as simple as just smashing her head into some glass," I warned coldly, then led Asher into the car.

"Hey, I hear this drug makes people super obedient, they’ll do whatever you say." Lucas Grant got in the car, eyeing Asher with great interest. "Sebastian Lancaster, look at you now. Be a good boy and call me boss."

My head throbbed as I looked at Lucas Grant. I decided to tolerate it, seeing as he had just punched Victor Quinn for us.

But he started going too far, taking advantage of Asher’s lack of awareness to reach out and pinch his cheek.

"I’ve always been jealous of you. A genius, and handsome to boot. Just let your boss here get a good feel," Lucas Grant muttered. "It’s a now-or-never opportunity."

"AH!" A moment later, Lucas Grant’s scream echoed through the car. Asher had bitten down hard on his hand, savagely, refusing to let go.

I jumped in surprise and quickly tried to pry open Asher’s jaw. "Asher, be good. Any harder and you’ll break his fingers..."

Lucas Grant was in so much pain he was crying, cursing up a storm. "Fuck! Did that pervert Victor Quinn give him an expired drug?! Let go! Sebastian Lancaster, you son of a bitch..."

"Alright, alright, you’re the boss, Sebastian Lancaster! I was wrong, let go! Boss!"

My heart ached for Asher, but I couldn’t help but laugh at Lucas Grant. I was crying and laughing at the same time.

This time, we’d won...

But what about next time?

I hugged Asher tightly.

’Asher... how can I ever protect you?’

"BANG!" Suddenly, a large truck shot out of an alley, perfectly timed, and rammed straight into us.

In that instant, Asher’s numb body suddenly moved to shield me, holding me tight in his arms.

My breathing grew ragged, and my consciousness began to fade.

’Protecting me... it’s really become his instinct.’

’Asher...’