NovelOnlineTanya staggered back, her world spinning as Thomas' slap sent her crashing to the ground.
Was Thomas staging a mutiny? He had completely disregarded her meticulously crafted plan, turning everything into a humiliating fiasco.
Leopold called for security, who promptly escorted Thomas away to be detained. He then helped Tanya to her feet.
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"Tanya, are you alright?" he asked, concern lacing his voice.
Tanya tried to regain her composure, smoothing down her disheveled hair, "Thomas, to think after all these years I never realized he was a nutcase, spewing all that nonsense." "Don't worry. | won't take his words to heart," Leopold reassured her, with a hint of a teasing smile playing on his lips.
The crowd that had gathered to watch the slowly dispersed.
Arnold wrapped an arm around Aurelia's shoulder, "You weren't hypnotized by him, were you?" "No," Aurelia shook her head, "I've learned a bit of self-defense. It wouldn't be so easy for him to hypnotize me." She patted William's head, "William must be exhausted. Why don't you take him back to get some rest?" Arnold scooped up William into his arms.
William immediately rested his head on Arnold's shoulder, clearly fighting off sleep.
Arnold walked Aurelia to her room, waited until she entered, and then carried William back to their room.
The night deepened, and one by one, the guests fell asleep. Leopold made his way quietly to Aurelia's room.
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Fresh from a shower, Aurelia lay on the bed reviewing some new design drafts, her mind a whirlpool of suspicion.
Upon seeing him, she quickly asked, "Have you interrogated Thomas yet?" Leopold smirked darkly, "He's playing the fool, not willing to spill the beans. But no matter, | have ways to make him talk." Aurelia whispered, "His original plan must have been to hypnotize me into attacking Lana, but when his hypnosis got interrupted, he turned his target to Skyler." She paused and then added, "Thankfully, Skyler mistook the dummy for Lana. Otherwise, it would've been a disaster." Leopold's gaze was intense, glinting dangerously in the dim lighting.
"Skyler did it on purpose. Someone who's been hypnotized can't remember the process, but he remembered it clearly, which means he wasn't hypnotized at all. He has a doctorate in psychology for heaven's sake, so he wouldn't be hypnotized that easily." Aurelia let out a laugh, "Skyler is one clever cookie." Leopold stroked his chin, his expression turning serious, "The real person who got hypnotized must be Thomas." "What?" Aurelia gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, "He was hypnotized?" Leopold nodded slightly, "The way he slapped Tanya and ranted, it clearly wasn't his intention. He must have been compelled by someone else’s hypnotic influence." Aurelia, still shocked, covered her mouth, "Could it be that when he tried to hypnotize Skyler, he got counter- hypnotized instead?" Leopold gave a slight nod, "It's possible. It seems Skyler's abilities are stronger than we thought." Aurelia smiled, saying, "Skyler is smart, always acting like a child, but his skills are unmatched, even by the greatest heroes of the land." Leopold wrapped an arm around her shoulder, "He listens to you best. You need to guide him well and keep him on the right path." Aurelia sighed deeply, "Skyler and Geoffrey are like day and night, light and darkness. Light will never be replaced by darkness, nor is it easy for darkness to step into the light." After a moment of silence, she suddenly thought of something, lowering her voice, "Was it Tanya who allowed Thomas to hypnotize Skyler into targeting Lana? Skyler is her son, after all. Turning him into a perpetrator doesn't benefit her, does it?" Leopold pondered for a moment and then said, "Her plan was probably to hypnotize you into killing Lana. That would've killed two birds with one stone. Hypnotizing Skyler must have been Thomas’ initiative or someone else's command." "You mean Geoffrey?" Aurelia asked.
Leopold nodded slightly, "Geoffrey wouldn't be so docile under Tanya's thumb. He probably harbors resentment against Skyler. Now that Skyler has opposed him, Geoffrey must want to teach him a lesson."
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