Chapter 766

Everyone held their breath when they noticed Natalie Castillo's surprised expression.

Natalie gestured for Mia Truman to sit on the nearby sofa.

She gently pried open Mia's eyelids for a close examination.

Then, she slowly circled around her.

Her pretty face was tense, her expression unusually grave.

Mia couldn't help but ask, "Was I... really hypnotized?"

"Yes," Natalie nodded. "There are traces of hypnosis on you. After learning that man betrayed you just now, did you suddenly feel a sense of relief, as if all your lingering attachment and love vanished instantly?"

Mia immediately nodded. "Yes, exactly."

She had found it strange earlier.

She used to love Liam Cooper desperately.

Otherwise, as the esteemed Miss Truman, how could she have willingly been the other woman, playing the fool for so many years?

Even the thought of Liam breaking up with her used to make her feel suffocated with grief.

Yet, when his true colors were revealed just now, she only felt satisfaction.

It was like vengeance had been served.

As if all that deep love from the past was fake.

Just as Mia was puzzling over this, Natalie spoke. "That's exactly right. The hypnosis implanted in you was: 'Liam Cooper risked his life for you, so you must love him deeply, trust him, and love him no matter what...' That's what made you act so foolishly all these years, believing he was your true love. But the moment you learned his true nature, the hypnosis broke. Because the pillar of 'trust' had collapsed."

Natalie was lovely, with a crisp voice.

After speaking, she resumed her serious expression, examining Mia's head.

She looked left and right, her focus intense.

Mia asked nervously, "Will breaking the hypnosis cause any brain damage?"

"Not that."

Natalie explained, "I just wanted to see what kind of foolish brain could be manipulated to this extent."

Mia: "..."

She abruptly stood up, taking two steps back to distance herself from Natalie.

Natalie's face returned to its cheerful, smiling state. "Do you know what the primary condition for hypnosis is in the West?"

This time, Mia didn't answer.

Evelyn Ross spoke calmly. "Trust."

"Correct." Natalie nodded. "The subject must trust the hypnotist for it to succeed. Mia, Liam Cooper didn't know you back then. He couldn't have established that level of trust. So, which hypnotist did you trust? Who hypnotized you?"

Mia: "..."

Seeing her look utterly confused, seemingly unable to remember, Natalie turned to Evelyn. "It seems she's naturally a bit slow. She wasn't fooled by Liam Cooper, but she was fooled by someone else."

Liam Cooper's deception was actually quite simple.

Any normal person with half a brain wouldn't have been played like Mia was.

So, the likelihood of Mia being deceived by Liam was very small.

That left only one possibility...

Evelyn looked at Natalie. "Besides trust, what other conditions are needed for hypnosis?"

Natalie stroked her chin. "A quiet environment, preferably where the person can fall asleep. People are most susceptible to deep hypnosis in that half-asleep, half-awake state."

Evelyn immediately looked at Mia. "Think carefully. Three and a half years ago, where were you? Who did you trust enough to fall completely asleep in their presence?"

Mia began to think seriously.

As girls grow up, they become conscious of privacy.

Even sleeping at home, they habitually lock their doors.

Forget outside; even at home, in front of Sebastian Truman, she probably couldn't fall asleep...

How could she possibly fall asleep outside?

Wait!

Mia suddenly spoke. "I remember! It was the spa!"

Evelyn frowned.

A spa?

But upon second thought, it made sense.

Mia explained directly. "I had a membership at a spa. I went for treatments every week. I met a young technician there. Her technique was excellent, so I always requested her. After we became familiar, I only went to her..."

Spa treatments usually involve massages.

It's perfectly normal for someone to fall asleep when massaged comfortably.

No wonder Mia was hypnotized.

Such a person was truly hard to guard against!

Mia was furious. "I'm going to find that technician right now!"

Evelyn and Alexander Vance exchanged a glance.

Evelyn spoke. "How long has it been since you went to that spa? Call and ask first."

Mia froze, then picked up her phone and dialed the spa's number.

Whatever the person on the other end said.

Mia was completely stunned.