NovelEnglishSkyler stood with his hands on his hips, glaring at her with defiance and annoyance. "Alright, truth bomb coming your way. | didn’t... I didn't get hypnotized. I'm just a kid, and no one can hypnotize kids. | was faking it and pretending to have been hypnotized... only to reveal Thomas' true colors." Tanya's jaw clenched. She couldn't believe Skyler could have been so cunning and pretended to have been under hypnosis! She bet Leopold or Aurelia had coached him.
"You are always with your head in the clouds. How did you even know he intended to hypnotize you?" "Aunt Tanya, I'm a psychology prodigy," Skyler said with deadpan earnestness. "Even if | don’t... don't do hypnosis myself, | know the... drill, all right?" Inside, William was snickering. The idea of Skyler claiming ignorance about hypnosis was the funniest joke on earth.
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Leopold took over the conversation. "Tanya, | believe Skyler. Even though Thomas is your assistant, someone might have bought him off and made him play a double game by your side. Money talks. And everyone has his price." Tanya grew silent, a name surfacing unbidden in her mind. Had Thomas betrayed her? "But Thomas was hypnotized, too. He would never dare do such a vile thing to me otherwise." Aurelia interrupted, "Maybe someone saw him hypnotizing Skyler and decided to teach him a lesson." But Tanya would not buy that.
In her mind, the person who had hypnotized Thomas was no ordinary hypnotist. It was probably one of Leopold's guys. She would regain control of the situation if she could root him out.
She didn't suspect William, though. Who'd believe a four-year-old could practice hypnotism? But maybe he knew something.
Kids are easy to trick and might spill the beans without a second thought.
She flashed William a gentle smile, starting, "You're William, right? Thomas told me he ran into you in the restroom at last night's party." William popped a crab cake into his mouth, his voice milky and sweet. "I was just going to pee, and he was also there. | asked him to watch me play with my yo-yo, but he ignored me. He isn’t kid-friendly at all." Tanya kept her tone light, continuing, "Did you see anyone doing anything weird to him?" William seemed to ponder for a moment before replying,"When | left the restroom, | saw a middle-aged man going in. He started talking to Thomas, but | don’t know what it was about. Was that something weird?" Tanya didn't doubt him. That middle-aged man must be the one who had hypnotized Thomas.
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"Do you remember what he looked like? Have you seen him around before?" William tapped his finger against his lips, feigning a struggle to remember. "He's an average-looking guy and a little shorter than Leopold. He has beady eyes, a big nose, and a wide mouth." "Leopold, he must still be on board. I'll take William with me later, and maybe we can find him." At that, William shook his head vigorously. "No, | don't wanna go find anyone. After lunch, Dad's supposed to take me and Leopold up to the top deck to play." Tanya tried to keep her patience, her voice soothing. "William, sweetheart, he's a bad guy. If we don't catch him, he'll hurt more people." William pulled a face. "Nope, he isn't the bad guy. Thomas is. | won't let you catch him." Before Tanya could respond, Arnold intervened. "If he doesn't want to go, he won't go. No one forces my son to do anything." His tone was sharp, his paternal indulgence clear.
William quickly climbed onto his father's lap, seeking refuge.
Arnold wrapped his arms around him, stroking his hair comfortingly. "Dad's right here. No need to be scared of anyone."
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