Janet’s Point of View
Flora’s mouth hung open as she stared at me. She blinked several times, like she was trying to clear her vision
“You… work here?” she muttered, but I caught every word.
I closed the door behind me and walked calmly to my desk, setting my purse down. My heart was racing, but I kept my face neutral, professional.
“Yes, I do,” I replied evenly. “I’m a certified counselor.”
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Flora’s eyes narrowed. “Since when? Why haven’t you ever said anything about it? About being a… a consultant?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at that. After all the times she’d belittled me, made me feel small shocked to discover I had qualifications, a career.
stupid, here she was-
“There are a lot of things you don’t know about me, Flora,” I said, sitting down behind my desk. “But that’s not important right now. If you’re not comfortable having me as your therapist, I can help you get assigned to someone else. Dr. Martinez would be happy to-”
“No,” Flora cut in quickly, almost too quickly. “No, that’s not necessary. Actually, this is… better. You already know a little about my… condition. It will be easier for you to help me.”
She wants to stay? Why?. The suspicion tingled at the back of my neck, but I pushed it aside.
“Alright then,” I said, opening her file on my desk. “According to your intake form, you’ve been experiencing emotional instability since your husband’s death about a year ago. You’ve seen several therapists but haven’t found their approaches helpful.” I looked up at her. “How have you been feeling lately, Flora?”
She settled back in her chair, her posture relaxing but her eyes still sharp, watching me. “It’s been… difficult. The loneliness is the worst part.”
“That’s understandable;” I nodded. “Grief can be very isolating.”
“Luckily,” she continued, a small smile playing at her lips, “I haven’t been completely alone. I have this friend–my childhood. sweetheart, actually. He’s been so helpful, so supportive through everything.”
And here we go,I thought, keeping my face carefully blank.
“He comes over almost every night to check on me,” Flora went on, her voice taking on a dreamy quality,” times he
T
leaves his own home to come take care of me when I call. He’s so sweet, the way he holds me when I She looked directly at me now. “He defends me, too. Takes better care of me than he does his
My jaw tightened, but I forced myself to stay calm. Flora was trying to get a reaction, try Rowan this way. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.
vis Strokes my hair…”
talking about
to hurt me
“Flora,” I said gently but firmly, “I think we should focus on you right now, not on your friend or his relationship. Your healing journey is what matters here.”
She tilted her head, studying me. “But this is about me. About how I feel. Isn’t that what therapy is for? feelings?”
Talking
about
“Yes, but-”
“His wife has been acting so strange lately,” Flora continued, ignoring my attempt to redirect. “Like she suddenly doesn’t understand that he’s my first love, that he was my late husband’s best friend. Don’t you think that’s odd? For a wife to be so… insecure? So jealous?”
I took a deep breath. “Flora, I don’t think-”
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Chapter 0022
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“I mean, really,” she leaned forward, eyes glinting, “shouldn’t I be the one married to him? We’ve known each other forever. His wife… she’s nobody. Just some girl he felt sorry for.”
That stung, but I kept my expression neutral. “Flora, I think we’re getting off track. These personal relationships aren’t what
we should be focusing on in your therapy.”
Flora’s face darkened. “Excuse me? As my counselor, aren’t you supposed to listen to me? To hear what I have to say?” Her
voice rose. “Or did you get this job because of your looks? Is that how you got here? By other means?”
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from snapping back. She wants you to lose your temper. Don’t give her what she wants.
A voice whispered at back of my mind.
“I apologize if I seemed dismissive,” I said calmly. “Please, continue. I’m here to listen.”
Flora seemed momentarily thrown by my lack of reaction, but quickly recovered, “Like I was saying before I was so rudely
interrupted, his wife is acting weird now. Throwing around divorce threats like she has someplace better to go.” She laughed,
a sharp, bitter sound. “As if she’s anything without him. She’d be back on the streets where he found her.”
Back on the streets? I’d never been homeless a day in my life. But of course, that’s how Flora saw me–as some charity case Rowan had picked up.
“But then,” Flora continued, her voice dripping with fake sweetness, “suddenly she’s acting rich. Clinging to some wealthy
people she just met, trying to use them to get back at her husband. All because he was nice to me.” She looked straight at me.
“Can you believe that? Someone so pathetic?”
If only you knew, I thought, fighting back a smile. If only you knew who I really am, what I have now.
“The worst part,” Flora went on, clearly frustrated by my lack of reaction, “is that somehow this woman landed a job at a
clinic. With fake credentials, fake degrees. Playing make–believe as a counselor when she can barely take care of herself.”
That was enough. I let out a small laugh, unable to help myself.
“Something funny?” Flora demanded.
“Actually, yes,” I said, leaning forward. “Flora, I think you need to be careful about judging others, especially people who might be doing better than you are. My professional advice would be to move on and leave this family alone. Unless,” I raised an eyebrow, “you want to be known as a home–wrecker.”
Flora’s face flushed bright red. “A home–wrecker? Are you seriously accusing me of being a home–wrecker?” She stood up, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. “How dare you! You’re supposed to be helping me, not attacking me!”
I remained seated, calm. “I am trying to help you, Flora. But I can’t do that if you’re not honest–with me or with yourself.”
“Honest?” she spat. “You want honesty? Fine. You’re a terrible therapist. You’re unprofessional, judgmental, and clearly not qualified to be giving anyone advice!” Her voice had risen to a shout. “I’m going to file a complaint. I want to speak to
whoever’s in charge of this place. I want you fired!”
I stood up too, keeping my voice even. “You’re welcome to speak with Dr. Martinez. Her office is just down the hall.”
Flora snatched up her purse, her hands shaking with rage. “Oh, I will. And when I’m done, you’ll be back where you belong-
nowhere!”
She stormed to the door and yanked it open, only to come face to face with a tall figure standing in the doorway. Edward was
standing there already as if he has been there for a long time.
He looked between us, his expression concerned but calm. “Is everything alright in here? I could hear shouting from down
the hall.”
Flora straightened, trying to compose herself. “Are you in charge here? I need to file a formal complaint about this… this woman. She’s completely unprofessional and needs to be fired immediately.”
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Chapter 0022
Edward’s eyebrows rose. He glanced at me, then back to Flora. “Fired? On what grounds?”
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