Vanessa pushed her glasses up and glanced between Charlotte and Russell. Her tone was calm, but something unspoken lingered beneath it.
Russell understood immediately. "Then I'll leave you two to talk. I'll wait at the entrance and watch for the carriage."
Charlotte nodded without objection.
Russell turned and left, disappearing around the corner.
Only Charlotte and Vanessa remained.
Vanessa returned to her seat, refilled Charlotte's cup, and poured one for herself. "Please sit, Miss Holmes."
Charlotte sat opposite her, gray-blue eyes steady and faintly probing. "You have something to say to me, Vanessa."
Vanessa took a slow sip of tea before speaking. "This is only a hypothesis. I have no intention of causing trouble or implying anything improper."
Charlotte's brow furrowed. "Tell me. I'll decide for myself."
Vanessa nodded and took a breath. "I don't believe Charles's stress response was triggered solely by the name 'Bilson.' When he became agitated, his gaze was fixed on Mr. Watson—on Russell."
"Isn't that natural? Russell was the one speaking to him," Charlotte said instinctively.
"Yes, it's perfectly natural. That's why I called it a hypothesis," Vanessa said. "I don't clearly remember the exact circumstances of his previous breakdown either. So I'm suggesting a simple controlled experiment. Charles's mental state is extremely fragile—like a taut string. The slightest stimulus can shatter him. To identify the true trigger accurately, we need to eliminate as many variables as possible."
Charlotte listened in silence.
"Mr. Watson possesses extraordinary talent," Vanessa continued, genuine admiration in her voice. "He builds trust with patients faster than anyone I've met. He listens, guides, and opens closed hearts with remarkable intuition. That gift is double-edged. He may unintentionally touch wounds the patient themselves cannot bear to face."
She looked directly at Charlotte. "So, Mr. Holmes… next time, if possible, I would like you to come alone."
Charlotte's hand paused on her teacup.
"Come alone?"
"Yes. Completely alone. When the time comes I will contact you. Please do not tell Mr. Watson."
Charlotte was quiet for a long time. When she finally spoke, her voice was calm, revealing nothing. "In other words… you suspect Russell is the real trigger?"
"I didn't say that," Vanessa replied gently. "I'm only proposing a controlled test to remove a possible variable. It harms no one—Watson, you, us, or Charles."
She stood and walked to the window, gazing at the sunlit lawn outside. "Please don't misunderstand. I respect Mr. Watson deeply. If he chose this path, he could achieve great things in psychotherapy. But sometimes exceptional talent cuts both ways."
Charlotte remained silent, considering. The proposal was logically sound and affected no one negatively. It was the same method of eliminating variables she often used herself.
"Very well," she said at last, her eyes regaining their usual clear composure. "I want to solve this case as quickly as possible anyway."
Vanessa turned back, a faint smile of approval on her face. "You are more decisive than I expected, Miss Holmes."
"When will the next session be?"
"We'll decide based on Charles's recovery. And remember—you must come alone."
"Understood."
Charlotte nodded, set down her cup, and left the office.