Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)
Chapter 1016

Despite suspecting it for a while, Brielle's fingers still twitched when Ramey finally asked her outright.

"You think that figure looks like your cousin, don't you?"

Ramey leaned back, picked up the photo, and studied it closely.

"Honestly, I haven't seen my cousin much, but his demeanor and physique are etched in my mind. My mom adored him-she'd show me clips of his award-winning speeches, urging me to emulate his eloquence and the way he carried himself. She idolized him so much that, as a naive kid, I secretly mimicked his walk."

For some people, even walking is an art form.

"But it's odd. My cousin wasn't always like that. I remember him having a bit of a slouch when he first came of age. Then, one day, he completely transformed and became my role model."

It was like he suddenly had this aura of authority.

If Ramey didn't know better, he might have thought his cousin had come from some influential family.

Brielle pieced together the information Ramey provided, her suspicions becoming clearer.

"Is it possible that your cousin was chosen by someone and groomed over the years to mimic another person entirely, from head to toe, even down to his hair? And since he's a hypnotist, he could hypnotize others and even implant suggestions in himself, right?" "Brielle, within our circle of hypnotists, that practice does exist. However, my cousin is among the elite. Self-suggestion is generally seen as a misstep, a taboo. We usually avoid it, and success is rare." "But it's not impossible?"

"Correct. If anyone could do it, it would be my cousin. Many see hypnotism as something mysterious, beyond the understanding of the average person. The hypnotists that laypeople can hire often don't believe in the craft themselves and dismiss it as mere persuasion or, more bluntly, marketing. My cousin reached the pinnacle because he not only loves but truly believes in the power of hypnotism, to the extent of deceiving himself. Hence, he could, inadvertently, implant other suggestions in himself, but I couldn't." Ramey admitted that he couldn't replicate his cousin's feats.

Brielle nodded, having gotten the information she wanted. She presented the other half of the cropped photo to Ramey.

"This man isn't your cousin. He's the owner of the Beaconsfield Casino and a major oil tycoon from Saudi Arabia."

Ramey furrowed his brows, skeptical.

As he had told Brielle, having tried to emulate his cousin, he was intimately familiar with him, down to the natural curl of his hair.

Yet, if Brielle insisted, there had to be a reason.

"Does your cousin have a girlfriend?"

"No, he's been devoted to

hypnotism. The only women he encounters are his patients. Like doctors, hypnotists must maintain professional boundaries, avoiding any personal entanglements with female patients. Otherwise, complaints could lead to

consequences, especial severe

in our

field, where we start from a position of authority. Any affection that

arises in such a context isn't genuine."

Realizing Ramey's pure ded

Ramey's lengthy explanation, however, didn't clarify Brielle's intent for the day.

to hypnotism and his lack of involvement with any dubious

circles, Brielle decided not to drag an innocent into this affair.

Ramey, sharp enough to sense Brielle's reluctance, didn't press further.

After he left, Brielle reflected on the photo.

Myles, chosen by King as a double, an elite hypnotist.

A perfect stand-in indeed.

No wonder she felt a resemblance between him and King upon their first encounter at the Beaconsfield Casino. Her preconceived notions had blinded her, making her dismiss the idea that King would allow anyone to see his true face so easily.

Even after witnessing two Kings at the Premier Palace, she dared only speculate it was an illusion.

This dinner had reinforced her suspicion, prompting her immediate consultation with Ramey.

Unlike them, Ramey, unburdened by intricate theories or deep knowledge of Beaconsfield's affairs, wouldn't bear any preconceived biases.

As expected, Ramey recognized the figure as Myles at first glance.