**The Next Day**
New York University Medical Center.
"Adam, what are you doing here?"
Caroline looked at Adam in surprise and asked, "Shouldn't you be resting at home?"
"I just came to check in and wrap up my volunteer work at the hospital," Adam replied with a smile.
After thinking things through overnight, he naturally decided not to delay any longer. Actions speak louder than words.
"I see."
Caroline looked a little disappointed but nodded in understanding.
Anyone who experienced something like this would be shaken. Choosing to leave and find a new environment was a reasonable decision.
But she had met Adam at this hospital, and now that he was leaving, they wouldn't have many chances to see each other again.
At the last social gathering, she had already noticed it—Ted and Matthew were Adam's classmates, and Monica and the others were his roommates and friends, meaning they could often hang out together.
Her relationship with Adam, though close, was the most fragile.
And now, it had faded away…
"Did you hear the news?"
Caroline pushed aside her mixed feelings and brought up some gossip with a smile. "That little girl, Esther, isn't actually a little girl!"
"What?"
Adam was stunned.
If she wasn't a little girl, then what was she?
A boy in disguise?
"Yes."
Caroline was just as shocked. "Who would have thought that she's actually a 33-year-old woman? She has a rare condition that kept her looking like a child. Mrs. Coleman said she came from an institution in the Arctic Circle for the criminally insane. The police have already contacted them.
"The autopsy results confirmed it too. She had scars on her neck and wrists from wearing a tight restraint jacket for long periods. And her teeth… ugh."
Caroline grimaced. "They looked like old lady's teeth. She usually wore dentures, just like how she covered up the scars on her neck and wrists. It's crazy that no one ever noticed."
"Holy shit!"
Adam was dumbfounded. So it wasn't a disguise—it was a legal case of eternal youth. Completely unexpected.
"If she really came from a psychiatric institution, then everything makes sense," Adam analyzed after recovering from his shock. "People in psychiatric hospitals rarely get regular dental checkups."
Westerners are used to seeing the dentist regularly. Their diet, full of sweets and meat with little vegetables, makes dental hygiene a challenge. Besides brushing, they also use floss frequently.
But even with that, over time, teeth still develop problems. One of the most common issues is discoloration, making it hard to maintain a bright white smile.
That's where dentists come in.
Dentists have specialized tools and techniques to clean teeth and restore that perfect white smile. In fact, dental whitening even has different levels.
For example, in the original timeline, Ross from *Friends* once got his teeth whitened before a date. He overdid it, and his teeth were so bright that they glowed in the dark under a blacklight, completely ruining his chances.
Rachel's ex-fiancé was a dentist, and dentists typically earn a lot, which also means their services are expensive. Without dental insurance, many people can't afford regular checkups.
If Esther had been in a psychiatric hospital for years, she wouldn't have had access to dental care.
And for a 33-year-old Western woman who never visited a dentist—especially if she was too violent to use floss or a toothbrush—it's no surprise that her teeth ended up in such a horrible condition.
"Exactly," Caroline nodded. "And do you know why she killed people? Apparently, she was 'pursuing love'—a completely twisted kind of love."
Adam couldn't help but scoff, "Wow, she was really delusional. With her condition, if she truly wanted love, do you really think she wouldn't have found someone?"
She could've just asked Juno for matchmaking help!
Maybe instead of causing tragedy, she could have become part of the cutest height-difference couple ever.
Caroline shot Adam a look.
"Ahem. Has that boy woken up yet?"
Feeling a little awkward under Caroline's gaze, Adam cleared his throat and changed the subject.
"Yeah, and the police already took his statement," Caroline replied with a smile. "Thanks to you, he's alive. You're a hero~"
"Heh."
Adam noticed the playful teasing in her tone.
"Mrs. Coleman wants to thank you in person," Caroline added when she saw Adam smirking silently.
"No need," Adam replied, not wanting to stay involved in the matter.
"Did you know?"
Caroline chuckled. "People are saying that when Mrs. Coleman heard about her husband and Esther's deaths, she burst into laughter—she was thrilled. And honestly, we all understand her reaction."
"Really?"
Adam responded with a noncommittal smile.
"Of course," Caroline explained. "Think about it. You can basically see Esther as the 'other woman.' Mr. Coleman cheated first, which caused Mrs. Coleman to have a miscarriage. Then, he and his mistress kept gaslighting her, refusing to believe anything she said and nearly driving her insane. Her own child almost died because of them! If any woman went through that, do you really think she'd feel sad about his death?"
Adam opened his mouth but had no response.
He never thought about it that way.
He originally assumed that Esther killed John simply to escape, but now, knowing she was a 33-year-old woman, his perspective shifted.
Looking back at John's unbelievably dumb decisions, Adam couldn't help but wonder if something else was going on.
And considering Caroline's "other woman" theory… the logic actually made sense.
After chatting with Caroline for a bit longer, Adam went to process his resignation and collect his volunteer certificate. After all, he had worked for a semester, and it was a valuable credential he didn't want to waste.
On his way past the patient rooms, he saw Kate sitting beside the hospital bed, holding her deaf daughter Max tightly.
John's mother stood nearby, looking sorrowful. Beside her was a man in a suit, facing away from Adam, speaking to the now-awake Danny.
Danny was holding his mother's hand with a determined look on his face—nothing like the indifferent, carefree attitude he had when Kate had her miscarriage.
Clearly, after surviving two near-death experiences, this boy had been profoundly changed.
In the short term, he might not be able to support the family financially, but at least he could stand by his mother and help her however he could.
For Kate, that was enough.
Adam felt a sense of relief. It made his risky rescue effort feel worth it.
As he was about to leave, the suited man turned around.
The moment Adam saw his face, he blurted out in shock—
"Holy shit!"
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