On a cold evening, as she walked down the street heading home after a long day at the clinic, she was stopped by the sight of a man standing beside his luxury car, smoking a cigar with a mysterious gaze. She paid him no attention at first, but she could feel his eyes following her until she disappeared from his view. She had no idea that this fleeting encounter would mark the beginning of something unexpected.

Days later, she welcomed a new patient into her office—an elegant man with sharp features and an aura of authority surrounding him. He sat before her, his eyes holding a mix of mystery and intrigue.

"I suffer from persistent depression," he said in a calm voice, flawlessly playing the role of a despairing patient.

She raised an eyebrow slightly, scrutinizing him with caution before asking in her usual professional tone, "And when did you start experiencing these symptoms?"

He pretended to think for a moment before replying, "For a while... but it got worse after I met you."