Chapter 1133

Keegan’s face turned ugly. “I’m not jealous,” he said.

“Then, tell me. Why are you acting out?” Stella had tried her best to downplay everything not to make Keegan worry. She had expected to get his affection and comfort, but he ended up focusing on the fact that she and Marshall were together. Stella’s heart turned cold.

“You never say anything or even tell me anything. You asked me to keep my distance from Marshall and not talk about when you left me alone at our wedding after we married. I know you have your reasons, but they’re the only thing you have! You never had any trust when it came to sharing things with me! It’s like I’m never good enough for it!”

Keegan was frustrated and did not want to argue with Stella. “This has nothing to do with my trust in you. I’m doing this for your own goo-“

“I’m sick of hearing that! You keep thinking that you’re doing things for my own good, but if that were true, you would’ve told me your reasoning.”

After a long time, Keegan said, “Marshall suffers from dissociative identity disorder, also known as DID.

His switches occur randomly, and I’m afraid you would get hurt.”

Stella was startled. “What’s DID?”

Keegan spent a few minutes explaining the condition to Stella, and she finally understood.

“Dissociative identity disorder is a mental health condition where the patient has two or more separate identities, also known as alters. It results from severe and prolonged trauma and develops as a way to cope with the past. When a person with DID switches from one alter to the other, they often have varying levels of awareness. They do not have much control over when a switch happens. Their alters can have different personalities and are usually quite different from their host. At the same time, they often do not recall their actions when their alters took over.”

This was the first time Stella had heard of this disorder. The outrageous nature of the symptoms also made her feel as if Keegan had fabricated the condition to deceive her.

However, she realized it was real when she looked it up on her phone.

Stella recalled everything she had seen and done since meeting Marshall and thought he had always acted normal.” It doesn’t say that people with DID get aggressive when they switch their identities. Why are you afraid that he would hurt me? He seems fine to me. He’s logical and rather well- spoken. Plus, he wouldn’t have passed the bar if he had a mental condition, right?”

Keegan compressed his lips upon hearing that and said, “He has tried different ways to control his condition for the past few years. It’s under wraps right now, but who knows when it will return? Anything can trigger a bad memory, and his symptoms would start showing. I’m just worried he would hurt you during one of his switches.”

Stella thought that it was strange. “Why would he want to hurt me?”

“I’m just making an example,” Keegan said in a low voice. He then continued to scare Stella, “One time, his alter killed his childhood dog. He hugged it and cried when he turned back to normal.”

Hearing that, Stella felt more sympathy for Marshall instead of fear. “I don’t blame him. Didn’t you say he couldn’t control his behavior when he switched? He must’ve felt so bad for killing his dog when he returned to his original self. I read that DID is related to traumatic events as a child. I’ve always wondered how Marshall could be so optimistic after experiencing so much pain. Now I know it’s because his alters are helping him fight his demons. You and Vermont should take him out more.

Maybe it’ll help with his condition, Keegan was at a loss for words. He did not expect her to have this kind of reaction. “Aren’t you afraid he’d do something to you if he switches?”

Stella was confused with Keegan’s logic. “I’m not a dog. I can run if he tries to kill me. You’re worrying about nothing. Marshall’s not a murderer. Plus, he hasn’t switched in years. That means his current state is the best for him. It would be counterproductive if we treated him differently. Even if he starts switching, we could just follow along and get him professional help.”

Keegan stayed quiet. He realized there was no use trying to convince Stella, for she could refute him no matter what he said. ‘I can’t believe she’s turning into Mother Teresa right now.’

Keegan glanced at Stella and said, “What do you mean follow along? Are you going to follow along with him when he asks you to be his girlfriend when he switches?”

“Impossible,” Stella immediately replied.

Keegan felt a little relieved and said, “And I thought you’ve lost your mind.”