"You want to know why she failed to hypnotize me, don't you?" Mike asked.

Alexander nodded, Austin mirroring his curiosity. "If Mike only intentionally helped Rhea, why was she so confident her hypnosis had worked?"

"I guess you could call it a coincidence," Mike explained. "I'm predisposed to insomnia. Years ago, busy schedules and irregular routines led to light sleep and easy awakenings. Even sleeping pills didn't change that."

After a pause, he continued steadily, "I saw many doctors and even a hypnotist. Initially, hypnosis worked, but I became immune to it over time. Perhaps my subconscious resisted. In any case, falling asleep became increasingly difficult."

"When Nick was around, my insomnia improved. However, recently..."

Alexander and Austin needed no further explanation. The capture of Mike's son by a dangerous organization would make sleep elusive for anyone, especially someone with his pre-existing condition. This explained his haggard appearance and bloodshot eyes.

Alexander nodded. “Your condition prevented Rhea's hypnosis from working. However, she believed it succeeded because you cooperated?”

"That's right," Mike confirmed. "Initially, she wasn't sure, so she gave me simple tasks, like fetching things. My compliance convinced her the hypnosis had worked, and she believed I would follow any command."

"I see!" Austin exclaimed, realizing Mike had consistently left clues, clues he himself had failed to connect.

"But why only tell us now?" Austin asked, his gaze intense. "You worried she'd discover something was amiss, but she would have believed you after all that, wouldn't she? Why not tell us then? We even started to..." Shame washed over Austin for his past suspicions. They weren't entirely wrong, just misguided.

"I had no choice. Rhea is highly vigilant. I wouldn't tell anyone unless absolutely necessary," Mike said, looking helpless.

"So it's necessary now?" Austin pressed.

"Weren't you already suspecting me?" Mike paused. "If I didn't come clean, you might have subdued me. My efforts would have been wasted, wouldn't they?"

He spoke calmly, but Austin and Alexander felt embarrassed.

"I'm sorry," Alexander said. "I shouldn't have doubted you."

"No, I understand," Mike replied, shaking his head. "Your suspicion was reasonable. I know I've been reckless, but that didn't help. Besides, Rhea would have hypnotized me if not for my condition. It would have been disastrous if her hypnosis had worked, and you hadn't discovered it."