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Alina quickly dealt with the change of doctor. Just a little trick was enough: she pinched her cheeks, and “pinched” herself in other places more painfully. And the tears were not long in coming.

She walked up to the reception desk, flushed and tear-streaked. She sobbed a couple of times and complained that the doctor almost attacked her. That's all. That was enough.

She was quickly taken to a separate room, given a drink of water, and the psychologist, who quickly came, carefully questioned her for half an hour, at the same time reassuring her.

In war, all means are good, but here there was just a battle. And Alina knew perfectly well that she could not win either by force, or by power, or by money, only wit and female cunning remained.

Half an hour later, she was introduced to a wonderful doctor. True, he was a man, but aged and simply “radiated” reliability and a sincere desire to help. They discussed in detail the whole conversation that Alina had with Mrs. Demidova.

The new docto