“You're a grown man with secrets. I suppose I'm curious about you now!” Yennefer smiled as she nagged James, trailing behind him to the study on the second floor.
Roxanna and Lucian prepared themselves for the upcoming challenge while waiting outside the room.
If Yennefer couldn't withstand the truth and her disease worsened, Roxanne would need to help out immediately.
Meanwhile, James had walked into the study. He smiled, initiating a casual conversation with Yennefer. The man couldn't find it in him to turn the topic toward his concern.
“Mom, do you remember that I skipped to third grade when I was seven years old, and you were worried that my academic performance was going to suffer because of that?”
“Of course. I remember it clearly. Your homeroom teacher thought you walked into the wrong classroom!”
“Mom, do you recall that when I was in sixth grade, there was an older girl who liked to visit our house? You were worried that she would be a bad influence on me.”
“Yes. She moved to some other places after that. If I'm not wrong, she even went overseas. I ran into her parents after that. They told me she got married abroad.”
James continued asking a series of questions while Yennefer replied honestly.
These were all fragments of James' memories before he turned thirteen years old, and Yennefer remembered every detail correctly.
“Wait, James. Why are you asking me these questions? I thought you were going to reveal your secret. Did you do something bad when you were a kid?” Yennefer grinned, her expression loving and caring without showing any signs of impatience.
Xendale was an impoverished place all those years ago, and the Lann family wished for Yennefer to give birth again. Yet, she refused adamantly for James' sake. Yennefer poured all her love into James unreservedly.
James observed Yennefer's reaction before determination flashed across his eyes. He said casually, “Mom, do you remember Aunt Sheba?”
Yennefer's smile froze instantly, slowly vanishing into the air.
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