Elise left the office and drove directly to William's penthouse.

When she stepped inside and saw the elaborate dinner spread across the dining table, she suddenly remembered she hadn't eaten.

She had completely lost track of time, forgetting it was already evening.

Charles warmly invited her to join them, while little James clung to her leg excitedly. "Mommy! I missed you! Please eat with us—Charles cooked all your favorite dishes."

Unable to resist James's pleading eyes, and remembering how Samuel had once exploited her poor eating habits, Elise knew better than to make that mistake again. Even though Samuel was gone, William remained—and he was infinitely more dangerous.

At the dinner table, William maintained his usual aristocratic silence, not speaking a single word to her.

Elise glanced at the dishes and noticed nearly every one was something she loved. Then she remembered James had inherited her taste buds, so this wasn't surprising at all.

She picked up her silverware and began eating.

Throughout the meal, James's cheerful chatter filled the room, his happiness at having Elise there evident in his bright eyes.

He kept serving her food, repeatedly asking if she enjoyed each dish.

When she appeared ready to set down her utensils, he looked at her seriously. "You need to eat well, Mommy, so you can stay healthy and give me a baby sister."

Elise nearly choked on her food at his innocent remark.

She had no plans to marry, especially now that she had a son. The thought of having another child was completely off the table.

"Having you is more than enough for me," she said, gently ruffling James's hair.

Seeing he was about to protest, she quickly added, "I'm full now. Any more and I might get sick. You're still growing, so you should keep eating."

"Okay," James nodded obediently.

Then he added with determination, "I'll grow big and strong like Daddy, so I can protect you from anyone who's mean to you."

"That's my sweet boy," Elise smiled tenderly. In these moments, she truly felt that no matter how difficult life became, everything was worthwhile as long as she had James. Little did she know this peaceful feeling would soon be tested—by helping a first-grader with his homework.

Sitting beside James at his small desk in his room, Elise spent what felt like an eternity trying to teach him proper pronunciation. After an hour, she began questioning her own intelligence.

She started doubting whether her perfect SAT score had been some kind of fluke. She simply couldn't comprehend how her own flesh and blood—her brilliant son—could struggle so much with basic concepts. She clenched her fists, finally understanding why parents everywhere dreaded homework time.

Even the most patient mother could transform into a wicked stepmother when faced with a child's education.

Right now, she was trembling with the effort of restraining herself.

She kept repeating internally that she wasn't angry, that James was her biological son, as if chanting a sacred mantra.

"Am I stupid, Mommy?" James asked with sad puppy-dog eyes, having sensed her frustration.

His previous tutors had all faced the same challenge.

None dared to be harsh with him, but several had left in tears of helplessness.

One tutor had cried so hard that James nearly had a panic attack.

Instantly, Elise's heart softened.

"Of course you're not stupid," she reassured him. "Nobody learns everything immediately without any preparation. Once you understand the basics, it becomes much easier. We'll get through this together."

"Okay!" James nodded, his confidence quickly returning.

"Let's try again. Cool. Whip."

"Cool. Whip."

"Perfect! Now say it by yourself."

"Cool..."

Elise closed her eyes, feeling waves of despair wash over her—her chest actually ached! She had gone through this exercise dozens of times.

James always repeated perfectly after her, but consistently made mistakes when speaking independently.

As she struggled to control her emotions, James asked mournfully, "Mommy? Did I get it wrong again?"

"It's alright. We'll take it slowly," Elise murmured, her voice shaking with restrained emotion.

"I'm feeling a bit thirsty. I need some water."

"I'll get it for you, Mommy!" James offered eagerly.

But Elise quickly stopped him. "That's okay, sweetheart."