Elise stepped out of her car and walked directly toward the elevator without a single backward glance.

William watched her retreating figure with a faint smile. She was so unpredictable. And she hadn't even thanked him for escorting her home safely.

Over the following days, Elise continued her visits to William's apartment.

Even though she always ate dinner before arriving, little James insisted she join him at the table.

Whenever she tried to refuse, he'd look at her with those sad puppy-dog eyes and ask if she didn't enjoy eating with him.

Unable to withstand that wounded expression, she eventually gave in. For several days in a row, she found herself having second dinner at William's place.

Surprisingly, it wasn't so bad once she got accustomed to it.

During one of their lesson breaks, James suddenly announced, "Mommy, my teacher said our school sports meet is this Friday."

"All the parents are coming. I signed up for sprinting, swimming, high jump, and the relay race."

Friday? That was just three days away.

She should be free that day.

Seeing the hopeful look in James's eyes, she immediately agreed.

"Of course, sweetheart."

"I love you, Mommy!"

James exclaimed with joy, though his happy expression soon faded.

"The teacher also said they'll announce our reading scores. I won't get an A if I can't pronounce all the words correctly."

"Don't worry, honey. We still have two days to practice. We'll do our very best!"

"Okay!"

James nodded enthusiastically, his determination clear.

Yet Elise felt her sanity fraying at the edges as she continued teaching James pronunciation.

After finally coaxing him to sleep, she left the room feeling utterly defeated.

William was, as usual, sitting at the bar. She couldn't understand why he preferred that uncomfortable bar stool over his perfectly comfortable study.

"Any progress?" he asked.

"None whatsoever."

William chuckled, finding her adorable when she emerged from lessons looking so dejected.

"How can you laugh at a time like this?" Elise demanded.

"Because I look terrible when I cry."

As had become their routine, William presented her with late-night snacks. Tonight's offering was different - rum baba, its soft texture looking incredibly appetizing...

Still, Elise shot him a glare.

Wasn't he concerned about feeding her such high-sugar foods every night? He'd make her gain weight at this rate.

"Sweet things improve your mood," he explained. "Charles was worried the stress of teaching James might affect your health, and—"

Elise stopped listening and picked up her fork. The dessert did taste wonderful. She was halfway through her portion when a thought occurred to her, though she hesitated to voice it.

"Hey...have you ever wondered about James's intelligence?"

William burst out laughing the moment she finished speaking.

Elise scowled at him.

"Is it really that funny?"

"No," he said, composing himself. "I'm being serious."

William's expression turned solemn as he told her, "Miss Scott, do you really believe our child would perform so poorly?"

"Well, what was your SAT score?" Elise challenged.

"I skipped that particular test. However, I had the honor of earning dual degrees from Hanford University and graduated summa cum laude from my alma mater."

"In Hanford's century-long history, fewer than fifty individuals have achieved that distinction. One of them happens to be the current Secretary-General of the United Nations—"

"Stop," Elise snapped, cutting him off. She'd only asked a simple question, not invited him to boast about his accomplishments.

"Maybe positive and positive makes negative."

"Are you really James's mother?"

William couldn't resist asking.

"But we have to face reality," she argued. "I was young and foolish during my pregnancy. I didn't take proper care of myself. There were even times I considered...ending the pregnancy."

"I've heard babies sense these things even in the womb. Maybe that counts as emotional abandonment, and it affected his development—"

"His IQ is 165," William interrupted.

He had a feeling she'd work herself into a complete frenzy if he didn't tell her the truth.