Silence answered her.

Elise pressed her lips together and turned to face James.

"Your father is working late tonight. Would you like to come home with me?"

"Okay!" James actually looked thrilled. "I'd love to see where you live, Mommy."

Elise smiled warmly and affectionately ruffled his soft hair.

Once they arrived at her apartment, she turned on a cartoon for him while contemplating dinner options.

Though she'd lived overseas for years, survival had taken priority over cooking skills. When broke, she'd survived on beef jerky. When flush, she'd ordered takeout.

After careful consideration, she settled on takeout again.

High-end restaurant food would eliminate any culinary concerns.

She settled beside James, scrolling through delivery apps with focused determination.

"Mommy, can I change the channel?" James asked politely.

"Of course," she replied, gesturing toward the remote control nearby.

James picked it up and began channel surfing while Elise continued browsing restaurant menus.

After several minutes, she finally put her phone aside and noticed James had settled on a science channel broadcasting a program about space exploration.

"Do you understand this, Jamie?" she couldn't help asking.

"Of course," James responded, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

And that settled that.

They ate dinner together at seven o'clock.

James had clearly been raised with excellent manners. He behaved impeccably throughout the meal and even helped Elise clear the table afterward. Then he asked her to watch television with him, selecting a comedy variety show this time.

They curled up together on the sofa, creating a cozy domestic scene.

"That's Elizabeth York!" James suddenly exclaimed, pointing at the glamorous actress making her entrance on the show.

Elise smiled casually. "Do you like her?"

"Yes!"

"You have excellent taste," Elise remarked.

Elizabeth was undoubtedly beautiful, one of the few genuinely natural beauties in the entertainment industry.

"Daddy likes her too," James added unexpectedly.

"Really?"

"Yeah." James nodded confidently.

They continued watching television until nine o'clock.

When James started yawning, Elise couldn't resist texting William.

[When will you finish work?]

[He usually goes to bed by 9:30. Please help him with his bath. I'll be there soon to pick him up.]

[Okay.]

As Elise set down her phone, she couldn't shake the feeling that William had grown entirely too comfortable giving her orders.

Still, as she led James to the bathroom, she noticed his little cheeks flushing pink and teased gently, "Are you feeling shy?"

"I've never had a lady help me bathe before," he confessed.

Such a simple statement, yet it pierced Elise's heart.

This child had never known a mother's care.

"Don't be embarrassed, sweetheart. Besides, when you're older, women won't be bathing you anymore."

"Yeah." James remained pink-cheeked, then remembered something important. "Mommy, will I get bigger everywhere?"

"What do you mean?"

"Here." James pointed between his legs.

Elise couldn't suppress a chuckle. "Of course you will."

"Can't I just stay like this?"

"Absolutely not," Elise responded, both stern and amused.

"Will I become as big as Daddy?" James asked, using his small hands to illustrate the size.

Elise found herself speechless.

How exactly was she supposed to explain that?!