"Don't worry too much about your current situation," Catherine reassured. "I've found a real cure for it. You will be able to cultivate again. And not just that... you'll be able to reach heights you never imagined before. Stronger than you ever were."
Catherine's words hung in the air between them.
James didn't respond immediately. Instead, he slowly lifted his head and looked at his sister.
For a long moment, he simply stared at her without saying a word. His eyes, which had been wild and unfocused earlier, now seemed strangely clear as they studied her face.
Different emotions flickered across his expression one after another.
First, there was a faint trace of hope... fragile and uncertain, like he wanted to believe her. Then it was quickly replaced by doubt, as if he was reminding himself not to fall for false promises. After that came pain, raw and heavy, followed by a bitter kind of acceptance.
