Chapter 251

Yvette figured it was pointless to explain, so she stopped talking and sipping her coffee silently.

James shifted his gaze and turned to look at Michael who was sneaking glances at Yvette. James’ gaze softened.

James said. “Michael, this is the person you’ve been wanting to meet, Siren, or Yvette. You can call her Yvette.”

Yvette just lifted her eyes a bit, silently accepting the familiarity Michael timidly lifted his head to sneak a peek at Yvette, and his eyes were full of joy. Then Michael shyly lowered his head, nervously fidgeting with his hands, hesitatingly managing to say complete sentence.

Michael said. “Yvette, I’m Michael”

James reassuringly patted Michael on his shoulder and he glanced at Yvette, feeling a bit embarrassed.

James said. “I’m sorry. Yvette. Michael has a few quirks. He likes your papers and has wanted to meet you. I hope you don’t mind.”

Yvette lifted her gaze and casually glanced at Michael, showing no curiosity.

The calmness in Yvette’s gaze was completely free of malice, which made James feel a bit moved..

For years, others had looked at Michael with a hint of malice and disdain. They wouldn’t dare to show it in front of James, but James noticed it James sighed. “Michael is...”

Yvette put down her cup and calmly said, “Autism.”

James was taken aback for a moment, then nodded at Yvette.

As James remembered past events, a deep sorrow appeared on his face. He spoke solemnly, “Yes, Michael is an autistic child.”

Yvette raised an eyebrow and narrowed her eyes, and her fingers were lightly tapping on the table.

Yvette said, “Autism, also known as autistic disorder, is a key condition of pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). Currently, PDD is categorized into five types: autistic disorder, Kett’s syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, and unspecified PDD. Among these, autistic disorder and Asperger’s syndrome are the most common.”

James was shocked for a few seconds and thought, ‘Yvette knows such professional terms, so it’s obvious she’s done some research.

James asked, “Yvie, have you also done research in this area?”

Yvette said politely, I’ve read a few books when I was bored, so I wouldn’t call it research James made a sound of acknowledgment, feeling a bit disappointed.

It would be great if Yvette had autism research. Maybe Michael could be helped.

James didn’t know why but had an inexplicable confidence in Yvette.

James believed that a genius shone in any area.

James reminisced with Yvette. “Yvette, Michael’s condition is mainly because of me. Over twenty years ago, I was working on a crucial research project we could develop thut technology, our country would of physics I didn’t go home for three years because I was always in the lab. That one the gap with Mysonna in the field year, during Christmas. I finally managed to take a day off. My son and daughter-in-law were in a car accident as they hurried back to reunite for the celebration. They both died in that crash, leaving Michael as the only survivor. Witnessing the entire accident left a major mark on his heart, and that’s why he is like this now.”

As James spoke, his voice caught with emotion.

For all these years, James had been tormented by guilt. If it weren’t for him, the accident wouldn’t have happened.

En out James felt responsible for the deaths of his son and daughter-in-law, and for causing his only grandson Michael to turn like this.

Michael looked at James with confusion, watching James crying made Michael feel panic.

Michael said, “Don’t cry... Don’t cry.”

Michael awkwardly wiped James’s face with his sleeve.

James quickly comforted Michael. “Don’t worry. I’m not crying Seeing that fames wasn’t crying anymore, Michael hesitantly put down his sleeve, and then he lowered his head and started counting his fingers and mumbled words that no one else could understand.

That was a series of strange numbers.

Seeing Michael like this, James felt even more heartbroken because Michael still didn’t understand anything Yvette watched the scene and listened to Michael’s mumbled words. A hint of understanding flashed through her charming eyes:

Yvette said to James, “All these years, you’ve been consciously guiding Michael’s interests and nurturing his focus, haven’t you?”

James was surprised that Yvette noticed this, and he quickly nodded, and his hand, holding the cane, trembled slightly. James said, “Yes. When Michael was seven, I noticed he had an amazing ability to focus for his age. He seemed to have a natural knack for physics. Once he started on experiments, he ignored everything else. I could only teach him by myself. I’ve grown old and perhaps a bit selfish, so I don’t want him to follow the path I took. I hope he can have a simple and safe life.

Yvette looked steadily at Michael and said, “Lift your head.”

James gave a wry smile because Michael would never listen to a stranger.

Just as James was about to say something, he heard Michael say, I’m good, and I lift my head.”

In shock, James turned around stiffly and saw Michael had already raised his head, staring intently at Yvette.

James could hardly believe what he was seeing.

After all these years, this was the first time Michael listened to one’s advice.

Tears streamed down James’s wrinkled face.

At that moment, James wasn’t the revered elder known to all, just an ordinary grandpa.

Yvette pressed her lips together, meeting Michael’s gaze. “How old are you?”

Michael said. Tm twenty-five years old now?

Yvette paused and asked. “What did your grandpa do three days ago?

Without thinking. Michael said, “Grandpa got up in the morning and had some soup”

Yvette patiently listened as Michael explained what James had done over the past three days, and there wasn’t a hint of impatience on her face.

Michael said, “Grandpa spent half an hour on the phone with Mary, and she said Grandpa was frivolous”

James quickly covered Michael’s mouth, and his face flushed. He hastily said. “Yvette, don’t listen to what Michael is saying.

Mary and I have a strong and simple relationship between colleagues.”

Yvette nodded and smiled, her eyebrows lowered slightly. She slowly said, “Yeah, that’s true.”

James felt his cheeks turning crimson with embarrassment, knowing this was a mess he couldn’t easily clean up.

Yvette turned her gaze back to Michael, her fingers rhythmically drumming on the table.

Yvette said. “He has talents associated with autism. Some people excel in music, calculations, dates, mechanical memory. and recitation, but his brilliance is in physics. With your guidance over the years, he has developed his own complete thought system.

He’s a genius.

It was the first time James had heard such a statement.

Previously, all the doctors had told James how difficult, dull, and manic Michael was. Now Yvette was telling James Michael was a genius.

Yvette’s words were heartfelt, and he could tell they were genuine Suddenly, a long-held burden in James’ heart dissolved.

James suddenly didn’t feel the need to hold on anymore.

As long as Michael was doing well, nothing else mattered more.

And it was all thanks to Yvette.