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She could no longer have children.

Vivienna had mentioned it the day she had found the pregnancy test, and I had thought about it, but how could I broach such a sensitive topic?

I knew how desperately she had wanted children, and her laughter just now had seemed more like an attempt to cover up the painful reality of her existence.

Realizing she was avoiding my gaze, I quickly looked back at Miles, who was still holding the phone. He didn't seem to like my mother's research findings at all.

“What did they find out that no one knows about yet?” Julie asked, and Miles looked up for the first time to hand her the phone. Without a word.

As soon as Julie had my phone in her hands, Emely moved closer and peered over her shoulder.

“This document…” Julie bit her lower lip and zoomed in on the table. “It’s exactly the same as the one at the DLSC.”

I stared at her in surprise, remembering that Julie was doing an internship at the DLSC. And then the last pieces of the puzzle fell into place.

“You have access to this document at the DLSC?”

Julie looked up and red spots appeared on her fine nose and cheeks.

“I…”

“Tell us, and this time, please tell us everything,” Larissa blurted out eagerly, looking at me with a dismissive sideways glance that I knew required her greatest acting talent.

“I can't tell you anything…” Julie began, biting her lower lip again.

It didn't escape my notice that ice crystals were forming on the back of my cell phone.

“Who said that?” Larissa laughed. “Professor Sexy?”

Julie's face turned completely red.

With a smirk, I threw a pen at Larissa, who caught it right away and grinned at me as if she had forgotten she was mad at me.

“He is researching the species together with Diana Adams,” Julie began hesitantly, and my breath caught in my throat.

Mum had worked with that strange guy? And she was obviously still researching the species...

“Wait a minute...” Larissa began, looking questioningly at Julie. “Your professor is a human.” She stared at Julie, who didn't answer but looked at my phone, where more and more ice crystals were forming. “Julie” She looked up, obviously nervous. “Why does he know about...”

“Which professor are we talking about?” Miles laughed, confused.

“Professor Tiberius,” I replied, hoping my memory was correct.

Miles raised both eyebrows and looked at Julie. She stared back, as if considering following in Emely’s footsteps.

The latter was still staring at my phone, completely absorbed in the document.

“He's a human,” Miles simply said, and I looked at him in confusion.

“How do you know him?” Larissa asked, just as irritated as I was.

“Football practice,” was all Miles replied.

“I didn't know that,” Julie said, staring back at the document on my phone.

I watched her blush as she continued to scan the table. Then she looked at me.

“Your mother seems to have taken notes. Here.” She tapped the screen and handed Larissa the phone. “The red circle at the intersection of Senseque and Quatura... Maybe she meant herself and your father,” she guessed concentrated, her cheeks still flushed.