Sebastian burst into Philip Winchester's office, breathless with excitement.
"Sir! Sir!" he called, gripping the doorframe as if it was the only thing keeping him upright. "Sir, I got a reply from Jeffrey."
Philip, who had been preparing to sign out for the day, froze mid-motion. His hand trembled slightly as he turned toward the laptop, searching his desk for his glasses with fingers that weren't as steady as they used to be.
"What does he say?" His voice was tight, controlled—yet a glimmer of something unspoken flickered in his eyes.
Sebastian, still catching his breath, hesitated before responding. "I only went through it roughly. You should read it yourself, Sir."
There was something there in the email—something different, something that made his heart swell with cautious hope. He had only skimmed the words, but it was enough to tell him one thing: Jeffrey had grown.
