The air instantly fell silent, but it was the calm before the storm. A few seconds later, all hell broke loose. Phoebe Huxley and Raina leaped to their feet in excitement. The shock nearly sent Phoebe Thorne into labor. She pressed a hand to her stomach, as if pushing the baby back in. 'Even if you're coming out,' she thought, 'you have to wait until I've heard all the gossip before you're born.'
"What son? Who is it?"
The three women were ecstatic. This was gossip of the highest order! 'That shameless pair actually had a little bastard together!' Such a scandalous, outrageous affair, and they were only just finding out now. It was too thrilling.
Facing three pairs of piercing eyes, Jim Thorne had no choice but to temporarily abandon his grand mission of eating and answer their questions. Otherwise, six slaps would surely rain down on him, and he could forget about ever getting into Aethelgard University.
