Reluctant Charade

As Gideon expected, this method was more effective than the previous one. Tess stopped. Although she didn't look back, she gave him a chance to speak.

"After we divorced, my mom fell seriously ill. She is far away in Eldoria, suffering from lovesickness every day. Her illness became increasingly serious. Afraid that she could not see you and would become terminally ill, I lied to her that you had