Chapter 97: WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE WORLD?

"Can you stay for lunch?" Ella asked, her voice soft but insistent as she looked at Xina with hopeful eyes. Xina shook her head. "No, there’s something important I need to do." She had a growing list of movies she wanted to watch, and books that she needed to read to better understand Gary's world. He had introduced her to so much that was unfamiliar, so many layers of hidden knowledge, and she felt like she was barely scratching the surface. Besides, she needed to prepare for her job interview tomorrow. As much as her life had changed, she couldn't afford to let herself become idle. The truth was simple: Xina had no time for lingering in places that made her feel unwelcome. "I just came back from your bedroom after cleaning it up. Maybe you want to see it? There might be something you want to take," Ella said, her words tinged with desperation. She was grasping at anything to make her daughter stay a little longer. Perhaps she feared that after today, Xina would never return—and sh