BEN POV

As everyone left the room to give my mother and me some privacy, she sat beside me and grasped one of my hands, stroking it gently.

“Benedykta.”

The way she said my name made me realize that we were about to have a serious conversation.

I swallowed hard.

I couldn’t tell her about the baby yet.

It was just too soon.

“Why did you run away? Please don’t lie to me. I am your mother.”

Our eyes locked in a frenzy.

“You’ve never been ...