Alexander’s POV

The room fell silent, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air. Richard and Anne stared at her in disbelief, and I could feel their shock radiating from them. I glanced at Sophia, her eyes filled with a mixture of apprehension and hope.

Anne was the first to find her voice. "You've...you've given birth? When did this happen? Why didn't you tell us?"

A stunned silence fell upon the room, broken only by the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner. ...