Penelope’s POV

I paused.

“I didn’t tell anyone,” I added. “But I knew then. That she was pregnant. That the child wasn’t just a secret, it was dangerous.”

The air between us grew heavier.

He didn’t say anything yet.

But I could see it in his eyes.

That everything was finally starting to make sense.

I stayed right there on his lap, fingers still lightly stroking his beard as I tilted my head and asked softly, “Tell me what Bianca was doing in your room for that long?”

His ...