"Homer, the Crown Prince keeps undermining you at every turn. Doesn't that eat at you? Back then, you married Penelope Maxwell for his sake and even claimed a child that wasn't yours."
"I didn't do it for him. I did it for Chloe. In this kingdom, the firstborn son inherits regardless of his mother's rank. If Penelope had given birth to a prince first, how would Chloe ever secure her place in the palace?"
"We all know you're hopelessly in love with Chloe Fox, but did you really have to massacre all of Millhaven Village to keep them quiet? The body collectors have been all but wiped out since then."
"I had no choice. The people in Millhaven Village knew too much. To eliminate any future threat, every last one of them had to die."
I had always believed that falling for the Crown Prince was the greatest mistake of my life. I never imagined that falling for Homer Rowe would prove a far worse one.
……
"Just now, one of the maids from the estate came by. Your attendant turned her away, but I think I heard her say Penelope is pregnant..."
Homer's hand tightened around his teacup. It nearly slipped from his grip, but he was always composed. Within a breath, his expression smoothed over.