"Penelope, what nonsense are you spouting?!"
I struggled to break free, and the wound below tore open again. Blood soaked through the bedsheets in an instant.
Homer panicked at the sight. He gathered me into his arms, clumsy and desperate. "Penny, stop moving. Please."
I pried his hands off me and glared straight at him. "Homer, you've been lying to me for years. Was it worth it?"
"Hundreds of lives. And my two children. Don't you lose sleep at night?"
Homer's hand hung frozen in midair, trembling beyond his control.
"You know about all of it?"
When I said nothing, he rushed to explain. "Penny, I had no choice. People in Millhaven Village saw you with the Crown Prince. If the pregnancy got out, it would have torn the court apart."
I let out a bitter laugh. "Was it really about the court? Or were you afraid your precious Chloe would lose her power?"
Homer's brow creased. Whatever guilt had been in his eyes vanished, replaced by cold displeasure. "That was all my decision. Chloe had nothing to do with it. Leave her out of this."
Even now, he was still shielding Chloe. The last thread of hope in me snapped.
"Then what about my children? The first one, fine, I'll blame myself for grieving too hard to protect it. But the second?"
Homer saw that I had ripped away the final veil, and he stopped pretending. "Yes. I had someone take care of it."
"I wasn't ready to be a father."
"Even now, you're still lying to me..."
"Penny, stop this. Whatever I've done, I owe you. I've sworn an oath. I'll make it up to you. I'll give you a life of wealth and luxury, secure in your place as my lady for the rest of your days!"
I didn't want to hear another hollow promise. "Homer, I don't want any of it. I'll give up everything. Just grant me the divorce and set yourself free."
"If you're worried I'll expose the massacre, you can have my life too."
"All I'm asking is that you save Ruby!"
I thought the weight of hundreds of dead villagers on his conscience would be enough to buy one life. I still underestimated how shameless he was.
"Penny, stop. I can't help you this time."
"Chloe's been through a trauma. She's always been sensitive and stubborn. If Ruby doesn't die, Chloe won't be able to sleep."
And then I finally understood. In Homer's heart, the lives of ordinary people weren't worth as much as one good night's rest for Chloe Fox.
I shoved him away and dragged my broken body across the floor toward the courtyard. I collapsed at Chloe's feet, clutching the hem of her skirt. "Your Highness, please spare Ruby. It was all my fault."
Chloe looked down at me with a satisfied smirk. "Your fault how?"
"I'm lowborn. I should never have troubled the royal physician."
"I should never have displeased Your Highness."
"Enough. The sight of you covered in blood is revolting."
Chloe kicked me away in disgust and turned to Homer. "Homer, I'm tired. Walk me back?"
Homer looked at me sprawled on the ground. He hesitated for a moment. But in the end, he chose Chloe.
I reached for Ruby beside me, her breath barely there, and called after him one last time. "My lord, could you at least send for Dr. Shepherd?"
Homer opened his mouth to give the order, but Chloe cut him off. "No one calls for any doctor. I've already spared her life. Whether she survives is her own fate."
Homer looked back at me, something unreadable churning behind his eyes. Then he clenched his jaw and walked away.
Everything I had held together shattered in that moment. I screamed at his retreating back, "Homer Rowe, I want a divorce!"
Chloe had just reached the doorway. She laughed out loud and nudged Homer playfully. "She says she wants a divorce. Aren't you going to go coax her?"
Homer glared at me, visibly annoyed.
No need to coax her. She's just throwing a tantrum. She'd never survive outside this estate.
Besides, she's been pregnant twice and she's a second-time bride. Who else would want her but me?
He was right. Leaving the estate might very well be a death sentence.
But staying was a fate worse than death.
I forced myself up through the pain, set the divorce papers on the table, and found a rickety old cart. I loaded Ruby onto it and walked out of the Rowe estate.
This time, I was finally free.
