Chapter 20

The journey back was quiet. Alexander didn't ask Penelope anything. Instead, he focused on texting Ethan as they finalized the details for tomorrow's wedding. After a month together, Penelope had come to understand that Alexander refrained from asking questions out of respect. Hence, he never pried into her personal matters. For her part, she had chosen to stay silent because her past felt like a wound. It was too painful to revisit and too shameful to bring up. But now, seeing how absorbed Alexander was in the wedding preparations, she felt he had a right to know. So, after dinner, she sought him out and told him everything. Perhaps Penelope had truly let go of her past, for as she recounted it, her voice remained steady. It was as if she were narrating someone else's life. Even so, hearing her story still hurt Alexander. He held her hand tightly, and she could feel the warmth radiating from him. "I know you've moved on," he began. "But thank you for telling me. While I wa