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. Richard's brows furrowed in disbelief, and he shifted uncomfortably in his armchair. "You've given birth? When did this happen?"

Sophia stammered out her explanation....