Penelope's expression froze; he had never imagined, nor would he ever dare to envision, this moment—Zoe kneeling before him.

If possible, he deeply wished that it could be him kneeling down at this moment, begging Zoe for forgiveness for his choice.

But the stark reality lay before him: Zoe knelt, pleading for him to drop the charges against Christopher.

He understood all too well that he could not do that, and neither could the rest of the Wells and Walker families.

Penelope's body stiffened in place, and he dared not even look at Zoe. Each word felt as if it were being forced from his throat. "Blakey, please get up....