After a delightful dinner filled with delicious food and engaging conversation, Penelope retired to her room for the night when she and Raven returned home. As she settled into bed, her thoughts drifted to her earlier conversation with Margaret. She was relieved that the Montgomery family had no qualms about her being Raven's wife instead of her younger sister, Melody. However, as much as she wanted to start in a clean slate, Penelope knew it was impossible. Her past would eventually catch up to her no matter what she does.
No matter how much Raven and his family convinced her she would be fine, she couldn't escape the guilt gnawed at her insides. Penelope tossed and turned, the moon casting a haunting glow through the sheer curtains of her bedroom.
Just as sleep began to tug at the edges of her consciousness, a soft knock sounded at her door. Startled, Penelope sat up in bed.
"Who is it?" she asked, wondering who would dare to seek her late at night.
"It's me, Penelope." Penelope heard her husband outside her door. "Can I come in?"
Raven's voice was gentle, but Penelope detected a tinge of concern in his tone. She hesitated for a moment, debating whether to let him in or not. The day's events weighed heavily on her mind, and she felt unease wash over her. Despite her reservations, she couldn't ignore the urgency in Raven's voice.
Penelope rose from her bed with a heavy sigh and went to the door. She turned the handle slowly, revealing Raven standing in the dimly lit corridor, his silhouette outlined by the moonlight filtering through the windows.
"Is everything all right?" she asked, searching his face for any sign of what might be troubling him.
Raven's usual composed expression faltered for a moment before he spoke.
"I couldn't sleep," he confessed softly. "And I should be the one asking you that, Penelope. Is everything alright?"
Penelope bit her lower lip. She didn't want to burden her husband, but she couldn't keep her thoughts bottled up any longer. She stepped back, gesturing for Raven to come inside her room. She closed the door behind him as he entered and watched him sit at the edge of her bed.
"I've just been thinking about everything that's happened," Penelope began hesitantly, her eyes searching Raven's for understanding. "About Melody, about your family... about us. I'm not sure if I can meet everyone's expectations of me."
Raven's gaze softened, his hand reaching out and took her hand to his.
"I know it's been a lot to take in," he murmured, his thumb tracing small circles on her skin. "You don't have to go if you aren't ready. I don't want you to feel pressured to go if it's causing you so much distress."
Penelope looked at her husband, feeling gratitude towards him. She squeezed his hand, the warmth of his touch grounding her in that moment. But even as she appreciated his concern, Penelope knew deep down that running away wasn't the answer. She needed to face her past head-on, no matter how difficult or painful.
With a steadying breath, she met Raven's gaze with determination.
"I need to confront my past, Raven," she said firmly. "I can't keep pretending everything is fine when it's not. I want to make things right this time."
Raven's eyes held admiration and concern as he listened to her words. He knew the strength it took for Penelope to voice her inner turmoil, and he respected her all the more for it.
"I will support you in whatever you choose to do," Raven assured her, his voice unwavering. "If you think you aren't ready, you can ask Margaret for help. We discussed it earlier, and she agreed to lend you a hand. You don't need to feel ashamed of your past, Penelope. If anything, those people should be held accountable for what happened to you."
Penelope shook her head. No matter how others treated her, it wasn't enough excuse for her to act recklessly and put someone's life in danger. She knew facing her past would be difficult, but Penelope knew she could no longer hide from it. Taking a deep breath, she made up her mind.
"I will go with Margaret and it's not like I have to stay too long during the party." She told her husband after a long silence between them.
Raven nodded in understanding. He was relieved that she wasn't backing down this time and had made up her mind.
"If Lance Oliver tries to hurt you gain, you should tell me at once."
Penelope's shoulders tensed at the mention of Lance's name, memories of their tumultuous past flooding her mind. She couldn't deny the lingering fear and anxiety that gripped her whenever she thought about facing him again. But she also knew she couldn't let that fear control her anymore. She never talked with Raven about Lance, but she did not doubt that her husband knew about her past relationship with Lance Oliver.
"You don't need to worry about him, Raven. I won't go after him." She answered in a low tone, refusing to meet Raven's eyes.
Raven studied Penelope's troubled expression, sensing the underlying tension within her. He knew there were wounds from her past that still haunted her, wounds that he wished he could heal with just a touch of his hand. But he also understood that some scars ran too deep to be easily erased. As much as he wanted to protect Penelope from harm, he tried to give her the choice to proceed with newfound freedom.
"It's not you that I don't trust, Penelope. I know you won't dare to commit the same mistakes again. You haven't seen or talked to him for over five years, and we don't know what he's thinking about you."
Penelope raised a slender brow in confusion.
"You think he's still into me?" She laughed mirthlessly. "That man abandoned me and married another woman behind my back. Why would he suddenly come back for me after all these years?"
Raven's expression darkened, a storm brewing in his eyes as he spoke through gritted teeth. Penelope was taken aback at his sudden hatred, albeit not towards her.
"Because men like him never change, Penelope. He sees you as a possession he once owned and can reclaim whenever he pleases. I won't let him lay a finger on you again, not while I'm around."
When she said nothing, her husband continued, "I just want you to be cautious around him, Penelope. I don't want you to underestimate the danger he might pose to you."
'Danger?' Penelope thought. She had harmed Lance's sister years ago, and she wouldn't be surprised if he had hated her since then.
"Thank you, Raven," she whispered, her voice laced with conviction. "I won't let him or anyone else hold power over me anymore."