"I...I don't know what to say," Penelope replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Conflicting emotions warred within her - doubt, disbelief, a glimmer of hope.
Raven took a step closer to her, his dark eyes searching hers with an intensity that made her heart race.
"Say that you believe me, Penelope. Say that you acknowledge that there's something more between us."
Penelope's mind spun with the implications of his words. Could there be more to their marriage than just a deal? She thought it was acceptable to become his wife without any further attachment, but the way Raven looked at her now, so vulnerable yet determined, made her question everything. Could it be that there was a chance for something real between them, something beyond obligation?
Taking a deep breath, Penelope finally found her voice.
