Page 109 of Uncrowned

Lips brushed mine gently and he pulled back. “Six-month anniversary kiss. We don’t have to keep it secret anymore. Call me tonight if you’re able. I’m here anytime you need me. Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays at four. We can have pastries together and you can tell me more about your progress.”

I knew I had to try to make our connection more believable. I reached to both sides of his face, pressing my lips into his. “I would like that very much.”

Theodore stood, and Elliot came forward. I slipped the card into the pocket of my cardigan, turning to Marian as Theodore and Elliot disappeared.

The look on her face told me everything I needed to know.

“I’m sorry, Penny. Katia says he can’t come back.”

Tears welled, coming so close to slipping over.

“I… don’t understand. I’m not allowed to see Theodore?”

Marian came closer.

“Not until Katia can look into him. As far as we know, it could have been him that took you. He could have been the one to kill your parents. Katia says he’s not titled. That does not work in his favor.”

“Theodore loves me. He’d never kill my parents. Besides, I felt the man’s face who took me. It wasn’t Theodore’s.”

Marian’s lips parted but she hesitated.

“Let’s just allow Katia to do the check and make sure he’s safe. It shouldn’t take long. If all is well, there should be no reason he can’t come by to see you.” Her stare lowered and she pointed.

“What’s that?”

“Books.” I twisted my lips. “Apparently, I don’t know what I’m doing, and I need to take a course on entering in addresses. I have a mix of both of ours on there.” I lowered, sitting on the sofa, letting the bad news shine all over my face.

The tears did fall, then, and I let them as I stared down mindlessly to my lap.

“Penelope.” Marian took a seat next to me. “I’m sorry. I know how excited you were to see Theodore. You looked happy with him. He seems like a good guy.”

“He is. The best.” I looked up, meeting her eyes as I let my bottom lip quiver. “He asked to see me on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at four for pastries downstairs. I hope Katia allows me to do that because I don’t think I could bear someone else telling me no on who I want to spend my time with. My parents lived to control my life. They kept me constantly isolated. I just want to spend time with Theodore. I want to pretend like this never happened.”

The sobs genuinely left me, despite that the words evoked numbness.

How was it that in the span of such a short time, my innocence had morphed to manipulation?

With every day—every lie—I changed.

If I wanted to be honest… maybe I was okay with that.

CHAPTER 37

Vaughn

The moment Theodore left the building, I was ready, following him as he went back to his office. I didn’t get out to bombard him with questions. I wanted to. It was killing me to sit still. Instead, I waited in my car, making sure no one was following or trailing him. After the half hour, he returned to his fancy, little sports car, driving the four blocks to the parking garage for The Order.

The glow from my headlights cut through the dimness, and I pulled in next to his car, not even letting him walk the few feet over to me before I was asking questions.

“Did you see her? Did you get to talk to her?”

Theodore nodded, his face hard and distracted as he stayed quiet.

“And…? What the hell happened?”

Green eyes jumped up to mine. “I kissed her. … And she kissed me back. A second time.”

Shock lasted only a moment before I was rearing back, slamming my fist into his mouth. Theodore flew back from the force, stumbling and crashing into his car.