"Theodora?"
That shocked voice of her mother made Theodora's face pale, and her eyes widened in fear. Her head snapped behind her. All her happiness withered out, and her chest constricted as fear gripped her heart in a deadly vice.
Her mother and father stood there mirroring each others' expressions.
Theodora forced herself to stand up before she staggered toward them but stopped after a couple of steps when she realised their widened eyes fixated on her protruding belly.
She felt like the sky had fallen on her head, crushing her down under its weight. She wanted to tell her parents about her pregnancy but not in this way.
Taking a long breath, she dared to open her mouth. "M-mother, f-father, I-"
"What is this?" Lady Cordelia's voice came out barely over a whisper as she took a step ahead.
