From Best Friend To Fiancé (Savannah and Roman) novel Chapter 255

**TITLE: Dreams Folding Into Broken Time**

**Chapter 255**

Before Lizzie could voice her protest, a sharp knock reverberated through the room, slicing through the ongoing chatter like a knife.

“That must be the lawyer,” I remarked, turning toward the door with a sense of inevitability.

As I swung the door open, I was met by the sight of a tall woman clad in a maroon skirt suit, her hair meticulously twisted into a sleek bun. She radiated an aura of effortless composure, with sharp lines in her stance and a controlled expression that hinted at her keen perception. It was Penny.

“Thank you for coming,” I said, extending my hand toward her, forcing a note of civility into my tone. Perhaps I was also trying to draw attention to the ring on my finger, a subtle display of my engagement, a small attempt to assert my position.

She studied my ring for a moment longer than necessary before accepting my handshake—a polite gesture, yet it felt distant, almost rehearsed. “Roman asked me for a favor,” she replied smoothly, her voice steady. “And when he calls, I don’t say no.”

I caught the faint chill in her tone, a whisper of something unspoken that sent a shiver down my spine, but I chose to brush it aside. “Please, come in,” I said, stepping aside to allow her entry.

As she crossed the threshold, her posture remained impeccable, and the faint scent of her perfume filled the air—expensive and sophisticated. The atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically; a palpable tension settled in, the kind that often accompanies a person who carries their own gravity into a space.

“This is my mom,” I gestured toward the bed, where my mother lay, her expression a mixture of fatigue and curiosity. “My sister, Alyssa. And my cousin, Lizzie.”

Each of them offered polite smiles, their eyes flickering with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Then, the gaze of the room turned back to me, awaiting the final introduction that would tie us all together.

“And this,” I said carefully, choosing my words with precision, “is Penelope. Roman’s lawyer and friend.”

Penny stepped forward, her demeanor warm as she extended her hand toward my mother. “It’s lovely to meet you,” she said, her tone sweet yet underlined with an edge that was hard to ignore.

Everything felt fine, normal even, until she turned her attention to Alyssa. “I’m Penelope,” she stated, her voice steady but tinged with a sharpness that sliced through the air. “Roman was married to my sister first.”

In an instant, the atmosphere shifted dramatically, the air thickening with unspoken tension.

Every head in the room snapped toward me, the weight of their gazes like a physical force.

My mother’s smile vanished, replaced by a look of confusion and hurt that swirled in her eyes. Alyssa froze, blinking as if she were trying to process the gravity of what she had just heard. Lizzie’s eyes widened, a gleeful shock lighting up her expression.

My stomach plummeted. I had anticipated tension today—perhaps even awkwardness—but not this.

Penny’s expression remained poised, almost too polite, as if she were fully aware of the chaos she had just unleashed and was relishing every moment of it.

“Wait, what did you just say?” Alyssa finally found her voice, her tone sharp and incredulous.

Penelope met her gaze, her demeanor as serene as ever. “Roman was married to my sister. A long time ago,” she replied lightly, as if discussing the weather rather than the remnants of a past relationship. “But that’s all in the past now.”

Finally, Penny retrieved an envelope from her bag, her movements brisk and businesslike. “Anyway,” she continued, “these are the documents Roman asked me to prepare. Everything he wanted signed is in here. You both need to sign. So have Roman communicate with me when you do.”

She extended the envelope toward me. I took it without a word, my jaw clenched tightly. “Thank you,” I managed to say, my tone stiff and strained.

“Of course,” she replied with a perfectly crafted smile. “Anything for Roman.” With that, she turned on her heel and strode out of the room.

As the door clicked shut behind her, I released a slow breath that I hadn’t realized I was holding.

Silence enveloped us like a thick fog.

Mom was the first to look away, exhaling softly as if trying to dispel the tension that hung in the air. Alyssa continued to stare at me, her mind still grappling with the revelations. Lizzie opened her mouth, as if poised to ask a thousand questions, but for once, she remained silent.

I felt the heat creeping up my neck, the humiliation seeping into my very bones. This was not how I wanted things to unfold. I had tried to shield my family from misunderstanding, to protect them from the complexities of the past. But now, the truth was laid bare—and not by my own hand.

It was Penny who had unveiled it.

Roman’s past had just waltzed into my mother’s hospital room, wearing a smile like a guest of honor, and detonated a bomb I had hoped would remain dormant for much longer.

I stared down at the ring on my finger—gleaming, beautiful, and suddenly unbearably heavy.