The room became deathly silent. Percival's question hung in the air, heavy and damning. He stepped forward, command radiating from his posture as he moved toward Orla's bed.
"What if there was no child at all?" he continued, his voice deceptively soft.
Orla's face paled further. She clutched the hospital blanket with trembling fingers.
"How dare you!" Jasper exploded, stepping between Percival and the bed. "My fiancée just lost our baby, and you have the audacity to accuse her of lying?"
Sebastian Covington moved beside his son, his face contorted with righteous anger. "This is exactly the kind of underhanded tactic we've come to expect from you, Percival. You've always been desperate to discredit our branch of the family."
Penelope placed a protective hand on Orla's shoulder. "The poor girl is traumatized enough without these cruel accusations."
Percival remained unmoved by the display. His eyes scanned the room, noting each person's reaction with clinical detachment.
