Caroline held Alice's hand and moved closer to her.She didn't start talking until her daughter was calm
enough.
"Alice, you were at Victor's that night, right? Did you see Rachel taking the pill?"
Alice's silence was an answer in itself, so Caroline didn't wait for the her daughter to speak.
She frowned and murmured, more to herself, "That must be it.Rachel must be pregnant, otherwise,
why would she visit the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department?She didn't even get a prescription from
the doctor."
"Impossible.What are the odds that she got knocked up in just the one time they slept together?" Alice
was dumbfounded.
She couldn't believe that Rachel would be so lucky to get pregnant with Victor's child so easily.
What was she to do now? Rachel and Victor's divorce was supposed to be her opportunity.
What if Rachel really was pregnant? What then? Would they be back together? All her efforts would be
in vain then.
"Alice.I want to ask you something and I need you to think very carefully before you answer.Have you
noticed anything strange about Rachel these days? It's been over a month since that night.If she is
pregnant, she probably has some… symptoms."
It was plain to see that Caroline was the calmest of the two.
She seemed to have a clear mind and tried to get to the bottom of this employing her logic, putting all
emotions aside.
Alice looked thoughtful for a minute or so.
Suddenly, something occurred to her.
She squeezed Caroline's hand and exclaimed, "I… I did notice something."
"What?"
"I went to find Rachel today and before I left, I heard her talking to Abby.You know, the servant.Abby
said the orange was really sour, but Rachel didn't seem to notice it.On the contrary, she insisted that it
was delicious…"
Alice paused, a stormy expression taking over her face.
"Mom, what if she is pregnant?"
Caroline was fairly certain that she was, but when she saw Alice was on the verge of a panic attack,
she tried to comfort her.
"Don't worry, sweetie.Everything is going to be alright."
"Alright? My life is ruined! If that bitch is knocked up, Victor won't marry me and I'll never be a part of
the Sullivan family! Mom, this baby can't be born.Do you hear me?"
"Of course, honey.I'll make sure of that,"
Caroline soothed her daughter, nodding in agreement.
A sinister light flashed in her eyes as a plan started forming in her head.
"Mommy, what is it? Do you have a plan? I'll do anything.Just tell me what you need from me."
Caroline raised a hand and tucked Alice's stray locks behind her ear.
"Well, we're taking our time.We don't want to be rash, do we? Our top priority now is find out if that little
bitch is indeed pregnant.Listen carefully.You must find a way to…"
While the mother and daughter schemed and plotted, Rachel was trying to keep the bile rising in her
throat as she looked at the delicious dishes arrayed on the table in front of her.
Noticing Rachel's pallor, Abby looked distressed.
"Miss Bennet, if you don't like any of that, I can whip up something else…"
"No, no, it's okay, Abby.Don't bother," Rachel said, dismissing Abby's suggestion with a wave of her
hand.
She couldn't really eat anything.
"Bring me those oranges.I think they will do."
"But, Miss Bennet, you can't just live on oranges," Abby said frowning, looking worried sick.
"Well, you can make me some porridge later.I really can't eat these dishes now.Even if I force them
down, I'll just throw up."
With a final glance at the food on the table, Abby turned around and left to fetch oranges.She was back
in the dining room in a minute.
"Miss Bennet, I'm really worried about you.I think you should go to the hospital for a check-up," she
suggested as she passed the oranges to Rachel
"I already did," Rachel replied.
"You did? What did the doctor say?"
Abby looked really anxious, as if she was convinced that Rachel would be announcing she only had
three months to live.
Rachel smiled fondly at the girl as she put the oranges on the table.She evaded the question by simply
saying, "Let's wait until Andy gets here, shall we?"
"Alright.I'll go make your porridge now, Miss Bennet."
Abby wanted to ask more questions, but the words died on her lips.
It struck her that, right now, it was more important to cook something Rachel could actually eat, so she
hurried into the kitchen.
Not too long after that, Andy returned carrying another bag of oranges.
"Well, Miss Bennet, I'll never understand why you like oranges so much! They're just so… sour."
He placed the bag on the coffee table in the living room and then walked into the dining room.
At the same time, Abby arrived carrying a bowl full of porridge.
"Mr.Torres, did you know that Miss Bennet went to the hospital earlier?"
"Why? Are you feeling okay?"
Andy was looking at Rachel wide-eyed, worry written all over his face.
He had stayed over for these last two days, so he knew Rachel was feeling under the weather and
wasn't really eating much.
Placing the bowl in front of Rachel, Abby stood on opposite side of the table as Andy, both of them
looking at the lady of the house expectantly, waiting for an answer.
Rachel couldn't help thinking to herself that this felt a lot like an interrogation.
She cleared her throat and looked up at both of them.
"Take a seat, please.Let's grab a bite first and then we'll talk about it." Abby frowned.
"Begging your pardon, Miss, but I'd rather hear what the doctor had to say first."
"Okay.Will you at least sit down? I want to show you something."
Seeing that neither of them seemed inclined to eat at the moment, Rachel gave in.She had intended to
announce her pregnancy after lunch, but it seemed that they couldn't sit through the meal before they
heard the news.
Better tell them first, then.
Rachel stood up and went to the living room to get her purse.She returned to the dining room, took out
the test result and placed it on the table.
"This here explains everything," she said and returned to her seat.
Abby picked up the paper and examined it.
Her eyes widened and she turned to look at Rachel, shock written all over her face.
"You are pregnant?"
Looking just as shocked as Abby, Andy grabbed the paper from her hand to see for himself.
A moment later, he also turned to look at Rachel in surprise.
Rachel nodded scratching her head.
"As you see, the doctor said that fatigue and nausea are pretty common in the first trimester.Most
pregnant women have them, actually.She assured me that they'll subside as the pregnancy
progresses."
"……"
Both Abby and Andy stood there, speechless.
The silence in the dining room was almost deafening Rachel waited patiently for them to overcome
their initial shock.
Andy was the first one to snap out of it.
Although he wasn't married nor did he have any children, he knew a thing or two about these things,
being a lawyer.
He put the paper back on the table and looked at Rachel seriously.
"Have you thought about what you'll do with the baby?"
After a brief pause, he added, "I just want to let you know that keeping the baby might not even be
possible.You and Mr.Sullivan are divorced.If he finds out you are carrying his child, he will never allow it
to be born.Besides, you are still young.You could remarry if you chose to.If you have a baby, then…"
"Andy, this baby is inside me.Victor has no right to tell me if I'll keep it or not."
Rachel's eyes were narrowed and shooting daggers.
"It's my baby.I will have to carry it for nine months and suffer the pain and risks of childbirth.What does
any of this have to do with Victor?"
Andy was taken aback by Rachel's ferocious response.He barely managed to stutter, "But… He does
have a say in this.Victor is the father after all…"
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