Chapter 3 The Downtrodden Younger Twin

Mrs. Bennet held the livid Mr. Bennet back, hinting to him with her eyes and a shake of her head about Jodie, who was currently holding Rachel in her arms. Jodie was the daughter of the Comer family! In that household, they had a preference for daughters, so naturally, Jodie was pretty well-liked at home. The Comers and the Bennets were long-time family friends, hence Jodie was not someone they could lay their hands on. Mr. Bennet shook his arms and barked with a grim expression, "Take second young miss to her room. From today onward, she is not allowed to leave the house!" After Mr. Bennet stormed out of the hall, Mrs. Bennet too left with a sigh. Her disappointment toward Rachel was written all over her face. Kneeling beside Rachel, Rue could not help but share her thoughts, "Rachel, you really messed up this time, having sex with a stranger. Don't you remember? You are supposed to be marrying Ian." Rachel clenched her jaw and looked up at Rue. Her spirited eyes were filled with coldness. "Rue, we were celebrating together yesterday. Didn't you realize I was gone after I got drunk?" Rue held Rachel's hand gently. "After you disappeared, I made everyone look for you. Are you suspecting me, Rachel?" Jodie nodded emphatically. "From what I heard, Rue did make everyone look for you, that's how your parents found out, Rachel." Rachel looked away. She had this weird feeling that something was wrong. She was drunk because Rue kept making her drink. However, she remembered that she was drunk. She could not even stand up on her own, let alone walk away. So how exactly was it possible for her to disappear on her own? "Rachel, you should really contemplate on this. The engagement between the Bennets and the Comers is a huge event, you shouldn't mess it up because of your stubbornness!" Rue employed a stricter tone to criticize Rachel, who was still sitting awkwardly on the floor. Rachel looked at the elegant Rue with her jaw clenched. "You know, the one Ian Comer likes is you, and I don't like him. This marriage is supposed to be between you and him, but why did the bride turn out to be me instead?" "Rachel, you should know that it was mom and dad who made the decision! Besides, you should be happy that you’re able to contribute to the Bennets." Rue scowled. The loving facade she had on before had melted away now that their parents were gone. Though Jodie looked away, her eyes filled with defeat. "Rachel, are you really going to be my sister-in-law?" Rachel pursed her lips. "Jodie, I will never take away the person you like. Don't worry, I will never marry Ian." Jodie shook her head slowly and only left the Bennet villa after she had bandaged Rachel's bleeding arm. "Rachel, I haven't been home for the whole night, my family might be worried about me. I'll check in on you later." With that, in contrast to the intense scenario just moments before, the villa suddenly returned to a state of uncomfortable silence. Rachel slowly made her way back upstairs by supporting herself on the banister. Due to the weakness in her legs, all she could do was shift the focus of her weight onto her arms. The moment she started to use the strength in her arms, the wound reopened and fresh blood began to burst out of the bandage. She gasped and reflexively let go of the banister. As soon as her hand lifted off the banister, her point of balance was lost and her legs could not hold herself upright any longer. With just one sway, Rachel fell and rolled down the stairs. The servants around looked at each other, not knowing what to do. There were many of them, but not one of them was willing to help Rachel back up on her feet. Rachel lied there on the floorboard and for a brief moment, she was lost in her own mind. After all, she was never the favored child in this family, and she was always compared with her twin sister. After this incident, she probably would be even less liked in this household, would it not? She tightened her jaw and slowly stood back up. Slowly but surely, Rachel made her way to the second floor as blood continued to seep out of her wound. It was painful, but Rachel never took her hands off the banister. The more they wanted to see her fail and the more they wanted to laugh at her, the more she could not let them have their way. The white-marbled banister was stained with a long trail of blood, stretching from the bottom of the stairwell to the top. It looked like it was a snake made of blood, taunting everyone who saw it. The servants shivered as they saw the carnage on the banister. A tingling sensation covered the back of their head to their crown. When Rachel was finally back in her room, she rushed into her bathroom after grabbing a change of clothes. Cold water spilled out of the showerhead, which she braved face-first, but it could not stop her thoughts from running. Lifting her bloodied arm, she let the cold water wash away the streaks of blood on her skin. Before long, her arms and hands were as clean as before with the blood washed off. Mixed with blood, the crimson-streaked water dripped onto her face, mirroring her current mood. Her most precious asset, the one thing she had planned to give to the man she will love in the future, was lost to her foolish drunkenness. She had not even found out who took it from her, only that he is a man. Recalling the scene in the hall with her cruel father, her callous mother, and her sister who plays the blame game, she was dispirited. All the years she had spent cowering in the shadow of the Bennets, she could have given up everything good to her sister and she would not utter a single complaint. But why, why is it that everything Rue did not want was shoved into her hands? For example, the marriage with the Comers. In the beginning, Rue and Ian were a couple and they were the ones who said they wanted to get married. Although Rue had a sudden change of heart, the Bennets and the Comers were such old family friends that they could not bear to sour their relationship. So, the responsibility fell upon her who looked identical to her sister. It was the same as it used to be. Ever since they were young, it mattered not that it was Rue who got caught cheating or doing something wrong, it was always Rachel who was warned and shamed publicly. Rachel tensed her injured arm abruptly, and once again, sanguine blood started to burst out of her closed wounds. 'I don't care if you dislike me, or hurt me, but why do you have to use me time after time? How do you never feel guilty?' Rachel sat in front of her vanity. Looking at her reflection in the mirror that was stunningly beautiful even without makeup, her hand lightly caressed her face. She had the same face as Rue. In fact, she might even be prettier than her sister. She was definitely wittier and cleverer since they were young. 'So why, why did dad and mom give all of their love to Rue and hesitate to spend even an extra look at me? Why can't I share their love?'