Chapter 5 Conception

The mock turtle soup spilled across the smooth table surface and began to drip onto Rachel from its corner. The sticky liquid dripped onto Rachel's clothes, dirtying it. Rachel's brows slowly pulled toward each other as her face soured by the second. "Oh, no, the soup is dripping." Although Rue pretended to panic, the tilt in her hand showed that she had no intention of stopping. On the contrary, she flicked her wrist and splashed the rest of the content onto Rachel's face. "Rachel, don't worry, the table is clean. You can continue eating this soup. After all, you've never tasted anything so luxurious..." Rachel pushed away Rue’s arm that was pressed down on her shoulder and slowly stood up. The stains on her dress did not dampen the spirit she had. "Rue, you're my older twin sister, so there are many things you do that I put up with. But don't cross the line, because everyone has their limits. When grasping at straws, even rabbits can bite." Having dropped her last word, she walked away decisively without looking at the furious Rue. Rue snorted and smirked as she looked at Rachel's leaving silhouette. "A biting rabbit who has been suppressed by me since young?" Time flew past as Rachel was put under house arrest in the Bennet villa for two whole months, with her presence ignored like the air in the atmosphere. Within the two months, Rachel's physique and her face became noticeably and increasingly rounded. Seeing Rachel's condition, Rue was the only person on cloud nine. Rue looked at Rachel who only had plain vegetables and some clear broth in front of her, and placed a piece of pork ribs onto her plate. "Rachel, you look like you've been having quite an appetite. Here, have some of this." Rachel simply glanced at the piece of pork ribs on her plate and immediately picked it out with her fork. Rue then acted as if she was hurt and laid her fork on the table. "Rachel, why did you throw out the piece of pork rib that I gave you? If I have offended you in any way, tell me, I'll change." Seeing as Rue was on the verge of crying, Mr. Bennet immediately frowned. It could be seen that a storm was brewing on his face. Slowly, he set down his knife before he slammed the dining table loudly. His cold gaze stared down on Rachel. "Rachel, you're crossing the line! Your sister gave you her piece of rib. If you don't want it, fine, but what are you thinking tossing it out like that?" Mrs. Bennet did not defend Rachel but instead chose to comfort Rue who seemed to be sniffling. Rachel looked at Rue and finally pushed a sentence out of her thin, pale lips. "I have no appetite." Rachel stoicism just stoked the fire in Mr. Bennet even more. He pounded the table again and pointed at the pork ribs that she tossed out. "Pick it up! Eat it!" After hearing what her father had to say, Rachel lifted her head slowly to reveal the glint of coldness that shone in her eyes. Her father wanted her to pick up the food she had discarded? "Father, how would people think about us Bennets if they hear of this?" She replied with an intention that suggested she had chosen not to pick up the food. With that, Mr. Bennet shot up from his seat in an attempt to grab Rachel's hair. Suddenly, Rachel's eyes widened before she ran to the rubbish bin while covering her mouth. She then bent over and began to vomit into the bin; even her sweat and tears were included. Everyone in the hall was speechless as they watched Rachel's outburst. Of them all, the most surprised was Rue. At that moment, an unfortunate thought flashed through her mind. 'Could it be? Rachel is pregnant?! With Edward's child?!' Her palms tightened into a fist. 'How can that be! Not only did she send Rachel to her dream man's bed, but she had also conceived in just one night! With Edward?!' 'Women are valued by their ability to produce sons. If Rachel looked for Edward with her child, wouldn't she have a high chance of becoming Mrs. Bluemel?!' Rue's tensed fist got even tighter. No! She would not allow this to happen! Before she could respond, Mrs. Bennet had already approached Rachel. She patted Rachel's back while she held a strict expression. "Rachel, tell me honestly, are you having it?" Rachel looked bewildered. "Having what?" Without saying another word, Mrs. Bennet brought Rachel straight to the hospital. Within the next half an hour, Mrs. Bennet had almost fainted when she came out with the test results. However, the doctor smiled at Rachel and said, "Congratulations, you're gonna be a mom soon." Rachel paused for a bit before her hands instinctively covered the tiny bump on her belly as she spaced out. "I, I'm gonna be a mother soon?" The doctor nodded. "That's right. You are two months pregnant." Hearing the doctor's words, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, as well as Rue all recalled the night when Rachel did not come home. Mr. Bennet grabbed Rachel's wrist. The strength he used was so great, it bruised Rachel's wrist. He dragged her over to the doctor with a face full of fury. "Doctor, get her an abortion! We don't want that baby!" Rachel's eyes bulged upon hearing Mr. Bennet's words. She withdrew her hand from Mr. Bennet's and held her bump tightly. "No! This is an innocent life, I can’t let you take away his hope to be born into this world just after I've given this to him!" Slap— Mr. Bennet's palm landed hard on Rachel's face without any hint of mercy. "You whore! Do you mean to ruin the cooperation and relationship between the Bennets and the Comers?! You're supposed to be married to Ian!" Rue stood aside, watching the scene unfold as her eyes narrowed gradually. Rachel's unborn child is the child of Edward Bluemel, the man who could decide the fate of the entire world! Of course, she would not expose this little secret. She knew that as soon as the truth was exposed, Rachel would replace her as the favored child of the Bennets. If that was the case, their status in the family would switch! Moreover, if the truth came out, she might even become Mrs. Bluemel! That was why this truth had to be brought to her grave. Forcing Rachel to get an abortion now might be a good idea. At least then, there would be a much smaller chance that Rachel will marry Edward! Having thought that, Rue approached Rachel and lightly grabbed Rachel's forearm. "Rachel, I think you should get the abortion. We're only doing this for your own good. We're your family, we wouldn't do anything to hurt you, right?"