Leonie feels like her head might explode. Before she can think things through, she crosses the room and shoves David off of Avery. Frantically, she begins digging through the dical kit.
"I don't buy it," Leonie says, "Taking a pulse is not an accurate way to determine pregnancy. Take the pregnancy test out."
Leonie's frantic move doesn't frighten Avery. She gives David a grateful look and feels a weight easing from her chest.
"Is David helping ?" Avery wonders, "I deliberately disclosed my tornt to him because I know he's loyal to Evan. I was hoping he'd help , but I never expected that he'd go this far for . Though this is only a makeshift plan, it's a good one. David must know that pregnancy is the only thing that can change Francis Howel's mind. The only downside is explaining that it was all a lie to Evan when he cos backhe'll be so disappointed."
This last thought brings a sharp pang of pain with it. Avery freezes suddenly, shocked by her own thoughts.
"What am I doing?" she wonders, "Am I really upset that I'm not actually having a child with Evan? I need to get it together."
"Miss Sumrs, are you unhappy with Dr. Walter's diagnosis?" Avery asks.
David takes the dical kit from Leonie.
"I'm not unhappy," she said quickly, "I just think this sort of news is far too important to risk any inaccuracy, and a pregnancy test is the only way to really be sure.
Don't you agree with , Dr. Walter?"
David nods reluctantly.
"Yes, we can't hear the fetus accurately when it is too small," he says, "The most reliable thod is the HCG blood test, but the urination test is the best in the absence of the equipnt for the HCG."
"Get soone to buy one," Leonie commands.
"There's no need," David says, "I have a spare one."
David opens the dical kit and takes the pregnancy test out. He offers it to Avery. Avery hesitates for a mont and then takes it.
"Co on, go to the toilet," Leonie says, twisting her hands impatiently, "Why are you hesitating? Are you guilty of sothing perhaps?"
"Go already!" Mrs. Florence Howel commands, desperate to know the truth.
Avery tightens her fist around the stick. She recalls David's assuring look and forces herself to calmly walk to the toilet. When she erges from the bathroom, she passes the stick of David. He stares at it and his shoulders tense. Leonie strides across the room and tries to read the results.
"Two lines," he said gravely, "That ans that Mrs. Howel is pregnant."
Leonie's face looks desperate and stricken. She takes a step back. Then she steps forward and grabs the test from him. Her look darkens when she sees the lines for herself. She knows it's almost impossible to fool this kind of pregnancy test. Avery is really pregnant.
"If Avery is pregnant, everything will change," Leonie thinks with panic, "Avery will get priority again, and I'll go back to being a nobody."
Mrs. Florence Howel's hand begins to shake. It's only a matter of ti before her husband finds out and insists she treats Avery with the utmost respect. Within minutes, a maid rushes in carrying a phone.
"Mrs. Florence Howel, it's your husband," the maid announces.
It's a brief conversation. After hanging up, Mrs. Florence Howel gives Avery a grudging look.
"Please, help Mrs. Howel sit down," she orders, "And ask the kitchen to prepare a pregnancy al."
Avery can tell that Francis Howel has already received the news. She knows this secures her priority within the household, and she smiles calmly at her forr torntors.
"I recall soone once said that a person's clothes determine their station in life," Avery says cooly, "It appears that sohow, I'm in a maid's uniform. According to you, that ans I don't have the right to sit down at the family table."
"Avery! I've offered you a choice here," Mrs. Florence Howel says with exasperation, "Don't be foolish!"
"Dr. Walter, I heard that too much standing during the first months of pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage," Avery says archly, "Is that true?"
David smiles and nods. Once again, Avery has found a way to irritate Mrs. Florence Howel.
"It's true," he agrees.
"Well then, as I stand here, I'll do so serious thinking," Avery says, "If I miscarry and Mr. Howel asks who's to bla, I'll need to have an answer prepared."
"How can I make you sit down?" Mrs. Florence Howel asks desperately.
"I seem to rember soone kicked in the back before," Avery says.
Maureen makes a terrified expression as her boss turns a cold eye on her.
"Mrs. Howel, I was just"
"Kneel and apologize to Mrs. Howel," Florence orders.
Maureen drops to her knees in front of Avery.
"Mrs. Howel, I'm so sorry," Maureen pleads, "I shouldn't have kicked you. Please show rcy."
"Dr. Walter, do you have any dication for any injury I may have sustained from the kick?" Avery asks.
Avery's back does ache where Maureen kicked her. Maureen desperately grabs the hem of Avery's dress, and Avery recoils in shock and disgust.
"Mrs. Howel, it's my fault," Maureen whimpers, "I'm so very sorry. Please don't tell Mr. Howel."
Maureen begins to slap herself across the face, discoloring her skin. The slapping noises distress Avery. She pulls out a chair and sinks into it.
"That's enough," Avery says, "I'll sit down."
Leonie's face is inflad with rage. She can't abide by Avery's smug look. She looked worriedly at Mrs. Florence Howel and wonders what the older woman feels. One call from her husband has seemingly changed her entire attitude toward Avery.
The plate with the raw, bloody steak sits on the table in front of Avery. Avery frowns. Before she can say anything about the disgusting al, Maureen rushes over and pulls the plate away.
"Mrs. Howel, this isn't for you," Maureen says, "It was an honest mistake."
"Oh, it's not for ?" Avery asks calmly, "Who is it for? It can't be for nobody, can it?"
Maureen hesitates for a mont.
"No, it's for ," she said finally, "I like raw steak."
She opens her mouth and takes a big bite of the raw steak. The red blood drips along her mouth and stains her chin. Leonie's eyes widen in horror and sympathy.
"Avery, don't push it!" Leonie says.
"Who's pushing it?" Avery retorts, "I'm not the one who brought the mother of Evan Howel's child a raw steak. If she had brought a cooked steak, she'd be eating that right now. I'm just returning her gesture."
"Avery!" Leonie wails.
She wanted to use Mrs. Florence Howel's favor to further humiliated and tornt Avery, and she can't believe that Avery has completely foiled her plans. She begins to worry about her birthday celebration.
"Mrs. Florence Howel has invited noble families and famous celebrities to help smooth my future as Evan's wife, but Avery's pregnancy will destroy everything," Leonie thinks bitterly, "I can't have that!"
Suddenly a spiteful idea occurs to Leonie; she sneers involuntarily but quickly composes her face. The maid brings Avery a plate of wholeso food fit for a pregnant woman. Avery looks at the food and frowns, her face sagging into her hands.
"I suddenly don't have an appetite," Avery says.
"What a diva!" Mrs. Florence Howel thinks bitterly.
She loathes Avery, and she hates that she suddenly has to hide her hatred. She takes a deep breath and smiles politely at Avery.
"What do you want to eat?" she asks.
Avery tilts her head at Leonie and smiles.
"Miss Sumrs, I've been thinking about the fish soup you made for Evan," Avery says sweetly.
Leonie suddenly gets up and slams her small palm onto the tabletop. The silverware and china shake and clink.
"You want to cook for you like so common maid?" Leonie hisses, "Don't push it!"
"So you don't want to?" Aver asks innocently, "I guess that's fine. I'll just go the next few days without eating, I suppose."
Reviews
All reviews (0)