Chapter 3 The Unexpected Pregnancy
1020 Words
Florence turned around, rolling her eyes, and quipped, "Sounds like some dog's barking and farting at the same time. What a lousy way to start the morning."
"You..." Sophia stammered, anger boiling over as she slapped Florence, only for Florence to dodge out of reach.
Suddenly, Sophia cried out, her tone flipping to one of hurt innocence. "Florence, just talk if you've got something to say. There's no need to push me!"
Florence immediately sensed something off.
She frowned and snapped, "Sophia, are you out of your mind?! Did the psych ward just let you out? Go get checked. You're beyond saving at this point!"
Sophia pulled out her phone and pressed a button to stop the recording she'd secretly started. Smirking, she taunted, "You really are dumb. I'll send this to Lancelot right now. Let's see if he won't kick you out of here. You're just a maid. You should know your place. There's only room for one lady of the house here," Sophia scoffed, "and it's going to be me."
Florence let out a short laugh. "Think I care? Go ahead and send it. But leave, or I'll call the cops to haul you out myself. The last thing I'm afraid of is him."
"Alright, Florence," Sophia said, flicking her hair as she turned to leave. "Let's see which one of us stays."
Once Sophia was out, Florence slammed the door shut behind her, suddenly feeling a strong wave of nausea rise in her chest.
Rushing to the bathroom, she barely made it to the toilet before she threw up.
At first, she thought she was just sickened by Sophia, but this was something else.
'Was Sophia really getting under my skin this much? Or... wait!'
Florence's heart skipped a beat as she suddenly realized her period had been late for two months now.
And although Lancelot was usually careful and used protection, there had been times when things got... out of hand in the heat of the moment when he hadn't.
A dreadful suspicion dawned on her. Without a second thought, she grabbed her phone and made an appointment for the next day.
*****
The following day at the hospital, Florence sat anxiously waiting for her name to be called.
When it finally was, the doctor gave her the results with a gentle but straightforward confirmation that she was pregnant. Two months along... The nausea was a normal reaction.
A whirlwind of thoughts rushed through her mind. 'Pregnant? I'm really pregnant?'
But the timing couldn't be worse. With her arrangement with Lancelot set to end soon, she'd have to leave... 'Why now, of all times? Should I even tell him?'
Florence had no intention of using a child to trap Lancelot. But he was still the father, and she felt he had a right to know. Ultimately, it was his call on how to handle the situation regarding their child.
She walked out of the hospital, found a bench by the bus stop, and dialed Lancelot's number.
The phone rang for what seemed like an eternity before someone finally picked up. But it wasn't him.
The sky was growing dark, with a light drizzle falling, and her hands were somewhat cold.
She said, "Lancelot..."
"Oh, it's you." Sophia laughed and drawled, her voice dripping with mockery. "Lancelot's a bit... preoccupied at the moment. He's in the shower. But if it's urgent, I'll have him call you back once he's done."
"No, that's fine," Florence replied quickly, interrupting her, a bitter taste in her mouth.
She didn't want to hear whatever sick thing Sophia would say next. She quickly hung up the phone. 'I really must look like a joke.'
As the rain began pouring harder, she boarded the bus and sat in silence, hand resting gently on her belly. 'Maybe this child is just meant to be mine alone.'
Lancelot was in a meeting at the office and had left his phone behind. Sophia spotted it on the desk as soon as she entered his office. Curiosity piqued, she couldn't resist trying to unlock it.
Just as she was fumbling with it, Florence's call popped up on the screen, and Sophia couldn't help but laugh. 'The timing couldn't have been better.'
She declined the call, deleted the record, and returned the phone to its original spot just before Lancelot walked in.
Moments later, Lancelot walked in, narrowing his eyes when he saw her by the window.
"Who let you in?" he asked, his tone colder than usual.
Sophia quickly approached him, putting on her best innocent expression. "Oh, I just came by to see you, and they let me in. It was my idea, really, so don't blame them."
"Don't ever come into my office without my permission," Lancelot said curtly, turning his back on her.
Flustered but eager to stay in his good graces, Sophia flashed a smile and nodded. "Of course, Lancelot. I will."
Days passed without any sign of Lancelot at home. Florence felt both exasperated and, strangely, relieved. 'Not that I'd expected anything better of him,' she thought wryly.
She had another appointment, and she left for the hospital early.
When she finished her checkup and left the hospital, it was one o'clock in the afternoon.
She decided to catch the bus home. But as she stepped out of the hospital, someone suddenly rushed at her, covering her mouth and nose. Then, the world around her turned black as she was shoved into a vehicle!!
She tried to scream, but a rag was shoved into her mouth before she could cry out, and her consciousness faded.
When she regained consciousness, Florence found herself bound to a chair with her hands and feet tightly tied, a thick blindfold over her eyes.
She couldn't see and was unable to move. She struggled against the ropes, but all she could manage were muffled sounds.
Then she felt a hand press gently against her belly through her clothes.
A cold sweat broke out over her as a familiar scent filled the air.
'That perfume... and the click of high heels, it's Sophia! She's the one behind this!'
- Writer
