#12: A Child

The Peng Family

As I came into the main hall, I could see, The main patriarch of Pengs, the Young master, his mother and a Doctor.

The Madam was angry. And a bit depressed. I looked over for Xin Xin to fill me in but, I looked at her, she was frozen.

I asked outright, "What has happened that the Peng family has come, especially when the General is away? "

Peng, asked a private moment with me in another room, of course, My brother in law, was against it. But I agreed. I still had to continue our conversation from before.

"What is it young master Peng?", I asked maintaining a lot of distance between us.

"Don't you love me?", He asked me with a totally weird expression.

"I don't. As of now, my heart, my body everything belongs to the General. So, you don't need to worry about me."

"How could you cancel our engagement like that? I still haven't gotten over the fact that I love you and miss you. It hasn't been over a week, since you both were married and you both are acting too close!", He complained as though he really loved me.

"If not him, whom should I be close with?", I said.

"Me, Come with me. I will save you from these people.", He said.

"No, I actually love being here, It is not any different from home, though I am slightly unfamiliar. And to say, I would rather not spend my life with an incestious bastard like you.", I said,

"So, you knew. That' why you cancelled it huh?", The atmosphere changed, he now showed his true colors.

"I shall get you one way or another.", He said and left.

When, I came back, I was asked by the Madam to get checked by the doctor. The doctor was Madam's doctor, the one whom she trusted. So, I agreed to be checked up.

The doctor asked me,

"Miss, are you feeling nauseous lately?", He asked.

"Not frequently, but I felt it two days back.", I answered honestly.

"Were you weak perhaps any time?", He asked again softly like a parent.

"No, I am quite normal."

"Do you oversleep?", he asked again.

"Yes, sometimes.", I said

"Did you get your period last month?", he asked.

"No.", I said.

"What about this month?"

"No.", I said.

"Please, let me check your pulse."

"Yes", I gave my wrist forward.

"The lady is 14 weeks pregnant. By the pulse, it seems to be very healthy."

"I am what??", I asked bewildered.

All the people were shocked, but the Pengs, were calm like they had expected it.

"So, it is true, your doctor has given the statement. We even called ours, but you didn't believe. It isn't a problem.", The madam of Peng family said.

"As far as I know, three months, before, Huang Lei wasn't Jia Li's husband nor was she engaged to anyone else but me. And If I am not wrong, There was one day, I might have overstepped my boundaries.", Peng Ju said.

"What? I never spent a night with any man.", I said. But no one believed me.

"Jia Li, Do you remember? That day, on my sister's birthday, you came over and slept in our manor.", Peng Ju said.

"So? does sleeping in your manor mean sleeping with you?", I asked.

"No, but I remember we both drank wine, secretly because we got very little in our glass. And what happened later I don't remember, but I remember waking up in the guest house, and you were asleep in my sister's room... maybe then, we might have had a... child...", Peng Ju said.

"Did you remember that now? and wanted to claim it?", I asked, How stupid is he, It is clearly a trap to ruin my relationship with my in laws.

"So, you do accept!", he said.

"No, I don't remember what happened but, I am sure I didn't sleep with anyone.", I said.

"Now now, even though you are wedded to another, you hold the future generation of the Peng's, please don't be angry, it would be harmful for the baby.", Madam Peng held my hand.

"So, it is true, Madam Lei. Please forgive us, but, since you have the proof that the child in her womb is my grandson's it is our duty to take care of her.", patriarch Peng said.

"So, when can we take her to our manor. I would like it if it was from today.", Madam Peng said.

"No! I won't leave.", I cried. I don't know what was going on.

"Stop!", Madam Lei shouted.

All stopped the murmurs and looked towards her.

"Jia Li, is now the daughter of the Lei family. If the child inside her is yours, you can take the child. It is completely up to Jia Li, whether she stays with us or with her child. But, my son shall never divorce her. We are her family. Family ties can't be broken."

"Mother...", I cried. I was so emotional. I don't know whether I am pregnant or not. It didn't feel as though there was something in me. But if it was Peng's, I am afraid I might hate it the rest of my life.

" The one to make decisions on Jia Li's behalf, is her husband. When he shall come, more matter will be discussed. Until then, Jia Li, is not yours. nor is her child."

Saying so, all left. I was so shocked. I fell to the ground. If I am pregnant? would I be sent away to Pengs? I don't wanna go there. No way.

"Child, you shouldn't be on ground. The floor is cold, now, you aren't one but two delicate lives. So, be careful.", Madam Lei, looked after me.

"Do you not hate me?", I asked.

"No, I am of course dissatisfied that you are pregnant with other man's child as a mother in law, but as a woman, I know you are shocked. If it was against your wishes, even pregnancy feels like curse. Come, you are still my sweet Jia Li.", she said.

I don't know what was wrong, I fainted.

From then on, I shut myself in, I got some vague memories similar to what Peng Ju told. I didn't want to accept but, Maybe it is true. I don't know anything. I was unable to read novels, I was unable to eat, I basically threw up.

The next three weeks, went by. At the end of each week, I got checked by a new doctor, who always told me, I was pregnant....