Hi! I thought about changing my style of writing, from Rachel/Derek POV to a narrative form.
Tell me if you like it, I really appreciate your kind feedback.
Enjoy!
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Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Classic but true.
At the private tea room in one of Washington D.C's most exquisite tea house, sat two lady facing each other with hostile demeanor.
Two lady who held extreme power in both political and social connection. They can change the decision of the man who held the paramountcy of United States.
Grace Hoffer cross her arm and leg, staring at the evil concubine who threatens to overthrow the empire she built. The coffee that were served a few minutes ago were still remained untouched. Rachel Woods, place her elbow on the armrest, prop her forehead to her hand, annoyed and tired as she is beginning to feel her morning sickness striking her, to have a plate of spicy tuna sushi in front of her would be something to die for. Yet, the dominancy of the First Lady left her helpless.
'Of all the time, you choose to be pregnant at this crucial period.' Said Grace with gritted teeth and scornful smirk.
Rachel said nothing, she just look down at the coffee table. She inevitably has this thought about Grace Hoffer acting like a strict Christian parent who found out the pregnancy of her teenage daughter.
'You are shameless, Rachel Woods, did you realized that? If you would have any decency left in you, you would know how to be a well behaved mistress.'
Grace's breathing hasten even more when Rachel decides to remain silent even after all the lecture that Grace has exploded vehemently on her. Even the most classy lady have her limits, catfight might be the next major move that Grace is going to make if Rachel continues her muteness.
'Did you perhaps have the thought of abortion immediately when you seen the dark little spot the doctor showed you in the ultrasound?' Finally, Rachel muttered, Grace was left stumbled for a moment.
Grace absorbs her word, displaying in her mind was the image of the two stroke of line that confirms her pregnancy. A sharp tingling pain still pricks her even after many, many years.
Rachel's words penetrated Grace so tremendously that right now, her eyes avoided Rachel, her face was blank and her posture slouched against the back of the armchair.
Rachel stares blankly at the air, heave a deep sigh. 'I saw the black spot, and the first thing that appears on my mind, do you know what is that?' She looks at Grace after she paused, 'I see unhappiness. I see doomsday. I see an angry teenager who grow up in single parent family.'
Beautifully crafted room filled with Marie Antoinette ambience were now frozen with the silent of Grace and Rachel, they are neither looking at each other nor trying to assassinate the hell out of each other. Grace remember the day she had to make the biggest decision for herself, and not Derek. Herself. She recalls the beaming operation lights that were shining at her eyes while inhaling the Nitrous Oxide the doctor prescribe to her so she can proceed with the abortion.
'I never saw him at all.' Grace muttered. Rachel reacted, she shift her view to Grace.
'I... I never even look at the baby before...' Grace said heavily, 'the moment I knew that something is inside me...I...I never hesitated to remove it.'
Rachel stares at her with disbelief. When Derek tells Rachel how cold and stern Grace could be, she never thought it could be a hundredth times worst than how Derek describe it. Grace is made of steel. Is it no wonder Derek could never forgive her for that, because Rachel would never forgive herself all her life if she ever does what Grace did.
'Why did you want to abort the baby?' Grace question Rachel.
Rachel blink her eyes a few times, thinking about how to phrase her reply to Grace. They have never had a calm conversation before, and Rachel will never want to sought comfort from Grace, their connections will strictly remain as the way they were- the wife and the other woman.
'He is still married to you, obviously.'
'Why did you keep it from him?'
'Why did you keep it from him then?' Rachel counter Grace's question. 'Do you think the Derek we know would allow me to make this decision myself, after how you damaged him? As long as I can keep it from him, I would be free to decide it myself without having to think about other people's feeling.'
'I made it this far, climbing up the political stair, yet, I have to pass through Derek to get my ticket to the Presidency, do you think this is fair? How dare you say I damaged him?' Grace retaliated, pointing a finger down to the wooden table to get her message crossed.
Rachel fell silent. She refused to acknowledge her dislike for Grace slowly grew into sympathy.
'Did you...perhaps, regret?' Rachel peered at Grace solemnly. This time, she wanted to hear the truth, of all the things she heard from Derek, she needed to hear from the First Lady herself.
Grace shut her eyes bitterly, brushes her perfectly blowed hair away from her face. Her fiery spirit sunken, what rises next was the dispirited woman who was drown by years of emotional abuse. 'Believe it or not, I hated myself everyday. I sat down at corner of our room, hiding myself behind the curtain. Derek wasn't in town that day, which I thought was the best chance to get it done. I thought I would be fine, I wanted this. No matter how strong I can get, I can't run away from the emotional abuse.' Her voice was croaky, but her ego refused to display her other side, her weaker side. She rubbed away her tears meticulously, she had to maintain her eye make up, which is the upmost importance in her aspect as a public figure. 'To say that I regret this,' she shook her head, 'never. The only regret I had was, I never told Derek that I never want to have baby.'
Rachel slouched back, she has gain some insight as to what will happen if she choose to abort her baby. 'I am sure he is going to hate me.'
'I don't understand, why would you want to, you know, Derek would have given you the whole world if he can, you just need to tell him and he will do it for you.'
Rachel grin with sardonic. 'You think that's what I want? Getting the two of you to divorce and so I can move into the White House and ascend the throne? No, Grace, I was so over that. I'm in no way ready to take our relationship up another level. Who is going to promise me that everything remains the same after he divorce? Do you think I will jump right into marriage after he regained his single-hood? I've other things I want to do, but being a mother isn't my thing, yet. What I am worried right now is, this might be the end of us, he will hate me forever if I decide to abort, and if I continue the pregnancy for his sake, I might hate him forever as the day pass by, we won't be happy, because being honest has a price, because most people choose to close their eyes to the consequence of their choice. I don't wanna be that.'
Grace heard every word Rachel said, she has this sudden thought that Rachel resemble the younger her, so clear of what they want, so affirmative and driven. Yet the only difference was Grace place herself above everyone, while Rachel still consider Derek in her decision. That gets her to wonder if she ever truly love Derek Hoffer. She know she lost all of him many years ago. Even if no mistress gets into their life, Derek would never go back to her.
'Maybe...I love myself more. He has been empty since I let him down. He is willing to risk his career, his position, all his dream, for you. He needed you. After all these years, I do care for him, not in a romantically way, but I care for the person who stayed with me for a decade. He would be hurt, honestly. That is all I can say.' With that, Grace decides to give this session a wrap. She doesn't want to inflict her selfishness to Rachel. If Grace was given a chance to go back to her pregnancy, she would repeat the same thing.
Rachel watch as Grace took her departure. Heavy heart, wobbly hands, she felt cold from the stress she is feeling now. The emotional struggle between her love for Derek and herself went into dilemma. Derek would never be ready to be a father, no matter how much he love children. He isn't ready, in Rachel's point of view.
Metaphorically, how do you tell your child that he is conceived from an affair, and his or her father was the man whom everybody look up to, whom shouldn't even make a mistake, having an affair was a graver mistake than death. Bill Clinton's mistake was remembered till today, a stained that cannot be removed by even the strongest brand of bleach.
Rachel's heart pumps a strong pang. She felt the strong gush of blood reverberated down her body. One thing for sure, Karma is a bitch.
A/N
I wrote this in a rush, and I am so sorry that it may not meet the standard. Furthermore all the chapter I have written is in a non-edited version.
Anyway, what would you do if you were in Rachel's position? Would you abort the baby?