Chapter 211 The Effect of That Medicine is Abortion
Half an hour later, the car pulled up outside a private club. Alexander led Arabella inside.
Frank was there with Tiffany, along with Blake. To Arabella's surprise, Flora was also present.
Meeting Arabella's gaze, Flora waved casually. "Arabella, you made it."
Tiffany immediately jumped up, all enthusiasm. "Alex, Arabella, you're here!" She pulled out the chair beside her, gesturing to Arabella. "Arabella, sit here. We haven't had a chance to really talk yet."
It would've been rude to refuse, so Arabella sat down. Alexander took the seat next to her.
Flora happened to be sitting directly across from Arabella. Red lips gleaming, eyes alluring, she propped her chin on her hand and said pointedly, "Tiffany, you're awfully warm to Arabella. When I got here, you barely said two words to me."
Tiffany quickly backtracked. "Flora, don't get me wrong, I didn't mean anything by it. If it bothers you, maybe Frank could switch seats with you? The three of us could sit together."
Any normal person would've declined such an awkward suggestion after all, she and Frank were a couple. But Flora wasn't normal. She had no shame. She raised an eyebrow, her voice turning coy. "Sure, sounds great."
Tiffany's expression froze, but she recovered quickly, smiling. "Alright then. Frank, go sit over there. Let Flora come here."
Frank seemed willing to mend his recently strained relationships with his friends—relationships damaged because of Tiffany—so he didn't object. He quickly switched seats with Flora.
Tiffany smiled at Flora. "What would you like to drink?"
Flora raised a delicate finger, pointing to the whiskey nearby. "Something strong."
Tiffany poured her a glass, then picked up a bottle of premium juice and turned to Arabella with a smile. "Arabella, you can't drink while pregnant, obviously. Try this juice instead—no additives, and it's actually pretty good. Give it a taste."
Arabella accepted the glass. Under Tiffany's eager gaze, she was about to take a sip when Flora suddenly spoke up. "Oh, if the juice is that good, maybe I should try it too!"
Tiffany took a deep breath, forcing patience as she started to pour. But Flora waved her off dismissively. "I don't want you to pour it. I want Arabella's glass."
Tiffany's face stiffened, then she laughed awkwardly. "Flora, that's not how things work. You have your own glass—sharing one with Arabella is so unhygienic. Besides, she might not want to."
Flora blinked innocently at Arabella. "Arabella, would you mind?"
Arabella shook her head, smiling. "It's fine. Go ahead."
She had no idea what Flora was playing at. Maybe she just didn't like her and wanted to be difficult? Either way, Arabella didn't take it to heart. She casually handed over the glass.
She didn't notice Tiffany's expression darkening beside her.
Flora took Arabella's juice and was about to bring it to her lips when suddenly her hand slipped. The glass fell to the floor with a crash.
"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry," Flora said, covering her mouth in mock surprise as she looked at Tiffany. "I dropped it."
Tiffany took a deep breath, then smiled. "No worries. I'll pour you another one. Arabella needs a glass too now. Let me go grab two clean ones."
Flora waved her off. "Why go to all that trouble? There are glasses right there." She pointed to the backup glasses the server had initially placed in the center of the table.
Tiffany forced a smile. "Well... those have been sitting out for a while. They might not be sanitary. Arabella's pregnant, so we should be extra careful. I'll go get some freshly sterilized ones."
Flora blinked. "Why do you need to go get them yourself? Can't you just call the server to bring them?"
"Ah..." Tiffany laughed awkwardly. "You're right. How silly of me." She sat back down.
Flora looked at her, puzzled. "Didn't you say you were getting new glasses? Why aren't you calling the server?"
Only then did Tiffany remember to press the call button. After requesting glasses, she fell silent, head down as she sipped her water.
Arabella found herself curious. She'd assumed Flora was targeting her, but now it seemed like Flora was actually going after Tiffany. Did they have some kind of history? They'd seemed fine at the last dinner.
After a while, Tiffany excused herself to the restroom. Once she left, Frank looked at Flora with displeasure. "Flora, stop bullying Tiffany. She's soft-hearted, you're going to hurt her feelings."
Flora looked genuinely surprised. "I'm not bullying her. Asking her to pour me some juice is bullying? Frank, don't be such a hypocrite."
Frank frowned. "Then why were you contradicting everything she said earlier?"
Flora shrugged. "Did I? Would you even believe me if I said I wasn't? You've already decided I'm the bad guy here, so think whatever you want."
"You..." Frank was clearly annoyed.
Blake quickly intervened. "That's just how she is. Don't take it personally. We're all here to have a good time, let's not ruin it."
Meanwhile, Alexander sat quietly, watching Flora with a thoughtful expression. Then his gaze shifted to the juice glass Flora had dropped on the floor.
Shortly after, a server brought new glasses and cleaned up the mess. Soon, the food started arriving. Frank pulled out a cigarette, but before he could light it, Alexander snatched it away. "If you're going to smoke, do it outside."
Frank reluctantly stubbed it out.
Tiffany giggled beside him. "Only Alex can keep him in line. I've told him so many times, but he never listens to me."
Frank said placatingly, "I'll cut back."
Flora's tone dripped with sarcasm. "Wow, Frank, such a devoted lover. Of all people to fall for, you picked your cousin's wife. Talk about a plot twist. And Tiffany accepting you? That's something else. Two peas in a pod, I guess."
The color drained from Tiffany's face.
Frank slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "Flora, just because Alex has your back doesn't mean you can say whatever you want!"
Flora spread her hands innocently. "Am I not stating facts?"
"You..."
"Enough," Alexander cut in. "Sit down. Let's eat."
With that command, both Frank and Flora backed down. Frank shot Flora one last glare. "Watch your mouth."
Flora scoffed dismissively.
Tiffany said in a small, wounded voice, "Just because I've been married before, I don't deserve true love? Arabella, you've been married before too—tell me, isn't this unfair? Why are they targeting me?"
Arabella sensed something off about the whole exchange. Tiffany seemed to be trying to pull her onto her side, bringing up second marriages and true love. It all felt calculated.
But Arabella simply smiled without commenting.
Seeing her reaction, Tiffany seemed dissatisfied. After a pause, she asked quietly, "Arabella, how did you and Alex get together?"
Arabella froze. How had she and Alexander gotten together? She'd gone to a bar to drown her sorrows and happened to run into Alexander. He'd claimed to be gay and in need of a marriage for appearance's sake. At the time, she'd wanted to adopt and also needed to be married.
So they'd made a deal. She'd married Alexander the very same day she divorced Anthony.
But Alexander had later said it was all a scheme, that he'd deliberately approached her, deliberately used marriage to lure her in...
Thinking about it now, Arabella couldn't help but smile. She said lightly, "Destiny, I guess."
Beside her, Alexander's sharp ears caught her words. His smile deepened.
Just then, Flora leaned over. "What are you two talking about? Looks fun. Fill me in."
Tiffany said awkwardly, "It's nothing."
After a while, she asked Arabella, "Arabella, do you need to use the restroom?"
Arabella blinked, then shook her head. "No, I'm good."
"Would you come with me anyway?" Tiffany pressed. "This club is so annoying—the restroom's all the way at the end of the hallway. It's too far."
Arabella hesitated. The request was a bit forward, she and Tiffany barely knew each other.
Before she could respond, Flora suddenly spoke up. "I'll go with you. I need to go anyway." She grabbed Tiffany's arm and pulled her up.
Tiffany was helplessly dragged away.
Throughout the entire meal, Tiffany didn't manage to get a single moment alone with Arabella.
Frustrated, after dinner she suggested, "Why don't we go sing karaoke? Arabella, what do you think?" She looked at Arabella expectantly.
Before Arabella could answer, Alexander slipped an arm around her waist and said coolly, "You guys go ahead. We're leaving."
With that, he led Arabella out of the private room.
Blake looked between Frank and Tiffany. "So... are we still going?"
Tiffany stared after the departing couple, then shook her head. "Forget it. Without Alex and Arabella, what's the point? Just the few of us?"
Blake was baffled. What did she mean, 'what's the point' without Alex and Arabella? Was he chopped liver?
Alexander pulled Arabella out of the club. She withdrew her hand. He turned back to look at her. "What's wrong?"
Arabella felt awkward. Keeping their distance—what else?
Before Alexander could say more, a curvaceous figure emerged from the shadows nearby.
Flora's wine-red dress hugged her body as she moved, radiating sensuality. But her expression was deadly serious as she looked at Alexander. "The lab results are back. That glass of juice had something illegal added to it, though the large bottle was clean. She must've put it directly in the glass beforehand."
Alexander's face darkened. "What kind of substance?"
Flora shrugged. "Look, I'm not a chemistry major. I didn't memorize the name. You can ask them for the full lab report if you want. All I know is one of the side effects is miscarriage."
Alexander's expression turned thunderous. "Miscarriage?"
Arabella's heart dropped.