Chapter 87 It Seems It's Time for "Miscarriage"
Rachel froze.
Her knowledge of the dark web came from TV shows and novels. It was usually used for selling illegal contraband and such.
No wonder Nancy could get her hands on this stuff - it came from the dark web.
If that was the case, getting evidence would be difficult.
Although Nancy might drug the food she gave her each time, the risk was too high. She didn't have that kind of adventurous spirit.
She couldn't bear the consequences either.
Benjamin seemed to know what she was thinking and said, "If you want to prove she drugged it, you just need to get her laptop. Even if she deleted the records, we can find a tech person to recover them. Of course, that's also difficult. Unless after filing a police report, the police open a case and can check her computer."
After hearing this, Rachel thought for a few minutes. It wasn't until the waiter came to serve the food that she put the test report back in the envelope.
"No need to call the police for now. I have another use for this test report." She gave a slight smile. "Thanks."
Benjamin looked up at her. Without asking what she planned to do, he said casually, "Just running an errand, not worth thanking me for. Last time in Maple Grove City, I should thank you for the warning."
Since they'd met, it seemed like "thank you" was what they said to each other most.
She thanked him, he thanked her.
Always thanking each other.
Benjamin's eyebrows moved slightly as he naturally looked away.
Speaking of Maple Grove City, Rachel asked, "Did you board the ship that day?"
"I did." Benjamin tasted the food. "Went to check out where it hit the reef."
There were quite a few rocks in that area, plus on the day of transport, there was wind and rain on the sea surface. The weather was terrible, and they happened to encounter a whirlpool, which is how the ship lost control and hit the reef.
Rachel instinctively glanced at his body. "Did Lachlan's people not make a move?"
"They did." Benjamin said casually, "The other party 'accidentally' fell into the water and was rescued."
The seawater in winter was bone-chilling. Falling in and struggling for a bit could take half your life.
This was an eye for an eye.
Too bad the revenge didn't reach Lachlan himself.
Rachel frowned slightly and asked softly, "About the drugs?"
Benjamin shook his head. "Didn't find any clues."
He was already being watched by Lachlan at the time and couldn't spare time to investigate other things.
Rachel nodded and said without thinking, "Then you'd better be careful during this time. Since Lachlan has murderous intent, he definitely won't just let it go."
Hearing this, Benjamin paused while picking up food and looked up at her again.
He seemed to hear a note of concern in her tone.
Was it his imagination?
He suppressed this inexplicable doubt and looked away, saying flatly, "In Dawnlight City, if he wants to make a move, he'll think twice about it."
True, Benjamin's status and profession weren't something Lachlan could just attack at will.
Moreover, the Nelson family was now in the eye of the storm.
Having failed to act in Maple Grove City, he had already missed his opportunity. Now in Dawnlight City, it wouldn't be so easy.
Rachel didn't ask more questions. Benjamin still didn't ask how she knew about those things. After they finished eating, they parted ways at the restaurant entrance.
Rachel had just sat in the driver's seat when her phone in her bag chimed with a pleasant text notification.
[Heather has already started investigating Nancy's background and past experiences. On the 26th of this month, Stargaze Gallery will spread rumors that Nancy is a homewrecker who destroyed someone's marriage, without exposing Steven.]
Rachel was stunned.
Today was the 24th, so that was in 2 days.
Heather was moving so fast?
A flash of surprise crossed her eyes, then disappeared.
From Heather's perspective, she could understand why she had to act so quickly. This matter really couldn't be delayed.
And with her methods, this homewrecker rumor was probably just the beginning.
What Nancy would face next would be like hell on earth.
And Steven was her son, so of course she would cleanly extract Steven from this negative scandal.
Rachel's heart tightened slightly. She lowered her eyes, glancing at the manila envelope on the passenger seat, her lips pressed into a straight line.
It didn't matter.
She was happy to add fuel to this fire and make it burn brighter.
Both Nancy and Steven had to be nailed to the pillar of shame for cheating and being a homewrecker, to be despised by everyone, to make up for the pain, sadness, and even despair she had endured these days.
That feeling of a surging tide rushing into her chest, squeezing until she could barely breathe - she shouldn't be the only one to experience it.
She didn't know how long passed before she finally took a deep breath and started the car.
When she got home, she didn't see Steven's car in the garage, so she knew he wasn't back yet.
As for whether he was working overtime or on a date with Nancy, that was hard to say.
She had no interest in finding out. She checked the time, calculating when he usually came back from "working overtime," and hesitated for a few seconds.
After thinking it through, she walked into the house.
"Mrs. Martinez, you're back."
Quinn came out to greet her, nodding with a smile. "There's chicken soup warming in the kitchen. Would you like it now or later?"
"Chicken soup?" Rachel was puzzled.
"Mr. Martinez ordered it. He was worried you'd be hungry at night and told me to prepare more food in the evenings from now on."
Pregnant women got hungry easily.
Hearing this, Rachel's expression froze slightly. She instinctively touched her abdomen and thought for a moment. Since Heather was going to make a move against Nancy, it seemed like it was almost time for her "miscarriage."
She gripped the manila envelope tighter.
She'd start laying the groundwork with this juice test report.
Steven couldn't just enter the master bedroom now. If she wanted him to see it, this envelope could only be left downstairs.
She looked around the room and finally settled on the natural wood dining table. She walked over, sat down, and casually placed the envelope on the table.
She said lightly, "Bring it over now."
Quinn responded and went to the kitchen to bring out the chicken soup.
There wasn't much chicken in it. Rachel tasted it twice - it wasn't greasy at all, but had a fresh fragrance. The texture was soft and smooth, sweet but not cloying.
The portion wasn't large, about half a fist-sized bowl. After finishing it, she told Quinn about a few breakfast items she wanted tomorrow.
After Quinn agreed, she went to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients needed for tomorrow morning.
Rachel slowly stood up, glanced at the manila envelope, deliberately leaving it behind, and turned to go upstairs.
Half an hour later, Quinn came out of the kitchen. While wiping the table, she noticed the envelope on the table. Thinking Rachel had left it there while drinking the soup, she planned to take it upstairs to her.
She had just climbed two steps when footsteps came from the entrance.
Steven was home.
"Mr. Martinez, have you had dinner?" Quinn had to turn back and ask.
"I have. Where's Rachel?"
"Mrs. Martinez came back over half an hour ago. She had a bowl of chicken soup and went to her room."
Steven nodded and noticed the envelope in her hand. "What's that?"
Quinn said, "It's Mrs. Martinez's. She must have forgotten it on the table after eating. I was just about to take it up to her."
"I'll take it up to her. You can rest after you finish up."
Steven took it and headed upstairs. When he saw the words "Food and Drug Safety Assessment Center" on the front of the envelope, he stopped.
After hesitating for about a minute, he unwound the string and pulled out the papers inside.
It was a juice composition test result.
He frowned slightly and read through it carefully. Turning to the second page, his eyes fixed on the chemical pH value. His expression darkened, with some confusion mixed in.
He didn't understand much about medicine, but in chemistry, pH value refers to the scale of hydrogen ion activity in a solution.
Why would there be this kind of chemical substance in juice?
Why would Rachel test this?
He stood there thinking for a few minutes but couldn't figure it out. He put the two sheets back in the envelope, wound the string back on, walked to the master bedroom door, and knocked.
Rachel had just finished washing up and hadn't dried her hair yet. When she heard the knock, her heart jumped violently.
She clenched her fists, then slowly relaxed, walked over and opened the door.
Seeing Steven standing outside, she smiled. "You're back. Have you eaten?"
Steven looked at the smile on her face, and his expression softened involuntarily. "I've already eaten. How was the chicken soup? Did you like it?"
"It was pretty good." Rachel looked at the manila envelope in his hand and asked in surprise, "How did you get this?"
"Quinn said you left it on the dining table while drinking soup. I brought it up for you." Steven handed it to her, hesitating before speaking. "Honey, what is this?"
"A juice composition test report."
"What juice? Why did you need to test it?" Steven frowned and pressed on. "Did something happen? Honey, don't hide it from me."
Rachel's irises clearly reflected his handsome, gentle face. She sighed, looking worried and frightened. "This is from the juice Nancy gave me last time. Someone drugged it."
"Drugged?"
A flash of suspicion quickly crossed Steven's eyes.
Could it have been Nancy?
Rachel precisely caught this emotion, knowing he was starting to suspect Nancy again.
How ridiculous.
He was suspicious of Nancy but still chose to be with her.
Rachel was curious about how he defined love in his heart, but didn't want to dig deeper. She was actually afraid the answer would be something she couldn't bear.
The Steven she had loved wholeheartedly for six years had given her only deception and concealment, not a shred of true feeling.
She suppressed the grievance rising in her heart and nodded gently. "Yes."
Her face still showed that troubled look. "It was quite a coincidence that day. When I was about to drink it, I noticed the cup lid had been opened, and there was white powder on the rim. I thought it was very strange and felt uneasy. After thinking it over, I took that cup of juice to the Food and Drug Safety Assessment Center for testing. This result just came out today."
Her voice got softer and softer. "Sure enough, it really was drugged."
Steven's expression grew serious. Right in front of her, he took out the test report to look at it.
His eyes still focused on the chemical pH value at the end.
"Such a big thing, why didn't you tell me?" His face was stern, his tone reproachful. "Didn't I tell you last time? Anything related to you, big or small, you have to tell me!"
Rachel's heart clenched at his scolding. After a few seconds, she smiled, her eyes gentle. "I was waiting for the results to come out to tell you."
Steven pulled her hand with concern, his tone softening. "I'm not trying to be harsh with you. I'm just worried."
"I know."
Steven sighed, the seriousness on his face not diminishing. "Do you know who drugged it?"
Rachel imperceptibly withdrew her hand and shook her head gently. "I checked Stargaze Gallery's surveillance at the time, but didn't see anything suspicious. Besides, when this juice was given to me, quite a few people had handled it."
"Who brought it to you?"
"Hestia." Rachel's voice paused, then added, "Nancy had her bring it to me."
Steven's brow furrowed tighter, the doubt in his heart growing heavier. "Nancy had Hestia bring it to you?"
Rachel watched his face darken bit by bit and nodded, saying self-mockingly, "Yes. I don't even know who I offended to make them hate me so much that they'd want to kill me and the baby in my belly."
"Honey, now that the test results are out, shouldn't we call the police? This must be attempted murder, right?"