"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to."
The blonde woman apologized profusely.
Du Ruoxin murmured it was fine and then entered the venue with Caroline.
Having not attended a banquet in a long time, she was unaccustomed to such mingling and the meaningless small talk with strangers. Du Ruoxin chose to separate from Caroline.
She found a quiet spot to wait for Rong Jingyang.
However, a burning gaze was fixed on her.
Du Ruoxin looked up—wasn't it the blonde woman who had bumped into her? Was something wrong?
She tilted her head towards the woman and raised her glass in a toast.
The blonde woman then walked over with her drink and sat in front of her, "Miss, you look like someone I know."
"Hmm?" Du Ruoxin frowned, searching her memory. She said, "I'm sure I haven't met you."
Blonde, blue-eyed women were everywhere abroad, but this woman's beauty rivaled Caroline's. If she had met her, she would have remembered.
"Do you know Christino?" Clara asked.
Du Ruoxin: ...Was she referring to her older brother? Or someone with the same name?
Seeing her doubt, Clara added, "Christino J. Rothschild, he's the head of the Rothschild family."
Du Ruoxin exclaimed in surprise, "You know my elder brother?"
Who was she? So beautiful and gentle.
"Are you Roe?" Clara extended her hand and introduced herself with a smile, "Clara Douglas Morgan, J's fiancée."
Du Ruoxin joyfully exclaimed, "Sister-in-law? Hello, hello."
Clara explained, "J put your photos at home, but you were still young then, so I wasn't sure."
Du Ruoxin gave a dry laugh. Thinking of her brother's possessive nature towards her, she changed the subject, "How did you and big brother meet? He's a bit of an odd personality."
She paused, "Every head of the Rothschild family is a bit strange. You just need to understand their temperaments."
"Yes... ugh..." Clara responded, but suddenly, a wave of nausea caused her to retch repeatedly.
Du Ruoxin quickly handed her a trash can.
Clara only dry-heaved, spitting out only saliva.
Seeing this, Du Ruoxin's brows furrowed. After Clara stopped gagging, she handed her a tissue and asked, "Sister-in-law, are you pregnant?"
Clara nodded and softly replied "Yes," but her face was extremely pale, mixed with an unspeakable pessimism, "But J doesn't want it."
Du Ruoxin's expression froze. She—
Why her elder brother didn't want the child, she knew better than anyone.
Alas!
Sighing, Du Ruoxin patted Clara's back and comforted her, "I'll help you persuade him."
Life is hope, it is inheritance, it is an angel bestowed upon humanity by heaven. How could one simply say no to it?
Big brother is too cold!
"Thank you." Clara, extremely moved, grasped Du Ruoxin's hand.
She knew that Du Ruoxin was Christino's weakness. As long as Du Ruoxin was willing to intercede, she and the child had a glimmer of hope.
The two sisters-in-law seemed to have become friends who could talk about anything.
Du Ruoxin taught Clara how to protect the fetus, how to conduct prenatal education for the child, and dietary precautions.
Clara listened attentively, memorizing every word.
In the first three months, the fetal condition was unstable. Cold-natured and cold-property foods were forbidden, as were high-protein and spicy foods. Excessive nourishment was feared, leading to miscarriage.
Strenuous exercise was not allowed, and sexual intercourse should be paused.
"Ugh—"
No wonder she had bled yesterday evening!
Clara felt a bit embarrassed.
Du Ruoxin saw her awkwardness at a glance and said, "Sister-in-law, do you have time tomorrow? How about I take you to the hospital for a check-up?"
Clara hurriedly nodded, "Okay."
After chatting for a while, their water glasses were nearly empty. Du Ruoxin wanted to call a server, but the corner was secluded, and no servers came by.
"I'll go get some fruit," she said, standing up.
Upon hearing Du Ruoxin mention that unrestrained intercourse could lead to miscarriage, Clara became very nervous.
She wished she could go to the hospital right away.
Down below...
She was still bleeding!
Du Ruoxin went to the fruit section. Just as she was about to pick up some cherry tomatoes and green plums, a man approached her.
"Beautiful lady, do I have the honor of inviting you for a dance?"
Du Ruoxin shook her head, "I'm sorry, I..."
Before she could finish, from the corner of her eye, she saw a man in a wheelchair, with a dark expression, approaching her.
"Of course," Du Ruoxin immediately changed her tune.
She offered her hand to the man, and they both stepped onto the dance floor.