Chapter 18 - Forced Marriage (2)

July 8 years ago, Yao Family Villa and Doctors' Offices, City K

After having a light breakfast, being cooperative with her mother Lexi, followed her into the chauffeur driven car for the trip to the family doctors. She felt on tender hooks waiting for confirmation whether she was pregnant. However, she knew if she was it would be an easy way to ensure she and Matthew could marry as soon as possible.

On their arrival at the the doctor's clinic Lexi and her mother were shown immediately into the doctor's office. Two minutes later the family doctor walked in, and totally ignoring Lexi said, "Madam Yao, what is the problem."

"Doctor, I need to immediately perform a pregnancy test on Lexi, and if she is pregnant you need to immediately arrange for a termination for her."

Hearing those words, he immediately turned around to look at Lexi, before turning to look at his computer. Seeing a young woman in his surgery with her mother, he was worried about the lines that the request of Madam Yao might cross. He simply could not remember how old Lexi was.

After checking the computer and printing out various test forms, he turned back around and facing both Lexi and her mother said "Madam Yao, given Miss Lexi is seventeen the law allows me to enforce your treatment requests provided it is non-invasive. Blood tests are non-invasive as are ultrasounds, but you cannot require her to undergo a termination. The only other option is the so-called abortion drug, but that is not allowed to be prescribed to those under the age of eighteen."

"Damn it, Doctor, if she is pregnant, she needs to have a termination for the sake of her reputation."

"Miss Lexi, what would you agree to?"

"Doctor, I told my mother I would have no objection to blood tests and other non-insasive tests, but I would not agree to a surgical termination."

"Madam Yao, you have Miss Lexi's position and despite your wishes I cannot force a termination."

Lexi watched her mother who was unwilling to accept reality. Goodness knows what she will face at home if she turns out to be pregnant, as it was obvious how unhappy her mother was.

Before anything the doctor drew the blood and promised both Lexi and her mother that the test would be run initially in their in-house laboratory and then sent to a secondary laboratory for confirmation and asked them to come back in two hours.

Dragging Lexi to a café, as soon as they were sat in piece, Lexi said "Mother, just for you to get this through I will not agree to a termination, so there is little that you can do."

"Well Young Lady, your father and I have discussed this, and this we can force on you. If you are pregnant your two options are you agree to a termination or we will sign the doc.u.ments and you will marry your cousin Richard and put up with whatever occurs in your marriage. You have no other options."

"Mother, I do not have to marry anyone."

"As I told you young lady you have two options, and those two options only. You will ruin your brother Chester's marriage and any hope we must arrange a marriage for Andrew if you are shown to be a loose girl. Never forget that people in our society have standards that we are to meet, and a young lady of a prominent family does not get pregnant before marriage. It is your choice as to the options, and if you refuse the first your marriage will happen within a week"

"No way with either option mother. If, and this is a big if, I am pregnant I will contact the baby's father and we will make decisions together."

"Well if you want to avoid either option you better have him here in the next twenty minutes or there is no deal."

"That is impossible."

"So, you have your answer young lady if you are pregnant."

Lexi stared at her mother not believing this. She was seventeen, turning eighteen in six months and clearly telling her if she was pregnant, she and her baby's father would make decisions regarding their child. Before she could retort back, her mother's phone rang, and Lexi heard "Thank you Doctor for that confirmation."

After ending the call, she made another brief call and realised that this was to her father. After ending that call, she turned to Lexi and said "Your pregnancy has been confirmed, and your father is already finalising the arrangements with Richard for your marriage. Given your age your father will attend to the registration of your marriage with Richard today. Forget about telling your so-called baby's father about his child. Richard is this child's father and you better be the best wife possible to him."

Lexi looked at her mother, can could not believe what was happening. She and Mathew had approval for a military marriage now this would ruin everything. How could she face him in the future? How could she tell him what was happening? All she wanted to do was flee to his side, but that was impossible in all the circ.u.mstances.