"You have to marry her before she gives birth," McDon urged Ben, his voice tense but firm. He didn't want an illegitimate child sullying the family's legacy.
"I won't watch you ruin what we have. This is the only time you have left. Besides, you're not truly married to Ella, so it's easy. You are more or less still a bachelor," McDon pressed, his tone sharp with authority, emphasizing the urgency of marrying Rita before she delivered.
Ben's eyes narrowed. He wasn't having any of it. He had long known Rita's nature, and she was no woman he would call his wife.
"Dad, I'm doing no such thing," Ben said firmly, his jaw set. "I'll take full responsibility after the birth, if it's confirmed the child is mine."
"If the child is yours?" Rita's voice cracked, disbelief and hurt washing over her. Her eyes shimmered with tears, ready to spill like an overflowing river.
"What do you mean, 'if the child is yours'? Are you saying I've been sleeping around?" she demanded, trembling with both rage and fear.
"Yes, I said what I said. Do you think I can trust someone like you?" Ben replied coldly, his words slicing through the room. "You'll do anything to get what you want."
Rita stood frozen, shaking with a mix of fury and panic.
McDon hesitated, not wanting to fully side with Ben, yet he understood his reasoning.
"If that's what you want, so be it," McDon finally said. "But we won't announce the birth of this child until everything is confirmed, and you're married to her only after you're certain it's yours."
Rita stormed to her room, trembling with fear. She realized how close she was to being exposed. Every plan she had, pretending to be pregnant, adopting a baby to claim as hers—was now at risk.
"No… no, this cannot happen. I need to do something," she whispered fiercely to herself, determination hardening in her gaze.
The next day, she left the house early and went to Ben's trusted family doctor, a man who had been with Ben's family for years.
"Nathan… you need to help me with this," Rita said, her voice dripping with false charm as she attempted to seduce him, offering money in a desperate bid to bend him to her will.
"I'm very disappointed in you, Rita. Honestly," Nathan replied, his tone firm. He had known both Rita and Ben for years and would not be swayed.
Rita's face twisted with fury. She stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind her and hurling insults as she left.
"You'll regret this!" she spat over her shoulder, rage burning in her chest.
Nathan shook his head as he watched her go. Though he couldn't reveal anything to Ben due to confidentiality, he knew one day the truth would surface. Rita's lies and schemes would be exposed, and when that time came, no deception could save her.
"How dare he refuse me, a woman he cannot have? Who does he think he is?" Rita whispered to herself, disbelief lacing every word.
She returned to Nathan's office on several occasions, each time attempting to bribe or charm him into compliance. Yet, surprisingly, he refused each attempt.
"I'll have no other option but to expose you myself if you keep coming here," Nathan warned firmly, standing by his principles. He would never participate in harming Ben.
Rita sank into a dark corner, her mind spinning with frustration and fear. She felt trapped, unsure of how to proceed. Each thought of confessing the truth to Ben made her shiver with dread.
"No… he'll hate me," she whispered repeatedly, terrified of the consequences if she revealed anything.
But then, one thought flickered in her mind; a plan, risky but certain if executed perfectly. She clung to it, hoping it would work, praying she could play her cards just right.