The sounds of pleasure emanated from the tightly closed door, causing the expressions of the Bennet and Grey families to change dramatically, especially Atticus Finch, Elizabeths supposed father, whose face turned a shade of purple, a mix of anger and embarrassment.
With a loud bang, the door was kicked open, jolting the entwined couple back to reality.
"Ah! What are you doing?! Scoundrel! Let go of my sister!" Elizabeth rushed forward, feigning outrage as she tried to pull Rhett Butler away, secretly pinching him hard, a barely concealed smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Ah!" Scarlett, upon seeing her father and a group of people burst in, hastily grabbed a blanket to cover herself.
"Slap!" Mr. Bennet struck Scarlett across the face, his anger and disappointment evident in his voice as he scolded, "You shameless thing! How could I have a daughter like you?"
His eyes were red with fury as he glared at his daughter, who had acted so foolishly on such an important day. And Rhett Butler of the Grey family, taking advantage of the party to seduce his daughter!
"Father, please calm down. There are others present," Elizabeth said, barely containing her laughter at Scarletts disheveled appearance. But for the sake of the upcoming drama, she held back, playing the peacemaker.
Mr. Bennet, reminded by Elizabeth, also immediately realized and suppressed his anger, sternly saying, "Scarlett, get dressed! Once youre presentable, come to my study! As for you, Rhett, return home first. Ill deal with you after Ive settled my domestic affairs."
"Yes, sir," Rhett replied awkwardly, watching as everyone left before he too turned to leave, his gaze gradually turning sinister.
Half an hour later, in the study.
"Scarlett, explain this! Why was there this kind of thing in your room?!" Mr. Bennet threw a box of pills that the servants had found in Scarletts room at her, his voice filled with anger.
"Father, I dont know how this happened... Someone must have framed me!" Scarletts face turned pale as she received the items thrown by Mr. Bennet, shaking her head vigorously in denial, her expression one of extreme grievance.
Damn it, she had intended to set a trap for Elizabeth. But why was Elizabeth fine, instead, she was the one in trouble?
No, Elizabeth had clearly been drugged, so why was she acting as if nothing had happened?
And the note she had received earlier had clearly stated that Elizabeth had escaped, and Rhett had not succeeded.
Thinking back to Elizabeths unexplained absence and the faint hickey on her neck, it wasnt hard to deduce that Elizabeth had been through something.
If not with Rhett, then it must have been with another man!
At this thought, Scarlett let out a cold, sinister smile and quickly spoke up, "Father, I think I know whos framing me! Its her! Its my dear sister, Elizabeth! The marks on her body are proof!"
"What?!" Mr. Bennet and the Grey family looked at Scarlett in shock, finding it hard to digest this astonishing news.
Mr. Grey, the Grey family patriarch, frowned and said, "Mr. Bennet, what exactly is going on here? If its true what shes saying, then our Grey family will absolutely not accept a daughter-in-law of questionable virtue!"
"No... it cant be, sir. There must be some misunderstanding... Elizabeth, you tell us whats really going on!" Mr. Bennet, panicked by the thought of the Greys calling off the engagement, urged Elizabeth to speak.
Elizabeth, with a cold glint in her eyes, stepped forward, about to say something.
Suddenly, a familiar yet strange male voice rang out, "Whats all the commotion about? Its quite lively in here, isnt it?"