Ten

Isabella felt dirty.

She did when Gabriel first slept with her. Hours she spent under the shower trying to console herself, trying to assure herself that things would be okay. She had told herself she wouldn't regret her decisions.

Years after, nothing was okay. No amount of days spent under the shower could assure her of better days in Gabriel Manifold's house.

As she gathered the mattress into a corner of her office, Isabella immediately cringed. The pain was still screaming into her head, her whole being was crying for help.

But she was tired. Fighting was a ridiculous thing to her at that moment. She just wanted to give up or maybe give in. She was sold off to her husband anyway, she might as well let him finally use her the way he wanted.

She could give up the company and become a sit-at-home wife who does nothing but follow her husband words. Occasionally, she could visit her father...

Her father.

My father. She thought as she picked her phone from the desk where it had been laying ignored for the past few days. Ignoring the numerous messages and missed calls she had gotten from Caleb and surprisingly, Gabriel, she selected the contact of her father's secretary who happened to be her godfather.

'Isabella my girl,' a mellow voice said from the other end.

"Uncle Ben, hi. How are you doing?"

'You know how silly old men like me are, I have been moody all week about how much wrinkles keep appearing on my face.'

Isabella managed a genuine chuckle before she said, "I am certain you are still finer than my dad anyway."

'He must not hear you say that. How are you, Isabella? How are you holding up?' Uncle Ben, since he was in no place to have a say in her life, could only console her when he found out what his friend was up to. He held her up with words of fortitude when everything happened.

"I am trying to keep sane Uncle."

'I'll be praying for you from here.' Isabella smiled, she could not tell him about Gabriel's craziness and how he has been treating her. She hasn't been able to tell anyone.

"Is my father there?"

'Uh... no. He just left.'

"I always get this feeling that he doesn't want me around him." Isabella's voice shook as tears threatened to pour.

'No darling, don't say that. Your father loves you regardless of how he acts towards you, know that.'

"All I know is, if he really loves me like you say, he wouldn't have distanced himself like he did ever since my damn marriage."

'Isa...'

"Goodnight Uncle Ben. My regards to my wonderful father."

As she ended the call, the tears came right after. Ever since what Gabriel did, her tears always came easily. She didn't have the strength to keep them tucked away for long.

"Isabella..." Caleb squatted by her side as he held her firmly and allowed her rest on his chest.

"Why doesn't he want to speak with me?" Isabella asked a clueless Caleb through her sobs. "He is the reason I am in this mess in the first place. He left me in this mess after making sure I did as he wanted."

"Isabella, it is okay."

"No!" She threw her hands in the air as she released herself from his hold. "It is not fine. If I had not given in to his demand, I would be married to the man I truly loved. I would be happy." She whispered the last words.

"Talk to me Isa. I need to know what you are talking about."

"I..." Her words were interrupted by footsteps that helped themselves into the office.

"Good day."

Isabella immediately got up, her hands wiping off her tears hurriedly. "H- hi, welcome."

"We are from the bank," the man who appeared to be the leader of the suited trio said.

"Oh yes, hmm welcome." She waved to Caleb to offer them seats.

"Actually, we won't be taking much of your time." Isabella did not trust the smile on the man's face. "Our bank really appreciates your patronage over the years. But we regret to inform you that if payments of debts are not made within the next three days, the bank will have to take over your company."

Isabella's legs went weak as she asked quietly, "What?"

"Wait, we still have about a month left to settle that," Caleb butted in, a equally confused look on his face.

"We really hate to inform you about this, but our new management had that window sewn a bit tighter." Isabella hated how the man and woman with him kept nodding in agreement to what he kept saying. Their uniformity that extended to the colours of their hairs also pissed her off. But that was not even the issue.

She sighed. "This is so... this is crazy."

"In case you won't be able to meet up with that deadline, we have with us documents that you can sign to hand over Shades and Cloaks to the bank without hassles."

"What the heck guys? At least let us try to pay."

"Caleb," Isabella gave him a soft smile. "It is fine. Can I see those documents?"

Caleb rushed to her side. "What are you doing?"

"I am taking a look at the papers."

The lady from the bank who had been standing with a small frown on her face paused the fetch from her bag. Their leader asked, "Is everything okay? Is there a problem?"

"No, there is not." Another voice joined the party.

"Mr. Oxford," Caleb was elated to see who he probably saw as a saviour at that moment.

Isabella was shocked.

"Hello gentlemen and... ladies." The frown on the blonde's face changed instantly to a smile.

Talk about miracles. Isabella thought within herself.

"I will be helping out my darling over there with her debts. I have been a terrible boyfriend and I need to make it up to her. So..." He took out a book. "How much is this debt?"

"Well..."

Isabella was quick to pull Charles out of the room. "What on earth are you doing?" she asked once they were far from her office.

"Helping my woman out?" He stood akimbo as he looked down at her with a smirk.

"Wipe that smug look off your face, I am not getting married to you."

"Oh trust me, you are going to, eventually."

Isabella scoffed, "Don't you get that I can't be with you? Not only am I married, my father's life depends on the marriage."

"Your father?" Charles was almost laughing pitifully.

"Yes, my father."

"Isabella..." He reached for her arms and sent warmth that she ignored, through them. "Your father is no more."

She immediately tore off his hold, anger began to build within her. "What the fuck are you saying?"

He sighed, licked his lower lip and said, "Your father... is dead. And I have proof."