"Tell me you are making some kind of stupid joke," Isabella said as she felt her bones shake. "It is no joke. Your father is-" "I heard you already!" she exclaimed as she took another step back, her eyes darting in confusion. Without seeing his proof, she sort of believed him. It made sense a bit. Her father being dead explained his silence. But... why? "Here." Her legs totally failed her and she hit the floor before Charles could help her. As she flipped the photos which revealed it all- her father's body, his death certificate, his funeral- she wondered why she was kept in the dark. According to the pictures, he died a year ago. Uncle Ben had been lying to her. According to the pictures, he also attended the funeral. But he said nothing to her, he just kept assuring that her father would someday call. Like heck he would. Isabella was resisting the urge to laugh at her life. Her

It was crazy. The way her heart was banging. She had just taken a shower and all she thought about was the last time Gabriel was in her. Actually she could still feel him forcing his way into her and it made her scared. To make it worse, Isabella's mind could not help but replay Uncle Ben's advice about leaving Gabriel and Charles's words about the same matter. That she might not be safe after all from Gabriel made her even more scared. She took a deep sigh. Something at the back of her mind told her to maintain her calm. She was doing a good job at scaring herself and that was not a good thing. At that rate, she could begin to hallucinate and give herself unnecessary heart issues. So, Isabella took in another deep breath and after releasing it, she reached for her robe and walked out of the shower into her office. Humming a tune, she made for behind her desk

"What on earth did you get yourself into Isa?" Caleb had just heard the whole situation his friend was in and he obviously was pissed and unhappy. "Gabriel sounds like he is going to end you." Isabella stretched her leg onto the length of the red leather couch. "I have no idea what to do," she said. Caleb scoffed loudly. "What?" "What on earth do you mean by you have no idea what to do? It is very obvious Isabella." "I don't think I am ready for another marital life." The look on her face distressed Caleb who looked at her like he was wishing a simple hug could solve her problems. "But you need protection from the one you just left and trust me, the next time I recieve a letter, I don't want it to be your blood on it." "So," Isabella shrugged as she sank into the couch into a laying position. ", I have no choice but to marry Charles." "Running away right now

A kind of fear Isabella loathed immediately came over her and she instantly gripped Charles's shirt for some kind of assurance of protection. He held her closer. Gabriel, with a sinister look on his face moved a bit closer. "I didn't know you were quite a whore. No wonder you didn't want me to sleep with you. What?" he scoffed. "Does Mr. Charming here fuck you good? Is he the reason you won't give me a child?" "Wh-" her throat had gone dry. She cleared it. "What are you doing here Gabriel?" "I came here for my wife. Instead..." his smirk widened. "Instead!" he exclaimed. "I meet her letting another man touch her." "I am not your wife Gabriel, not anymore." "Say that to my face bitch." Charles moved almost violently towards Gabriel, Isabella pulled him back. Slowly, she got down and faced him squarely. "Gabriel," she folded her arms. ",lik

Christina boiled as her eyes trailed the duo who held on to each other like they were old time lovers. But she didn't let it show. She couldn't make a mess of herself in front of her boss's mother. Or to put it better, her potential mother-in-law. And that would be possible if she played her game right. And a look at the almost seething woman opposite her, she knew she was doing something right. At first, when the woman called for her earlier in the day, she feared she wanted to talk about the call the other day. But when her talk started... Christina knew she had finally found that channel with which she would make Charles hers. "Go and get him," Mrs. Oxford commanded, Christina a bit offed by the harshness in her voice. "Yes ma'am." Mr. Oxford was smiling, holding her tight. He whispered something to her as they got to the place they had to check for their