"What do you mean by I can't go in there?" Charles asked almost angrily.
"Calm down Charles. This is a session for the Judge with the couple and their attorneys. No one else is allowed in."
"Really?" Charles sighed hard as his eyes fell on Isabella who was coming from the restroom. Though dressed confidently in a nice black, pencil gown, she looked so stressed and she was yet to go in for the first hearing.
And he knew so well that it won't be easy there.
Richard tapped him gently and said, "I will take care of things Charles. I will make sure of it."
He locked eyes with his long time friend and lawyer. "I don't want her to get hurt. You have heard Gabriel talk, he will do anything to have her back and..." The thought of her being near that monster... it enraged him.
Richard said, "I know how much Isabella means to you. I promise you, I will not let him even come near her."
"Good," came Charles's firm response, his eyes still on Isabella who was now in front of them. Grabbing her hand, he asked, "Are you ready?"
"I hope so," she almost whispered.
Charles felt her nervousness in her hands, so he made a move to reassure her. "Hey, look at me." He grazed her forehead with his thumbs as he held her still. "You will be okay. I will make sure we win this."
As he hugged her after, she felt so small in his arms and that woke his protective nature even more.
"Thank you Charles," she said as she wrapped her arms around him.
"We should go in now Isabella," Richard broke into their moment. "The Judge will be here anytime soon."
"Be strong, okay?" Charles implored the woman who made him feel empty by just walking away from him.
"I will take care of things Charles," Richard reassured him and after, he and Isabella walked down the corridor.
And he watched her like a mother watching her child until they turned in another direction.
~
"Are you ready?" Isabella gave short smile. She could not bring herself to say anything. "You know anything can happen in here right?" Mr. Richard asked.
"How?"
"Gabriel will definitely give a statement that will picture him as a good person."
She frowned. "But he isn't."
"That's why you need to prepare your mind. Will you be able to do that?" She nodded as she wondered what Gabriel would probably say to nullify her claims. "Don't worry, I am here to help you. When this is over, you will be a free woman again."
A free woman.
That sounded so good.
"Well, hello Isabella," Gabriel's sudden voice shook her a bit. But she did not let it show as her eyes met those of the man who used her like a rag. "Good luck today sweetheart. When this is over, don't forget we have a lot to talk about. And a lot to do."
Not wanting to let him gloat for long, Isabella made to retort but Richard's hold on her arm made her do otherwise.
Yes, it was probably best to just let him talk on.
Besides, silence, they say, is the best answer for a fool.
"Is everyone present?" Another voice entered the conference room designated for the hearing, a young woman behind her.
"Yes, we are," Gabriel's attorney, a man probably in his late twenties, replied. He wore a serious look that bothered Isabella. And as they all sat down after the Judge did, he caught her looking at him and then he winked.
Isabella was taken aback.
"Well, then..." The woman whose intimidating figure had it's effect in the room collected a file from the woman with her and opened it. "Shall we begin?" She put on her rectangle lensed glasses which made bold her small eyes and scanned the people before her.
"This is a case between Mr. Gabriel Manifold and Mrs. Isabella Manifold. While Mrs. Manifold wishes for their five year old marriage to be dissolved, Mr. Manifold doesn't wish for such."
The woman's hair danced as she looked up at them. "My team and I have listened to the defendant's statement and we have noted a lot from it. But I would like for the plaintiff to give their statement as well."
Isabella drew her breath.
"I will like to lay down some points before we start," the Judge sternly said. "I believe we are all learned and sensible people. And despite how emotional hearings like this could get, I will appreciate it if both parties could exercise patience.
If you are not asked a question, please do not respond. Don't interrupt when either person is speaking, am I clear?"
"Yes your Honour." They all chorused.
"Well then..." Her glossy lips wore a sturdy smile. "Shall we begin? Mr. Manifold, your statement."
Isabella watched as Gabriel whispered something to his attorney who nodded in response. Clearing his voice, he started. "Thank you your Honour. How do I start?" His eyes met Isabella's. "I was very shocked when I learnt Isabella wanted to leave me."
"How did she convey that information?" the Judge asked. Isabella who had eventually given a much more detailed statement eagerly awaited his response.
" That day, I was at home waiting for her to come from her office. Then I suddenly heard a hard knock on the door. It was Isabella and with rage in her eyes, she told me she didn't want to be with me anymore. As I tried to reason with her, she got even angrier and kicked me."
"Kicked you?"
He nodded as he looked towards the Judge. "Isabella was never violent until that day, so I was very surprised. But I let her go, thinking she was probably drunk. Little did I know that..." His eyes wore strained look and it made him seem like he wanted to cry.
"Mr. Manifold?" the Judge pushed.
Gabriel sniffled. "Little did I know that she was cheating on me." His eyes met Isabella's again who was still doing a good job of keeping herself in check.
"Are you certain?" she asked almost without emotion.
"Yes. I caught her right in his arms. She was..." He sighed and let his head hang.
"Okay. In Mrs. Manifold's statement, she was married off to you by her father to pay back the debts he owed your family. What do you have to say about that?"
Gabriel gave a bitter-like chuckle. "I don't know how Isabella has refused to see how much I love her. True, her father owed us money, but he paid off his debt before I married Isabella."
Isabella found her arms dropping off the chair arms. Luckily Richard caught her before she could slump carelessly.
"Mrs. Manifold married you of her own will?"
"Yes." That instant, of her own will, Isabella wished to strangle the lying bastard.
"I remember her clearly saying yes to marrying me when her father introduced us finally. I was so elated that day because I have always loved her. Ask her, before she started exhibiting different traits that are not her, we lived together in love and understanding."
Isabella felt her lips quiver as a different version of anger befell her.
"Did your marriage produce any child?"
"No. But I didn't hold that against her. Not once." Every moment he pestered her for a son flashed through her mind and she gripped the chair hard.
Gabriel continued, "I don't know why Isabella wants this, but she needs to know she is the only one for me. I can't live without her. So she should not let that man come between us. I will forgive her for being with him. Just... as..." He pinched his eyes and made a sound to indicate he didn't want to go on.
"Very well then." The Judge looked at the watch on her hand. "Going by the few minutes allocated to this hearing, we still have some more time. So, Mrs. Manifold, would you like to say something?"
Isabella gripped the chair harder. Was that what Mr. Richard meant when he said to prepare herself? So, Gabriel really was going to make himself look like the saint. He just had to make her look like the devil.
"Mrs. Manifold?" Mr. Richard nudged Isabella who jolted. "Are you with us?"
"Y-yes your Honour."
"Before we adjourn this hearing, would you like to say anything?"
"No, your Honour." The woman gave her a pressing look. "All I want to say is in my statement."
"Well, this hearing is adjourned till the 27th of July. Let both sides make preparations to present their witnesses before then. That will be all."
"Isabella?" Mr. Richard called as she abruptly got up after the Judge left the room, but she ignored him.
All she wanted to do at that moment was to find somewhere quiet. Somewhere where she would be for a while without anyone disturbing.
"Bella?" Charles's firm hands stopped her and as her eyes met his, the tears that kept pinching her throat instantly blurred her sight.