"Is that all?" Charles asked Richard with a low voice so as to not wake Isabella who was still sleeping deeply.
'I contacted Isabella's doctor already. His schedule is luckily not tight on the 27th, so he will be able to make it.'
Charles wore a satisfactory smile. It was all coming together fine. "That's good. Did he mention anything else?"
'Well...' Richard drew a long breath before going on. 'He did say his statement would most likely be disturbing.'
Charles's legs danced a bit as his face wore a frown. "Disturbing?"
'He is bound by an oath thus he can only make mention of it during the hearing.'
"I see." Charles felt it was a shame he wouldn't be able to be at the hearing.
'One more thing.'
"What about?"
'Gabriel. There is something about him Augustus just discovered.' It then occurred to Charles that it had been a while since he saw the man who always wore a hat. A very intriguing character he was.
"What is that?"
'Gabriel is wanted in India as he was an accomplice for murder.'
"Murder?" Now, the game had gotten interesting.
'Augustus is still looking into it. But all we have now is that this happened eleven years ago.'
"How has he avoided imprisonment so far? Certainly there is extradition here."
Richard sighed. 'Perhaps his father did a good job of sweeping the case under the carpet.'
His mind calculating already, Charles leaned against the wall and stared out at the evening sky. "So, do you think that information gives us an advantage?"
'It certainly does.'
"Good. Let's just wait and see how things play out from here then."
'It certainly would be interesting.' Richard certainly got Charles's exact thought and that brought a smirk on the tall man's face.
Gabriel Manifold.
He wants Isabella? He will have to try harder. Perhaps he would have to magically turn the hands of time.
Charles's smirk grew larger as he went to take his seat. Without doubt, Isabella was going to become his and when she eventually does, his revenge will be sweeter then.
And man, was he going to enjoy it.
~
As Charles rejoiced in his head, rooms away from his, his mother stared at the contents of the folder in her hands.
Certainly that Shade woman was extremely unlucky. Married to a man meant to be in prison? Claire Oxford could only imagine the crazy things Isabella would have gone through.
But that didn't mean she pitied her that much to allow her be with her son. Claire could smell the misfortune Isabella would bring her son and it had not arrived yet.
Picking her phone as she felt it wouldn't be bad to start her plan, she typed in Gabriel's number. After a few rings, her call was picked.
'Hello,' a harsh voice said causing her slight discomfort.
"Mr. Manifold?"
'Who is this?'
She found him so uncultured. But she was going to put up with it. "I am Mrs. Oxford, Charles's mother."
'What is this?' A scoff followed. 'Did pretty boy get scared and decided to bring his mother into the matter?'
"Actually, Gabriel, Charles doesn't know about this.
'So, what is this?' asked the man suspiciously.
Mrs. Oxford adjusted in her seat and had her eyes trained on the descending nightfall. "I have a proposition for you.
'Why?'
"I don't want my son to be with Isabella.
'Go on...'
She smiled. It was go time. "I am well aware of your dirty past Manifold and I am willing to help you get rid of it if you do something for me."
'Wh- what past?'
Claire laughed softly... well perhaps a little bit sinisterly. "You and I know what happened back in India. Or have you forgotten?" she asked darkly.
'Where are you going with this?' She could sense he had become more attentive.
"As I said, I will help you get rid of it and when you do what I need you to do, Isabella will certainly be yours."
'What is this thing I need to do?'
She smiled again. "In due time you will know. I just want to be certain I have your word."
A brief pause followed before Gabriel replied with, 'I will do whatever it takes.'
"Good. I love your desperation."
'And how do I know you won't stab me later on?'
Mrs. Oxford had a picture in her head and she liked it immediately. "I will send you a message soon. Come to that location and I will give you my guarantee."
'If you say so. I look forward to working with you.'
"Likewise." And she ended the call. Claire loved having things her way, it fueled her ego.
"What exactly are you up to Claire?" But there was this one person that always ruined that pride and as her eyes met his, she felt a kind of softening within her.
It indeed had been a while since she saw her husband.
As he moved closer, she felt herself shake a bit. Had he heard her conversation?
"Christopher," she instantly changed the mood. "What brings you here?"
"I could ask you the same considering you left me unattended to in the hospital and left without a word," he said the blueness of his eyes boring into her as his height became more evident.
"I- Something actually came up."
"Hmm. Who were you talking to earlier?"
"Did you hear that?"
His arm resting on the arched head of a nearby chair, her husband wore a small smile. "Are you trying to sabotage Charles's relationship with Isabella?"
Claire frowned. He was aware already? Well, perhaps he hadn't lost his sharp mind after all. "I can't let it happen." She moved closer and grabbed his hand. "You agree with me, don't you?"
"No."
"What?" Her frown deepened.
"In case you have not noticed, you and Isabella are alike." Mrs. Oxford's face instantly wore disgust at that statement. "Yes you are Claire. The same way her father married her off shamelessly is the same way your father gave you to Ordinaz."
Claire Oxford's pride surfaced instantly and her hold on her husband's hand dropped. "You know I hate that topic."
"You can't avoid it today," he returned sternly. "You need to realize you are wrong to destroy their love."
"Love? She just wants to leach onto my son."
"Really? The same way you tried to leach onto me before I made you see sense?"
"I was desperate back then. I would have done anything to protect my son. And that is what I am doing till date."
"Well Claire..." Christopher stood straight. "I regret to inform you that if you don't put a stop to this madness, you might lose the very son you are trying to protect."
She let out a sound full of disbelief. "Are you threatening me now?"
"Am I?" he asked no one in particular.
"Is this what I deserve now? No warm greetings from my son and my husband anymore?"
"What can I say?" Christopher turned towards the entrance. "I was going to give you one, but I was disappointed by your actions and words."
"Chris-" He walked out before she could complete his name and that made the woman angry.
And she had no one else to blame for bringing such drama to her life but Isabella.