Charles interrupted her thoughts as he tried to push a fork carrying a piece of caramel drizzled pancake through her mouth. Giving him a small smile, she opened her mouth and munched on the delicious food but her mind could not stop pondering and cursing slightly.
Uncle Ben? Of all people?
"Charles?" Isabella faced her husband who was focused on dishing another plate.
"Yeah?"
"I need to know everything." Her eyes wore a hard look like she was telling him there was no way he would be able to dissuade her. "I want to know all that you know."
"What do you plan to do when you know everything?" He gently set the plate in front of her, his hands tucking beneath into each other after, his eyes watching her as gently as it could.
"I don't know." She shifted and faced him fully. "I just want to know."
"I guess you should. I didn't intend to tell you at first, but I thought it would be better for you to know about it now." Reaching for her hand, he softly said, "There is something I want to say before I tell you anything." Eyes wandering her face, his hands soon came to her face and he held her lovingly, his body seemingly moving closer to hers. "It will definitely hurt to hear the truth, but it is better you know it now when you still getting used to this new life. So, when you finally know what it is, promise me you won't let it affect you that much. I don't want you to go back to being a gloomy person."
Isabella bit into her lower lip as she returned his caressing gaze. As her hands came up to rest on his, she said, "Charles, I will be fine. Just tell me already."
He gave a curt nod and got up from the floor, Isabella's eyes following him as he walked to a drawer at the far end of the room and brought out a small file.
"So, some days ago, before we left, Augustus messaged me about some discovery he had just made." Charles sat back beside her on the bare floor. The file on his laps, he looked back into her eyes, saying, "He had the opportunity to go over the finances of your company from the time your father started having issues. Caleb helped a bit too. A lot of irregularities were observed right from about twenty years ago."
The file in his hand made rustling noises as he brought out some papers. Taking a look into it, he continued, "To cover up the irregularities, a loan was gotten from Manifold. Now..." He handed her the papers. "...the loan recorded was not so much of a huge amount, but off record, the loan was actually a really big one which could only be paid feasibly within fifteen years based on how functional the hotel was."
"Is that loan the reason my father needed me to get married?" She could see the figures of the off record loan and she had to just shake her head. What kind of thing did her father need such huge amount for?
He drew some air in between his teeth. "Yes and no."
"Uh?"
"Ben Idoh comes in at the loan part." Nudging towards the papers in her hands, he said, "The off record loan was taken by him. After your father got a loan with no interest from Manifold, Ben went behind him and took a even bigger one with interest in your father's name."
"What? Why would-" Wearing a confused look, Isabella took one more look at the paper. What on earth was Uncle Ben using such a large sum of money for? And why did she have to get married to some jerk because of it?"
"Now, coming to you." Charles made to answer the question on her mind. "Years after the hidden loan was collected, Ben was unable to pay it back and you know it would have increased. When he approached Manifold again to explain his situation, Manifold mentioned his willingness to forgo the loan owed if you get married to his son."
Her entire system felt weak instantly.
"When Ben finally told you father about the loan and the condition attached, your father initially refused."
Her eyes narrowed instantly as curiosity bursted through her veins. "Why did he do it then? When he approached me, he looked so distraught, I felt so terrible for him. Why would he listen to Uncle Ben and have me married off so easily?"
"Hey," Charles gently said as he reached for her arms and tendly rubbed through them, hugging her into his chest after. With his chin gently resting on hers, he continued, "Ben had some dirt on your father. He knew your father wouldn't want especially you to know about it, so he gave in to the idea and gave you to Manifold's son."
"Dirt?" Isabella recalled some words about her father Gabriel almost blurted out after one of the hearings they had. Was the thing about her father being a cocaine user? Was that what that man, Ben Idoh used to lure her and her father into such a murdering deal?
"Isabella..."
She looked up at the man who just called her name with a kind of strain that had her suspecting the dirt on her father was not what she thought it was. "Charles... What is it?" she questioned eagerly with her eyes.
Taking the file again, he brought out some plain sheets which turned out to be pictures. "This is why your father could not argue," said Charles as he placed the pictures in her hands.
"Wh-what...?" The incoming question faded before it had a chance. Her head seemed to fly as she scanned through the photos one after the other, each one causing her heart to grow heavy with pain.
"Bella..." Charles hugged her even closer. "Your father used to get sexual services from underage girls."
As her head hung, she trembled, Charles would have definitely felt it. Her own father... What kind of person did he become? How could he do such a shameful thing?
"Underage girls..." she muttered loudly as if it would convince her that it was all a lie. But it wasn't. "How could he?" she asked noone in particular with her voice almost whispering.
Patting her head lovingly, Charles said, "Your father definitely could not let such an information to get out. He wouldn't have wanted you in particular to find out."
Tears welled in her eyes. "So he made me get married to Gabriel."
"So it seems. Isabella?"
"Hmm?" She tried to blink away the tears that were already threatening to fall.
"You can cry if you want to." And that was all she needed. Looking up at him for a second with a smile that almost got ruined by the effects of crying, Isabella thanked him within herself. Surely, for what he had been doing for her, she would never be able to thank him enough.
Holding onto the back of her head, Charles gave her a quick kiss before placing her on his chest, giving up his torso for her to cry onto.
The tears came silently as her mind poured out questions too. Questions that only Uncle Ben could answer. Or perhaps nature's law that says not to trust anyone had answered the questions already. Regardless, she felt really hurt.
By her father... By Uncle Ben.
"Charles..." she croaked out.
"Hmm?" His voice vibrated her and she almost wore a smile at how good she felt.
"Did Uncle Ben really kill my father?"
"Are you sure you want to know?"
"I know the truth will hurt." She sniffled. "But I have already heard more than half of it. So..." She let out a bitter chuckle. "Hit me with the truth."
Sighing deeply that she could feel his breath tickling her skin, Charles replied her earlier question with a simple, "Yes." Isabella let out a very unclear sound as her heart clenched in pain. Grabbing her tighter, Charles worriedly said, "That's enough now. You've known enough."
"How did he kill my father?" Isabella pushed the topic.
"Bella..."
"Why did he kill my father?" Her voice went up in slight rage and Charles sighed again. " Please..." Soberness filled her eyes again amidst the tears. "Tell me why my father had to die in his arms."
"Listen I-" A knock on the door cut his response short and he told her he would get it.
"Let me come with you." Isabella grabbed onto his hand and soon, they were both walking towards the entrance, their hands tightly intertwined, silence ruling the air around them.
A tall man whose face features scared Isabella for a second wore a smile as Charles swung the door open. Adjusting his black suit, he asked, "Charles Oxford?"
With caution riding his entire being, Charles soon had Isabella standing behind him. "Yes, who are you?"
The man whose voice was as sharp as it could be, replied with, "I see you are married after all."
"I asked you a question," Charles firmly said.
"I have a message for you..." He paused, his brow quirking for a second as if he was checking for a reaction. "... from your father."
"Why would my father send a person who looks like he kills for a living to me? Please..." Charles reached for the door. "Help yourself back into your car."
"Your real father," the man suddenly dropped and the door never closed.