As Isabella walked down the next aisle with the hope that she hadn't filled her cart with more than she could afford, her eyes caught the wine rack.
Wine suddenly reminded her of Charles. He preferred whiskey on a good day, but he never turned down good wine either.
As she stopped and scanned the shelf, she began to realize she might have to return some things. His favorite drink - well, if it still was- had just caught her eye and she knew she had to get it.
While she grabbed the bottle and made for the beverage section to return the tea packs, she heard a voice from behind say, "Alberto Shade."
Isabella froze.
"Hello, Isabella," the voice greeted with not so much excitement within its fragility.
Isabella quickly turned, but on seeing the person, she sighed lightly before returning the greeting. "Mrs. Oxford."
Isabella then wondered how Charles' mother knew her father or rather, about her father.
The classy woman in front of her wore a little scorn as her eyes scanned Isabella's hands. "Considering that you are latching onto my son, shouldn't you be shopping like you've hit the jackpot?"
"Is there something I can help you with, ma'am?" Isabella asked. She wasn't going to give the woman in front of her a chance to ridicule her.
"I need to talk to you." Mrs. Oxford's eyes darted to the side. "Now."
Isabella could sense something crazy brewing. "Does it have to be now?"
The woman wore a look of slight surprise. Probably, the audacious tone Isabella's question carried caused that reaction. But that emotion disappeared as soon as it arrived. "Isabella, if I decide that we should have our conversation here, you will end up being humiliated."
Isabella scoffed. "Do you intend to humiliate me?"
Mrs. Oxford wore a smile. "You have quite a sharp mouth. It will be useless to bother myself. Meet me at the restaurant opposite this building in fifteen minutes. Don't run away. If you do, I will have you abducted."
Isabella almost laughed. Was the woman kind of insane or what?
"See you," Mrs. Oxford said as she turned in her stance and walked away, her shoes kissing the tiles loudly.
Isabella finally found that laughter. A peal of laughter filled with disbelief.
But then, what could Charles's mom have to say to her? And what did she know about her father?
Curiosity overrode Isabella's mind and she decided to make it to the mentioned restaurant.
~
An hour later, Isabella walked into the themed restaurant and when her eyes locked with Mrs. Oxford, she resisted a smile. The look of impatience and anger on the woman's face was quite comical.
"You are late," the woman stated as she pointed to the high pillow placed on the floor.
"I didn't even want to come," Isabella said as she found a way to stay balanced on the pillow that surprisingly wasn't as hard as it looked, her legs crossed afterward.
Mrs. Oxford took a sip from the sizzling, metal-like, curved cup in her hand. "Why did you come then?"
"I am curious."
"You should be. I normally don't waste my time like this."
"How do you know my father?" Isabella wasted not a second more.
"That's not why I am here," she responded, her aura suddenly changing. It was as though she switched her classiness to a really high level.
"But I want an answer to my question." Isabella had no idea where her sharp tone was coming from, but she loved it.
That snarkiness was a part of her that got buried somewhere as the years passed by. Having it back even for a second made her glad. It assured her that she had not lost herself.
The woman opposite her gave in. "It is a shame what happened to your father. Losing all your hard-earned wealth like that sure hits hard."
"You knew him?"
"He was a friend of my husband. So were the Manifolds and some others who have wealth in immense ways." Isabella felt her body tense at the mention of that deadly name that she carried for a long time. Mrs. Oxford certainly noticed that. "I recall clearly how little Gabriel Manifold always followed you around like you were some kind of mesmerizing creature."
Isabella frowned. If she was to believe a word of what she was saying... that meant she probably met Charles back then.
"Charles was never around for such meet-ups." It was as though Mrs. Oxford read her mind. "He was always busy learning a thing or two."
Isabella looked to the side. The fact that she and Gabriel knew each other from childhood made her shudder a bit.
"Don't you think you should be ashamed, Isabella?"
"Excuse me?" she asked with a frown.
"You are married, Isabella. Or did you think I wouldn't find out that you are married to Gabriel Manifold? Of course, I had to check the person my son wants to be with. You might not be the commoner I thought you were, but I find you absolutely unworthy."
Isabella returned a blank look as her arms folded.
Leaning forward a bit, her strong flowery scent spanning through the space even more, Mrs. Oxford continued, " As I was saying, I always knew you and Gabriel would be paired together but what I didn't see coming was the terrible brokeness you both are in."
"Where are you going with this, ma'am?"
"Are you trying to seduce my son because you have no money? Is my son some easy target you feel you can jump onto because you can't play wife to your good-for-nothing husband anymore?" Mrs. Oxford wore a strained smile. "I need you to tell me."
Almost smiling sadly, Isabella looked down at her lap and then back up. "I have no reply to give you."
"Really?" Mrs. Oxford laughed quite heartily but Isabella could sense the sarcasm in those chuckles. "It is true, isn't it? You just want his money since he has a lot of it."
"Is that why you called me here? To check if this woman is a gold digger?" Isabella asked with a small smile. She left no space for a response. "I am sorry, but I can't give you answers to your questions and... doubts."
"I don't want my son to marry someone like you," Mrs. Oxford said, her voice taking a dangerous tone.
"Someone like me?"
"A married woman is a tainted woman. A tainted woman standing beside my son is bad news and I don't like bad news especially when it comes to my son. So..." The very serious woman took a second to catch her breath, her glare still on Isabella. "Leave my son alone, Isabella. Let him find someone better."
"If you have a problem with the woman your son wants to be with, shouldn't you be speaking to your son about it?" Isabella decided to go further. For some reason, she felt like she was reliving the time her father told her to get married to Gabriel. She wanted to take the courage in her voice as the one she could have had back then.
"You said you looked into me, clearly, you didn't look deep enough. I have gone through many things and now that I have Charles... I am not letting him go."
"Don't test me, Isabella Shade. I can bring trouble into your existence within a blink."
Isabella scoffed. "Trouble? Ma'am, I lived with trouble for a long time. If you decide to add yours, it will be nothing." Even her eyes darkened. "I won't be affected."
Mrs. Oxford's lips fell apart and as she saw Isabella making moves to get up and leave, she regained composure and said, "Wait."
Isabella's eyes watched the woman as she rummaged through her pause. When she found whatever it was, she slammed it on the table and locked gaze with a wondering Isabella.
"This is a blank cheque." Isabella laughed silently. What did the woman take her for? "Take it and leave my son. Isn't your company almost in ruins? Use the money to restore it to its former glory."
'A little too late ma'am' Isabella said within her as she took a firm stance.
"I do not need your money. As I have said earlier, I won't let go of Charles. Not again. And not even you, his mother will be able to stop me."
"Well then, Isabella Shade..." The woman got up. "We will see how long you will be able to hold on to your dear Charles." Her nose touched the air. "When I am done with you, you won't even be able to crawl to beg for forgiveness."
"I pity you, ma'am." Mrs. Oxford's eyes widened in question. Isabella gave a short smile and continued. "I suggest you get a job and stop wasting precious time on me. And regarding holding onto Charles, let's see how fate plays out, shall we?"
"I-"
"Good day, Mrs. Oxford. It was a pleasure meeting you." Isabella walked out of the room with style but when she got to her car, her confidence failed.
The courage flew away, fear came in, and Mrs. Oxford's words haunted her a little too soon.
She was so undeserving of Charles.
Isabella knew that and as it sunk in more and more, the thought that fate could trick her and have her back in Gabriel's torturing abode dropped and she immediately felt gripped by more fright.
But, no...
She wasn't going to let that happen.
She was going to be strong.
So strong that Gabriel won't stand a chance. So strong, that she will finally be with the man she always wanted and loved. So strong, Mrs. Oxford will think she head-butted ten trailers at once.
Then, after so long, perhaps that peace of mind she had been craving for so long will finally embrace her.