"Is that all?" Charles asked in a low voice to avoid waking Isabella who was still sleeping deeply.
Attorney Richard, who seemed partially busy with something related to paperwork, replied from the other end of the call, 'I reached out to Isabella's doctor. Luckily, his schedule is not tight on the twenty-seventh, so he will be able to make it to the hearing.'
Charles wore a satisfactory smile. It was all coming together fine. "That's good. Did her doctor say anything else?"
'Well...' Richard drew a long breath before speaking further. 'He did say his statement would most likely be disturbing.'
Charles crossed one leg over another as his face wore a frown. Grabbing the phone a bit tighter, he asked, "Disturbing? How so?"
'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 that he wouldn't get an opportunity to witness the hearing.
'One more thing,' Richard said.
"There is something else?"
'It is concerning Gabriel Manifold. Augustus discovered something about him. Something interesting.'
It then occurred to Charles that it had been a while since he saw the man called Augustus - the man who always wore a hat. The private investigator was quite an intriguing character.
"What is that?" Charles asked, his curiosity more roused.
A sharp breath was drawn from the other end. 'Gabriel is wanted in India as he was an accomplice for murder.'
"Murder?" If that was true, Charles saw an opportunity. Gabriel having such a past would make the game between them more interesting. It would assure Isabella of a great win.
'Augustus is still looking into the details. But all we have now is that this happened eleven years ago.'
"How has he avoided imprisonment so far? Certainly, the extradition system is functional there."
Richard sighed. 'Perhaps his father did a good job of sweeping the case under the carpet.'
His mind calculating things already, Charles got up from the chair and went on to lean against the plastered wall, staring out at the evening sky. "So, do you think that information gives us an advantage during the hearing?"
'It certainly does. Though I would prefer to use that information as a last resort. At this rate, we might not have to use it. Our witness game is strong.'
Charles wished Richard would let him in on everything going on with the hearing but the man was tight-lipped and preferred to mention bits and bits that didn't help Charles in any way
"Good. Let's just wait and see how things play out from here then."
'It certainly would be interesting.' Richard seemed to share Charles's exact thoughts about Gabriel's downfall and that brought a smirk to the tall man's face.
Soon, the call ended and Charles continued to run his gaze through the colourful sunset.
Gabriel Manifold, he thought, the man's off-putting face showing up in his mind. Does that man want 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 a 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.
~
While Charles rejoiced about the impending victory, rooms away from his, his mother stared at the contents of the folder in her hands.
Claire Oxford quickly determined that the Shade woman was extremely unlucky.
Being married to a man who was meant to be in prison was the height of Isabella's misfortune.
Claire Oxford could only imagine the crazy things Isabella had to go through at the hands of a man who seemed more and more cold-blooded based on the things she had just read about him.
But that didn't mean she pitied Isabella Shade that much to allow her to be with her son. Claire could smell the misfortune Isabella would bring her son even though it was yet to arrive.
Picking her phone as she felt it wouldn't be bad to kickstart her plan, she typed in Gabriel's number. After a few rings, her call was picked up.
'Hello,' a harsh voice responded, causing the woman to feel 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' mother."
'What is this?' A scoff followed. 'Did the Pretty Man get scared and decide 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 would you have a proposition for me? We are not acquainted in any way.'
"I don't want my son to be with Isabella."
That answer seemed to tickle his fancy. 'Go on...'
Claire Oxford 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?' It hardly surprised Mrs. Oxford that Gabriel immediately sounded flustered. Men cower in the presence of their past sins and Gabriel Manifold was no exception.
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 that issue. And when you are successful with 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 chuckled. "I will send you a message soon. It will have an address attached to it. 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.
As she replayed the last few seconds, Claire realized how nice she felt. Claire certainly loved having things her way, it fueled her ego.
"What exactly are you up to, Claire?" an unexpected voice spoke from the entrance.
The person the voice belonged to was someone that always ruined her useless and excess pride and as she turned to face him, Claire felt a kind of softening within her.
It had indeed been a while since she saw her husband.
As he walked closer, she suddenly felt a chill in her spine, her mind wondering if he heard her conversation with Gabriel.
"Christopher," she instantly changed the mood, determined not to be caught in her crime. "What brings you here?"
"I could ask you the same considering how you left me unattended to in the hospital," he said, the blueness of his eyes boring into hers as his height became more evident. "You left without a word, Claire."
"I... Something 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' relationship with Isabella?"
He is aware? Claire questioned her mind as she wore a little crease on her forehead.
Well, it seemed her husband hadn't lost his sharp mind after all. "I can't let it happen. Their union cannot be." She moved closer and grabbed his right hand which was wearing slightly saggy skin. "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 will continue to do."
"Well, Claire..." Christopher straightened his shoulders. "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? I don't get warm greetings from my son and my husband anymore?"
"What can I say?" Christopher turned toward the entrance. "I was going to give you one, but I was disappointed by your actions and words."
"Chris-" He stepped out before she could complete his name and that made the woman angry.
And, as she applied pressure on her hands, she blamed that unlucky soul called Isabella Shade for causing drama in her family.