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Nine

Author: Lola Ben
last update Last Updated: 2021-04-01 13:02:38

Like every other human on earth, Claire Oxford had her past sins.

And typical of such sins, it was back to haunt her and take grasp of her son, Charles. Wondering what he was doing at that moment, she took another second to silently pray that he did not stray or fall into wrong hands.

As she took a seat on one of the cushions in her tailoring room, Claire wondered if it would be safe to let her husband know of the situation.

She certainly did not hide her previous shameful marriage with Ordinaz from her husband. And she appreciated that he did not judge her based on the fact that she was sold to Ordianz, he even accepted her son with whom she had run away with when troubles kept mounting troubles in Ordinaz's home.

No.

She shook her head as her eyes wearily wandered the huge room that reeked of lavender and was a sight to anyone who loved expensive garments. Telling her husband about her past coming back could hurt him. He might begin to worry about Charles which could turn out to be dangerous to his health.

So, she pushed aside that idea. As she inhaled deeply, the sophisticated woman realized that it was not enough if she was just wailing silently. She had to do something. She needed to take control of the situation.

If Ordinaz was playing a dirty game with her, she sure could play along and get him to lose. But she was not so sure about her son. Even if he found a wife just her ex- husband required, he could find out Ordinaz wants something more and since the boy was very blinded by his need to know his real father, he would do it.

And she really wasn't about to sit down and watch Ordinaz ruin her only son.

So, she really needed to take charge of the situation regardless what her stubborn said.

Setting Charles up with lady from one of the reputable homes around was not too terrible for a start. Nodding, Claire decided she was going to do that first. She actually would not be able to bear the thought that her son would be marrying just anyone even if it was just for show.

As she picked her phone to dial her son's number and notify him of her intentions of coming down to America, Claire's mind changed. She needed to be meticulous about it.

As she happily sketched the plan in her head, her phone rang.

"Yes."

'Good day ma'am. This is Christina Kane. Mr. Oxford's secretary.'

Claire wondered why her son's secretary was calling her. "Is something wrong with Charles?"

'Not at all ma'am. It is just I don't know if it is my place to say this, but yesterday, a woman came to see him and by chance, I heard him ask her to marry him.' Claire's eyes bulged. ' I am so surprised, I thought I had to call you to tell you about it.'

"Miss Kane, right?"

'Yes ma'am.'

"Do you always spy on your boss this way? Do you always report his movements like a jobless idiot?"

'No. Not at all ma. This just happened to be a...'

"I will make sure I have you sacked. My son shouldn't be around people like you."

'Ma'am...' the voice from the other end begged but Mrs. Oxford cut the call before she could utter another thing.

Her head ticking even more, Claire, as she put down her phone knew that at that junction, she had to act fast.

She had to act before her son fell into the wrong hands.

~

"Yes, she is married to Gabriel Manifold." The name was not familiar to Charles who signaled to the man in front of him to go on with his report. "He was once a millionaire, but he wasted all of it, including his inherited fortune on gambling and women."

Charles frowned. What was Isabella doing with such a man?

"She got married to him on the sixth of October, 2013." That was barely two months after she left him. "There were rumours of her being pregnant, but they do not have a child till date. Even though they live together, Isabella hardly stays at home, word around says their marriage is not so solid anymore.

Contrary to the beginning, the couple are not close anymore and as it seems, Gabriel is cheating on her. Their neighbour said she notices model like women are always going to their house whenever Isabella was not around."

Charles clutched the hand of the chair as anger seethed through him. Why was Isabella with such a man? Even if she had to leave him, couldn't she have found a better man? Why was she even still with him?"

"Sir there is more. Their neighbour also expressed concern for Isabella. She said, not only is she looking lean, she thinks Gabriel might be abusing her."

"What?" His blood was beginning to boil.

"She is not so sure, but on certain days, she hears Gabriel raising his voice in anger and every time, few minutes later, Isabella always leaves the house looking sad."

Charles's heart squeezed. Yes, he might he hate her a bit for the hurt she made him feel, but he still cared a lot about her. And, just like before, the urge to protect her was coursing through his veins.

"What job does Gabriel presently do?"

"He does nothing sir." His private investigator replied as he adjusted his hat that covered most of his eyes.

"Nothing,"  Charles repeated as his fingers played with each other. The look on her face suddenly became clear. Gabriel had injected sadness into his beauty's eyes, he must have ripped something out of her. That had to be it. "Is there more?"

"There is also the rumour of Isabella's father using her to settle his debt with the older Manifold."

"What? Her father too?"

"I am still looking into that matter sir."

"Please do and be fast about it." The man tipped his hat and walked out of the room.

Sighing, Charles sat back into the chair. He wondered why Isabella let herself to be used in such a way. The woman he knew didn't give a crap about anyone regardless of who they were. He wondered where all that fierceness went.

He really needed answers just as he needed her back in his life. And once he has her glued to him, he was going to make sure all she might have gone through will become a thing she would forget.

He promised within himself.

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Latest chapter

  • Blackmailing his runaway bride   Sixty (Epilogue)

    Among mixed feelings after the news of Gabriel's death, Isabella found something new. Something indescribable. Perhaps it was relief or better put, the peace she had so much yearned for, she really couldn't say.All she knew was that something had changed within her.It was already eight months after Gabriel's mysterious death. No one really knew what happened and nothing could be concluded except for the fact that he was severely roasted and ridiculously, the investigators think he did it to himself.Isabella took a deep sigh and looked around the quiet place with headstones and neat grasses giving her eyes something to feast on. In her hand was a piece of paper which contained the most exciting news she had ever had. But no one was around yet for her to share the good news with.So, strangely, after realizing how boring it would be to stay in the hotel in anticipation of Charles's arrival, she chose to wander. And her reckless legs took her into a cemet

  • Blackmailing his runaway bride   Fifty Nine

    Charles could have chuckled hard but something else stopped him. The audacity of the man who supposedly is his biological father certainly couldn't be ignored. What annoyed the man most was the fact that a gun was pulled when Isabella was there. She didn't show any kind of fear, but he didn't want her exposed to such dangers.Charles knew he had to act fast and get them both out of there without Rodrigo Ordinaz getting anything from him. He stole a look at the man who had a smile on his face. His mother was right, he was not a man with good intentions. But that didn't sadden Charles. He had already sort of believed his mother's statement about Ordinaz, so he wasn't too surprised.But the part he totally didn't see coming was where his real father would openly say he wants to use his company and how wife's as some kind of leverage."Are you going to sit down or not?" Ordinaz asked, an impatient grin now etched in his bold face.Charles who was already work

  • Blackmailing his runaway bride   Fifty Eight

    Claire confirmed it again. Gabriel was on his way to her son's house and he definitely wasn't going there for some merriment. According to the security personnel she had employed, Gabriel had purchased from a black market, explosives after he had trailed his way to Charles's house and the very hangar his private aircraft was usually kept whenever his work made him remain within London.One thing was crystal clear though, Gabriel wasn't aware that Charles and Isabella weren't home and that made it all easy for her. She would be able to get a hold of the careless, vengeance driven man without much being lost.In preparation, she had used her connection to evacuate the occupants around to a more conducive environment which happened without much complaint because, who doesn't like to have a taste of a better life once in a while?From a safe distance with a walkie talkie on her laps that danced with impatience, Mrs. Oxford wondered if Charles was at that moment face

  • Blackmailing his runaway bride   Fifty Seven

    Charles was beyond baffled.That his mother would go even as far as that surprised him really. But then, she attempted to get rid of his father, should he really be so shocked?"Charles..." Isabella softly called him and he felt so guilty. He felt terrible that Isabella suffered a bruise on her heart when Daphne showed up at their door. The woman's presence took her back to a time she was pregnant with his child, the time she suffered a loss. And it was his fault. His mother just had to be the crazy type.Not wanting her to see how guilty he felt, he faced the other side of the room and heaved a deep sigh. Truthfully a part of him was relieved. Relieved that he wasn't the father to Daphne's unborn child. That could have messed up everything."Charles talk to me." His wife's hands went around his waist and her head rested gently against his firm back and he shook once again with guilt.His head hung, he whispered, "What could I possibly say Bella? B

  • Blackmailing his runaway bride   Fifty Six

    Charles chuckled and that surprised his mother. "Is that what you came all this way to say?" he asked, grabbing Isabella's hand after as though he intended to ignite his mother's rage."Did you hear what I said Charles? Your wife is incapable of giving birth!""So?" He laughed again and faced the woman beside him who was trying to keep a blank face. Claire wondered why Charles was acting like it was no big deal. She knew how particular he was about having a child or two when finally married."How is this funny Charles? I am trying to tell you that-""I already knew Mother. And it is not her fault. So, I don't really see the point you are trying to make here."Claire Oxford scoffed and decided to take a different route. "I heard Ordinaz wants a grandchild from you."He instantly frowned and asked cautiously, " How do you know about that?"Shrugging, the woman who was now wearing a sly smile adjusted the jacket sprawled over her shoulde

  • Blackmailing his runaway bride   Fifty Five

    Claire Oxford was smiling so unusually, it made the women around her very curious and a bit worried as they heard she was left out of her son’s wedding to a divorcee.But the woman had no care in the world about what they all thought. They were looking for a topic for gossip anyway. So, she excused herself and made for her room, making sure to tell the housekeeper to entertain her guests well.As soon as she closed the door of her huge, plainly decorated room which held more of her clothes and accessories in a way that irked her husband but comforted her, she became even more relaxed.Taking out her phone to call Charles, Mrs. Oxford wondered if he would be with Isabella Shade. She then wondered if he knew that she had a thing or two she was keeping from him. The woman wore a smile.She knew her son well. When he learns about the secret, he would feel betrayed and he will certainly see how the woman was not the one for him. And he would finally foll

  • Blackmailing his runaway bride   Fifty Four

    “What?”Isabella never saw herself telling Charles that part of her past so soon. In fact, if she had a way, she would have made sure that he never finds out. But then… she just told him he was once a father.Rather, she just informed him that he would have been a father if not for the situationsurroundingher life then.“You were carrying my child?” A visibly angry Charles asked as though wanting to be certain he had not heard the wrong thing. She gave a short nod to his question. “What happened then? Wait a minute…”His head tilted to the side, his fingers danced in the air in eccentric circles as he seemed to reason something. “Isabella?”“Yes Charles?” She wasn’t surprised that tearswere already falling from her eyes. She took a second to wipe her face before looking his way again.“What you are trying to tell me is that, you were aware

  • Blackmailing his runaway bride   Fifty Three

    It seemed like his head had somehow exploded in reaction to what the woman in front of him just spilled. Extremely taken aback, Charles's eyes darted towards Isabella whose arms were crossed with a little frown on her forehead. He wasn't ready to wonder what she could be feeling after that crazy bomb Daphne just dropped.So, he just faced the pregnant woman again and asked, "What are you talking about?"She gave her little chuckle which he always felt had a tone of evil behind it anytime it rang in his ears. Slowly, she got up and she was soon leveled in stance with him, their eyes on the same plane. "What?" She looked oddly amused. "Are you going to deny sleeping with me?"Charles almost held his hair in anguish. What kind of thing was happening to him? Daphne was just a fling and that was all she ever was. After a week, he broke all ties with her and she had no issues with it. But now..."Daphne... Are you certain this child is mine?"She scoffed

  • Blackmailing his runaway bride   Fifty Two

    After a blissful night in each other's arms, Isabella and Charles were soon on their way back home. They were presently driving along the route that led to the hangar where Charles's private aircraft was being kept. Looking out the window as the breeze that the trees juggled attracted her, Isabella wondered how it would feel to be in the air again.It had been so long since she traveled. It was not like she ever had a reason to. A vacation never even crossed her mind while she was married to Gabriel.Wearing a small smile instantly, she began to reason her life some more.She asked herself questions. Like why she never deemed it fit to take a break from running the hotel. Or why she never thought of going for a long drive after a long week of Gabriel's terrible nagging.Definitely, she would have felt less worked up if she had done those little things.Isabella sighed. There was no cause for regrets. Another chance was in front of her t

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