Nine

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 Ordinaz, 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.