Blackmailing His Runaway Bride by Dance-is-me (carter reed .txt) 📗

"My men are still searching for him, sir."

"Contact James, he should get the plane ready, we will be leaving in an hour. And keep checking with your men, we must get his location." Again, Charles glanced at Isabella who looked more distressed, and with guarantee in his tone, he said, "We will get him for good this time."

~

Several hours later, Isabella and Charles were back in London. 

And thanks to Gabriel Manifold, they didn't have a home to go back to.

Everything was in ruins. Everything was gone except for parts of the unique building which remained but with scars.

Presently in a hotel room, waiting for news on Gabriel who clearly had an intent to kill, Isabella could not help but start to pace again as she had been doing ever since she saw the chaos her ex-husband created.

"Bella, please sit down. You are making me nervous," Charles called from the corner he was.

 Her pacing stopped and she leaned on the head of the only couch in the large room which took simplicity as a motto with the plain duvets, single-coloured walls, and normal-looking carpet.

"I can't help it. I..." She was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Are you expecting someone?" Charles got up without a word and walked towards a confused Isabella who perceived that his silence was hiding something. "What is it?"

"I called Daphne here." Isabella stood upright and raised her brows, unsure how to react. "I need her to apologize to you."

"But I don't need an apology." Isabella almost sounded snarky.

"You don't?" Charles frowned.

After easing her growing temper, Isabella wore a gentle smile. "I don't think her apology would change anything for me. She hasn't offended me in any way."

"What do you mean by that? She came to our house and claimed to be pregnant for me. She could have destroyed our union."

"And, I am glad she did not." Isabella ducked her head and she quickly ran through some details in her mind. "Truthfully..." She resumed her talk. "Right now, all I want is to finally get to live a peaceful life with you. But now that Gabriel is..."

" Hey." Charles embraced her before her anxiety could crease her forehead. "It will all be fine, I promise."

"I really hope it will." Isabella could not help the tears that rolled in due to the jumbled feelings within her. "I might not even be able to give you a child. But you are-"

"Hasn't it been settled that we will try other means?" Charles cut short her statement. When she met his eyes, there was an unspoken message that soothed her over and over. "We will have a child, Isabella. And if we don't, that doesn't mean I will toss you away. You and I are meant to be together for a long, long time."

"I am glad you won't toss me away." As she wrapped her hands around him, Isabella closed her eyes and her silent sobs intensified.

"You are such a crybaby," Charles teased while their embrace became more and more passionate and assuring. "My crybaby." She sniffled before giving a reckless giggle. Then he said, " I promise you, Isabella. You will find that peace you are looking for right here with me."

Isabella, whose heart was fluttering hard, was about to give a response when the door flung open.

 The hugging duo darted their eyes toward the entrance and their sights landed on Augustus who was trying to catch his breath.

"Any news, Augustus?" Charles had impatience in his voice.

"Yes. There is news."

"Where is he?"

Finally calm, Augustus adjusted his stance and walked a few steps closer.

 "At the company's hangar," he replied.

Isabella looked up at Charles who frowned instantly and asked, "The one here in London?" When the man nodded, Charles's anger resurfaced and he said, "Let's get him. Is he still there?"

"Well...I think someone beat us to that."

" What do you mean?"

"Well... the thing is..." Augustus briefly looked at Isabella and that made her wonder what the matter was. Had Gabriel escaped? Or did he do something worse?

 Augustus replied to her growing questions as he said, "Gabriel is dead. He was burnt to death."