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

Twenty Three

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."

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