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

"Are you certain about that?" the woman asked, almost without emotion.

"Yes. I caught her right in his arms. She was..." He sighed and let his head hang.

"Okay. In Mrs. Manifold's statement, she was married off to you by her father to pay back the debts he owed your family. What do you have to say about that?"

Gabriel gave a bitter-like chuckle. "I don't know how Isabella has refused to see how much I love her. True, her father owed us money, but he paid off his debt before I married Isabella."

Isabella found her arms dropping off the chair's arms. Luckily Richard caught her before she could slump carelessly.

"Mrs. Manifold married you of her own will?"

"Yes." That instant, of her own will, Isabella wished to strangle the lying bastard.

"I remember her clearly saying yes to marrying me when her father introduced us finally. I was so elated that day because I have always loved her. Ask her, before she started exhibiting different traits that do not define her in good light, we lived together in love and understanding."

Isabella felt her lips quiver as a different version of anger befell her.

"Did your marriage produce any child?"

"No. But I didn't hold that against her. Not once."

Every moment he pestered her for a son flashed through Isabella's mind and she gripped the chair.

Gabriel continued, "I don't know why Isabella wants this, but she needs to know she is the only one for me. I can't live without her. So she should not let that man come between us. I will forgive her for being with him. Just... as..." He pinched his eyes and made a sound to indicate he didn't want to go on.

"Very well then." The Judge looked at the watch on her hand. "Going by the few minutes allocated to this hearing, we still have some more time. So, Mrs. Manifold, would you like to say something?"

Isabella gripped the chair harder. Was that what Mr. Richard meant when he said to prepare herself?

So, Gabriel was going to make himself look like a saint. He just had to make her look like the devil.

"Mrs. Manifold?" Mr. Richard nudged Isabella who jolted. "Are you with us?"

"Y-yes, your Honour."

"Before we adjourn this hearing, would you like to say anything?"

"No, your Honour." The woman gave her a pressing look. "All I have to say is in my statement."

"Well, this hearing is adjourned till the 27th of July. Let both sides make preparations to present their witnesses before then. That will be all."

"Isabella?" Mr. Richard called as she abruptly got up after the Judge left the room, but she ignored him.

All she wanted to do at that moment was to find somewhere quiet. Somewhere where she would be for a while without anyone disturbing her.

"Bella?" Charles's firm hands stopped her and as her eyes met his, the tears that kept pinching her throat instantly blurred her sight