As he closed the laptop in front of him after a two hour meeting with some folks who had ideas to improve things in one of his many acquired companies, Charles caught a glimpse of the silver band on his left hand.

It was still like a dream that he was finally married to the one woman who occupied his mind ever since he first met her during his company's annual boat cruise. As a lucky winner of one of the few tickets given out that period, she seemed like she was making good use of the sea view to relax herself.


Without knowing her personally, he could tell she was a quiet person. But she wasn't when he walked up to her. Perhaps it was caused by the effect he had on ladies, he wasn't sure. But Charles thanked whatever made Isabella not so withdrawn when he came up to her.

Within a short period of time, they had gotten closer and Charles could not stop wondering what she would feel like naked in his arms. Apparently, she felt the same way and she did not mind him being the first man inside her.

Charles, who never forgot that fact, smiled. Then, he went back in time again.


After three weeks, the cruise had ended but their story had just started. While she worked in a small company as a temp while she searched for a much more reliable job, he was ensuring his father's wealth increased and at the same time, he worked for himself in order to be independent of his father.

But time and distance never stopped them. When he could, Charles would travel to where she was and within small, yet precious time, they would have had lots of laughter over ordered meals and wine. After, they always ended up in her little bed.


Charles never ceased to wonder how the bed never broke.

That routine was repeated for about five or six months until Isabella changed the timetable. This time, she was the one that came to him and three days after her visit, he asked her to marry him.

Isabella was much more eager than him about the wedding after she accepted his proposal. She almost successfully changed his mind about having a simple, quiet joining at the cathedral not so far from his abode. After she gave in to his cathedral plan though grudgingly, all that was left was the d-day's arrival.

Nervous to his bones, Charles had arrived at the venue, but little did he know that he would be standing and waiting for a really long time. And little did he know that the wedding night they had both envisioned jokingly would never happen…

Something dropped beside Charles and the flashback ended. As he sighed and picked the pen on the floor, he realized he was yet to see that sparkle Isabella used to have.

Well, he had very good plans to restore it.

Gathering his materials, he soon walked out of the room.

Charles knew he couldn't kid himself. His plans to starve Bella of his intense touch was beginning to affect him. The state in which they slept the previous night didn't help matters at all.

But that didn't mean he wouldn't pay her back for leaving him. It was only a matter of time, he would soon have her screaming his name as he holds her still with him inside her. She was going to experience being with a man in a much more different way and when he's done, she'll barely have the strength to even walk away from him talk less run.

Charles felt his body twitch as an image flashed through his head. A small groan followed as his eyes struggled to stay open. There was no doubt, he will be as affected as her by his future plans.

But till then… he was going to have fun starving her of even his mere touch.

After few minutes, as Charles was approaching the entrance to his room, he noticed Isabella dragging along, a distant look on her face. Wondering what could be on her mind that she didn't notice him, he called out to her with his deep voice.

"Charles," she mouthed from where she was and a small smile followed. He could tell it was fake.

"What is wrong?" he asked as he walked towards her.

"Gabriel…" Charles instantly felt anger rise within him. "He called me." But he had to soothe his woman first, so he pushed the urge to strangle the man aside. Her eyes looking smaller in a weird way, she looked up into his eyes. "He is coming for me."

"No, he is not," Charles strongly said.

"He said it." Isabella threw her hands into the air tiredly. "He said he is watching me, he said he will be back for me." Charles could smell fear all over her and he hated Manifold the more. Manifold definitely did things that broke his woman.

"Bella," he called and pulled her into his chest. As her hands went around him, he combed through her hair gently. "Gabriel won't be coming for you. I won't let him."

"But-"

Charles hugged her tighter. "He won't lay a hand on you, I promise you."

"But he'd want to hurt you." Distress took over her face as she looked up at him. "I don't want you to get hurt. Not because of me."

"He dares not." Confidence and assurance oozed off his reply and Charles decided it was time to change the topic. "Isabella?"

"Yes?"

"Remember how you never stopped wondering what it would be like to live in my house back in London?" A much more genuine smile that made Charles's heart dance came upon her face as she nodded. "How about we make use of this second chance we have gotten and make a quick trip there?"

She wore a thoughtful look for a second before asking, "Do I get to wear those fluffy pajamas?"

He could totally see her in the outfit that had cartoon characters all over it and he knew instantly, his plans were going to fall through. "Yes, they are still available for use."

"Do I get to be in your arms all day too?"

His eyes darkened. She was tempting him. "We'll see about that baby girl."

Isabella wore a bigger smile and she properly rested in his hold, saying, "I am glad." , while in contrast, his mind had begun to move to and fro. It was only a miracle he didn't have her against the wall seconds later.