Charles was beyond baffled.

That his mother would go even as far as that surprised him really. But then, she attempted to get rid of his father, should he really be so shocked?


"Charles..." Isabella softly called him and he felt so guilty. He felt terrible that Isabella suffered a bruise on her heart when Daphne showed up at their door. The woman's presence took her back to a time she was pregnant with his child, the time she suffered a loss. And it was his fault. His mother just had to be the crazy type.

Not wanting her to see how guilty he felt, he faced the other side of the room and heaved a deep sigh. Truthfully a part of him was relieved. Relieved that he wasn't the father to Daphne's unborn child. That could have messed up everything.

"Charles talk to me." His wife's hands went around his waist and her head rested gently against his firm back and he shook once again with guilt.


His head hung, he whispered, "What could I possibly say Bella? Because of my mother..."

She shifted her hands and hugged him more. "We don't have to talk about that. We can talk about something else. Going to meet your real father is something we can discuss, right?"


"No Isabella." Charles dropped her hands and faced her. Cupping his cheeks gently, he could not help but admire how beautiful she looked at that moment without trying hard. It elated him more that he would get to spend a long time, if not eternity with her. "We should talk about it now. I want to know how you feel."

Isabella gave a light shrug before wrapping her arms around her. "I really don't know Charles. What I know is, I don't wish to talk about that now. I just want to focus on being happy after a long time. I- I really don't think I can entertain thoughts about someone who wished to harm me. I did it in the past and I didn't like what can after at all."

Charles could tell she was hurt in a way. But he was going to respect her decision and help her feel even happier. "Do you think I should go see my father?" he asked, his thumbs now running through her skin.

"Do you still wish to meet him?"

"I asked you a question first," Charles pushed and she raised her shoulders slightly again.

"I really can't decide whether you should do it or not.

"I want you to."

" Charles-"

"Just decide Isabella. That's what I need you to do right now." Charles was actually trying to get rid of the memory where his mother didn't object to him seeing his real father. He wanted to replace it with a better one.

"Uh..." Her hands reached out for his biceps which kept poking out of the arm of the simple tee shirt he had on. "I think, you should see your father. But be careful at the same time, you don't really know him. For your mother to wish you kill him, he must be someone with not so good intentions."

"You think he might be bad?"

She sighed. " I think he might not be what you expect."

Charles smiled. " I don't expect much actually." He hadn't been wanting to see his father because he wanted to bond with him. He only wished to see his face just for once so he wouldn't feel like a bastard anymore.

Isabella stood on her toes and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek before saying, "Just be careful."

"You do know that you are coming with me, right?" His accent dropped thickly and she relaxed her stand and stared at him, her eyes looking like a doe's.

"I am?" Charles found his lips tugging, trying to fight a smile. She looked so gorgeous and innocent at the same time, it made his blood rush.

"Yes, I need you to be by my side." Within a second, he had her chest against his. "Not just when I meet my father, for as long as possible."

She then wore a smile that made his heart jump. Charles could not help but wonder once more how it happened that he became so much in love with the woman who was looking up at him with some kind of assurance within her eyes.

"No matter what happens Charles, I will make sure I never leave you."

"Good " His hands went to the base of her buttocks and soon she was straddling him, a small giggle escaping her as she held on to him for support. "Let's make sure of that."

"How?" He could read the these in her eyes and he chased it away with a fierce kiss. When the kiss broke, she was then wearing a hungry look and soon, she was kissing him back and that way, they rolled towards the bedroom, neither willing to take a break from touching each other.

~

Three days later, Charles and Isabella arrived in California and soon, they were specifically headed for his father's house tucked somewhere in San Francisco. Augustus who was their driver had informed them of the situation in his father's house.

And the situation... well, Isabella found it absolutely worrying. The amount of security Augustus had reported was the kind rumoured to exist in the White House and that made her wonder what kind of man Rodrigo Ordinaz was. He sounded powerful alright, but Isabella could not help but feel that there was more.

As the pine trees decorating both sides of the road they were touring past became nothing but blurry images, Isabella felt Charles shift beside her and she looked his way. His eyes looking out the window, he had his fist clenched and Isabella could tell how much the meeting meant to him.

The Charles she knew was the most confident when it came to meetings and what have you. To see him a bit shaken before a meeting was rare. But then, she could somehow relate. Of course, if she were in his shoes, she would totally want to meet her real father and she wouldn't feel so calm about it.

Her mind then went to her father with whom she was disgusted and angry at. Isabella could not think of a valid reason for her father's actions. Sleeping with underage girls? How nauseating!

If he were alive, she would have not hesitated to show her disappointment to the man who she once loved and respected. She had admired him to the point that she was willing to get married for his so called debts. The debts he wasn't owing.

Isabella scoffed. What a joke. Her life was a joke.

"Are you okay love?" Charles's thick voice brought her out of her enraging thoughts.

Smiling softly, she faced him and intertwined their hands. "I should be asking you that. You have been quiet for so long."

His large hand reached for her hair and he played with a strand or two before planting a body relieving kiss on her forehead. "I am fine."

"Good." For some reason, as her smile retained, she wanted to tell him that she loved him. Honestly, it was a statement she wanted to keep saying till she fully believes that she is really with the man she loves. The past days had been like a dream to her and she could not help but fear that the end of what she had been enjoying was near.

"I asked if you are okay?" Charles said, piercing her thoughts.

Isabella then found herself exhaling hard. Licking her lower lip after, she could not help but reach for the side of his face. "Charles..." He reached for her wrist and kissed it. "I love you Charles."

"I know baby." He wore a cocky smile after and Isabella just chuckled softly.

"We have arrived," Augustus serious voice announced and Isabella sensed how stiff Charles became.

"Okay Augustus. Bella?" Charles held out his hand and she grabbed it, following him out of the jeep after. When her sight fell on the structure ahead, her breath seized. She realized then why Ordinaz's security was so extra.

Isabella didn't have much chance to the study the mansion ahead as a coarse voice screamed welcome from a distance. As Charles, with a sense of protection, pulled her closer to his side, he said, "That should be him."

The man who was accompanied by six suited men who looked like they would be carrying weapons, approached the duo with a large grin, his hands occasionally running through the sides of his gelled hair which he styled exquisitely. Having an unforgettable stature which he carried with an unusual gait, the man definitely looked like he was spending his money well.

When he finally arrived in front of Charles and Isabella he let out a low chuckle while his eyes scanned the two. "Wow." His voice was thick but still coarse. "It is so good to see my son." Isabella looked up at Charles. His jaws were clenched. "I really can't believe he is here."

Isabella could read a kind of slyness in his eyes but she hoped she was just imagining it. As her eyes went on to study the man, he said, "Isabella."

Her eyes snapped towards the stout man. "You know who I am?" she asked carefully.

"Of course. I have been watching you." His light brown irises darted towards Charles. " Just like I have been watching him."

"Excuse me?" Charles narrowed his mesmerizing eyes at the man.

The man smiled. "I was planning to say this later but guess I'll have to come clean now."

"Come clean about what?" Charles asked.

"The thing is..." The man made a clicking sound with his mouth. " I orchestrated your meeting."

Charles and Isabella shared a confused look before Charles asked again, "How do you mean?"

"Hmm... Let's just say, I am the reason both of you met each other again."