With no intention of slowing down his anger filled strides, Charles made for his mother's abode in the hotel. She had crossed the line finally and he wasn't going to let it slide. To make matters worse, he was not able to celebrate with Isabella properly, for finally winning the battle.

That was more reason to see his mother at that moment.


He finally made it to her room and took a deep breath to collect himself. Hardening his face after, he pushed the door hard and as his eyes scanned the room, he smiled.

With his father with them, the whole thing was going to play out amazingly.

"Charles, where are your manners? Have you lost your senses, you don't know how to knock anymore?" his mother quizzed, her brows furrowed. Charles could still sense the Isabella topic beneath her question but he said nothing yet. He just walked to chair and sat.


"Charles… is there something you wish to say?" His father caught up fast.

"I have a question for you… mother." Cold eyes met his mother's, he leaned in. "Did you ask Manifold to kill Rodrigo Ordinaz?" There really wasn't no beating around the bush.


"Wh- what are you saying?"

"Don't even pretend like you did last time, I won't buy it." Charles's eyes met his father's and he said, "I know about my biological father. And I just learnt she sent Manifold to get rid of him. Please ask her if it is true."

"Claire?" Christopher Oxford didn't look like he was surprised. Definitely his mother had told him everything. "Is that true?"

A short silence followed with her eyes darting here and there. After, she said, "What do you expect me to say?" Her voice carried a tone very unfamiliar to the two men. "I did tell him to do it."

Charles felt something drop unto his chest. "Why?"

"What do you mean by why? Isn't this all your fault? Of all women you could be with, you chose Isabella. Isabella Shade!"

"And what on earth is wrong with her?" Charles retorted, his face now wearing a frown.

"She is not fit for you. I am very sure she had a plan that brought her closer to you. People like her are very dangerous."

Charles face-palmmed himself and let out a low groan at the same time his father made ticking sounds with his tongue out of what Charles perceived to be pity.

Adjusting in his seat, not willing to lose his cool totally, he faced his mother squarely and said, "You are lucky you are my mother, or I would have called you names one shouldn't call even an actual animal. What is your problem? Why have you decided to ruin me?"

"Ruin you? I-"

His hand came up and cut her short to her dismay. "You have gotten it all wrong. Isabella never once approached me. Even years ago when we first met, I was the one that walked up to her." She wore a frown and stole a look at her husband who nodded slowly.

"Recently that we met again, I was the one who asked her to marry me. Because she is the one I want, she is the woman my heart draws to. But you… you have gone so blind, you have failed to see how wrong you are about a lot of things. You have gone as far as wanting to commit a murder.

Are you really the woman that gave birth to me?" Charles had a hint of sadness within his voice. Even his face wore a bit of the emotion. "And why do you hate Isabella so much? Why are you willing to throw her back to the monster she is trying to run from? Huh?"

Claire sighed and looked elsewhere. "I just don't think she is the one for-"

"And who are you to decide that?" His thick, commanding voice was back and it made her jolt a bit.

"Charles…" his father warned faintly.

"You know what… hate her all you want. All I know is, I won't let you hurt her, you'll have to go through me first."

"Charles…"

He got up and gave his mother one last look. "I am very disappointed in you mother, I really am." His words wound the room with tension and as he walked out of the room, it remained there.

~

"Is that Rodrigo…"

"Ordinaz," he completed for her as he helped her tie her shoe laces.

"Is he your real father?"

"Yes." Isabella just had to wear a big frown. That had her having so many questions.

But the most important was; "Why would your mother want him killed then?"

Her eyes followed Charles's shoulders as they tensed with his slow movement. "It beats me." Charles sat back beside her. With a serious look, he observed her face.

"What?"

"Why would my mother hate you? How could she want to hurt this little, cute girl?"

She could not help but smile. But she quickly hid it with a pout. "I am not a little girl."

Cupping her cheeks and having his eyes boring into hers, he said, "You are my little girl. And since your divorce papers will be signed soon, that fact will be stamped… forever."

Forever sounded nice no doubt. "I am so glad it is finally over."

"Same here. We should leave now, the visiting hours will be over soon and the papers need to be signed today

"Visiting hours?" she asked as she got up after him and held his hand.

"Yes, Gabriel is in prison."

She immediately felt like her face went pale. "Why?"

"Because he was once an accomplice for murder." Her legs felt weak. And with eyes slightly bulged in shock, she wondered, how she survived living with such a person.

To better put it, monster.