Blackmailing His Runaway Bride by Dance-is-me (free biff chip and kipper ebooks .txt) 📕

It was happening all over again.

It was exactly how things went years ago. 

He had waited for her so much that a minute late turned into thirty minutes. Then, an hour turned into two before the officiating priest got tired of waiting. 

As his paces felt heavier, Charles didn’t know what to feel at first.                                                     

Anger? Hatred? Disappointment? Sadness? 

Isabella, like that dreadful day, was already thirty minutes late and the officiating Judge couldn’t bear to be extremely delayed. Charles then wondered if she had made that promise out of pity when in fact she must have had some plan to run away tucked away in her head. 

As he walked out of the elevator, he felt his whole body shake. Resisting the urge to clench the sides of his head, Charles rushed air out of his mouth, trying as much as possible to keep himself calm.

Despite the growing fright within him, a ray of positivity appeared. A voice in the back of his head assured him that Isabella would show up.

 But if she didn't… Charles knew damn well he won’t ever forgive her. 

Walking past the numerous people that filled the lobby, Charles stared past the grand, glass doors of the high-rise building which housed a courtroom among other things. Still trying to keep calm, his sharp sight caught a glimpse of a woman crossing from the other side. With an extended gaze, he realized how easy it was to mistake the woman for Isabella.

The black hair and face glow wasn’t the look he had gotten used to seeing for the past weeks.

Something sank within Charles as he realized again that time was running fast and without a pause. Resisting the urge to yank off the top buttons of the shirt he had purposely bought for the occasion, he walked out of the doors. 

Just when he looked toward the left to check if Isabella was in sight, he heard heavy panting behind him.

 “Charles…” His heart skipped. It was Isabella's voice no doubt. 

But as he turned… he was bewildered by the transformed woman in front of him. The woman crossing the busy road earlier was his beloved Isabella. 

“I am so sorry I am late." Beyond the plead in her beautiful eyes, Charles noted that the sorrow that used to follow was nowhere to be found. The woman was all smiles after she was able to calm her racing heart.

Not tearing her eyes off his, Isabella stood straighter and the white gown she wore caught his attention.

Still failing to utter a word, Charles raked his eyes through her body, noting how the simple dress hugged her body right. The dress did not only give details to the curves of her body, but it also displayed her fine legs which appeared longer. The black heel sandals she matched with her dress did a great job of beautifying her legs. 

 Charles's attention soon fell on her lips which were moving. Though he didn't hear a word, he watched her as she talked. Just staring at those lips of hers made Charles want to kiss her there and then. And those dazzling eyes of hers, he wished to stare at them all day while sweeping away the bangs that rested on her forehead. 

“Charles…” She pulled at his arm and he did not miss the lavender scent she gave off. Still deep into the process of appreciating her beauty, his eyes closed for a moment and he smiled. "Shall we go in?" Isabella asked.

Then, it occurred to Charles that his fears had been quenched. Isabella came. She didn't run away as he thought she did.

Without thinking twice, he pulled her into a hug. 

“Charles?” 

“You came," he said quietly.

 “Of course,” she replied. “I promised you, didn't I?”

That was all Charles needed to hear and he was soon walking her to the courtroom, his entire being yearning for her.

~ 

“… by the power vested in me by the law, I pronounce you, man and wife.” Isabella could not control the smile on her lips as the judge said those words. 

She was finally with the man she loved and there were no obstacles like there were years ago. 

“Well,” the fairly aged Judge wore a knowing grin as his eyes darted between them. “You know what to do.” 

Charles did not give Isabella a chance to prepare herself. He pulled at her arm gently and smashed his lips on hers hungrily. In response, her hands went around his neck and they soon found the softness of his hair. 

And, using the fiery kiss, Isabella thanked Charles for being the man for her. And, she apologized for hurting him. 

And, the man replied to her without haste, his arms pushing her toward him. 

A hearty laugh distracted the lip lock. The old man in front of them turned to the clerk with him and said, “This is why I love weddings.” 

After throwing a grand smile at the Judge, the newly wedded couple looked at each other, their eyes showing how much love they felt.

“You need to meet my father,” Charles said as he held Isabella's hand.

 Mr. Richard and a man who she didn’t know had come to witness their impromptu union, so after hearing Charles's statement, Isabella knew that the other man was Charles's father.

Soon, after Mr. Ricahrd congratulated the couple, the older Oxford wore a grin. Hands folded behind him, he said, “Isabella, we finally meet. You are as beautiful as Charles says.” 

“Thank you very much, sir. I am glad to meet you.” She leaned into the hug he initiated and she was instantly reminded of a father’s embrace. Her heart clenched as memories of her father flashed in her mind.

As Charles's father broke the embrace, he said, “I know it spoils the celebratory mood and I apologize. But I want to say that I am sorry for how reckless Charles’s mother has been.” 

“It is alright sir. I guess she was just being a mother.” 

“Charles…" The father faced his son, patting his back with eagerness. "Make sure nothing happens to her, okay?"