Chapter 9 - 9

"I can't believe they said no" William said, sighing, for the umpteenth time

Benjamin rolled his eyes again

"A good wake up call, wasn't it dad?" Benjamin asked sarcastically

"Cut the sarcasm Ben"

"It was expected" Elizabeth said

"I actually liked them" William said and Benjamin raised an eyebrow at that

William Lockwood is a man pretty hard to please. To know that he liked the family after a half an hour visit is quite surprising.

"What? Don't look at me like that. I'm actually a pretty good judge of character. And they all seem very humble and honest people."

"Well. It was not meant to be" Elizabeth said

"The girl is really very pretty. She would have looked perfect with Ben" William said wistfully

Benjamin closed his eyes and leaned back on the couch with a sigh

The picture his father just painted is actually quiet beautiful.

He knows he is a good looking man. He had been told that many times. And Isabella is a very beautiful girl.

He was too busy with the court case and Sapphire that he didn't pay much attention to anything else.

An image of Isabella at her home formed in his head.

She was wearing a simple skirt and top and she looked absolutely gorgeous in it.

What would it feel touching her?

Kissing her?

Benjamin opened his eyes and sat straight on the couch

Damn it!!

What the hell is he thinking??

That too about Isabella ?

Her parents just rejected him and he is fantasizing about her.

"Ben?" Elizabeth called seeing the frown on Benjamin's face

"Yes Mom"

"You okay?"

"Yeah. I just.. I will take some rest. Can you look after Sapphire for a while mom."

"Ofcourse. I know you have had time for nothing else ever since we got her. I'm sorry Ben, for leaving you to deal with it alone" Elizabeth said apologetically.

"Mom! It's no problem. She is my niece. Actually she is my daughter now."

"Hope everything goes well. We will have to somehow convince Mrs Fort" Elizabeth said

"Don't worry mom. Everything will be alright. We will fight for her. She's ours" Benjamin said and left to his room

"He seems disappointed" William pointed out

"Do you think he had feelings for Isabella?" Elizabeth asked

"I don't know. He has hardly known her for a week. Maybe he had a little crush. Who wouldn't? She is outrageously pretty" William said

"He will get over it then"

****

A week passed by without much happenings.

The Carter house was coming back to normal.

Rosetta Carter had loosened her reign on her daughter and is now letting her out of the house.

Alessandro Carteris still job hunting

"Izzy. Are you ready?" Rosetta called out for her daughter who was getting ready for the mandir.

Rosetta had arranged for a special prayer at the church for Isabella's future happiness. Main intention being ,bribing the christ to sent an eligible groom for her.

"Yes momma. Let's go" Isabella came out wearing a white dress, reaching just below her knees

Her hair was left unbound. Her hands adorned with matching white and golden bracelet. A pair of diamond on her ears added a graceful look to her.

"Aww. How pretty" Rosetta said warding off evil eyes from her daughter.

Isabella grinned at that.

"Let's go momma"

As they reached the church near their house, they could feel everyone's eyes on them

"Why are they looking at us like that?" Rosetta asked

"Maybe because I look pretty" Isabella said cheekily

Rosetta rolled her eyes and dragged her to offer their prayers to St Raphael, an Italian tradition performed by conservative people

One way to help prepare your heart and the heart of your future spouse is to pray this prayer to St. Raphael the Archangel.

Raphael is found in the Book of Tobit, where he helps two young lovers overcome the many obstacles to their marriage and unite in a prayerful union of souls.

"Izzy. Close your eyes and pray well" Rosetta said

"Well well! Seems like beauty queen isn't getting any good proposals?" Came a taunting voice cutting into the prayer they were about to do.

Isabella and Rosetta looked up to see Sofia Rossi staring at them with an evil look.

"Sofia" Rosetta acknowledged the lady's presence.

"Do you think this prayer will work?" The lady taunted

"What is it that you want Sofia?"

"Oh nothing. I was just wondering who will marry a girl who spent a night with another man"

Rosetta gasped at the outrageous comment

"What rubbish are you talking?"

"Oh. Everyone knows Rosetta. What is the point of hiding now"

"Mind your tongue Sofia" Rosetta warned.

Isabella felt her eyes tearing up at the accusations against her character. A small crowd was forming around them ,all looking at her and whispering towards each other.

"My son had a lucky escape" Sofia said

Sofia had been holding this grudge against the Carters for nearly a year now. Ever since her son Antonio came home with a black eye and a bleeding nose.

All because he gave a love letter to Isabella . Alessandro had not spared a moment before bashing her son.

And now she got an opportunity for revenge and she is not going to stop.

***

Reynolds,the new Lockwood household driver stopped the car in front of the Italian church.

Elizabeth peered out of the windows and frowned

"This is not the church I asked you to take us Reynolds "

"Mom? Does it matter. The Lord is same no matter which temple it is" Benjamin said

Elizabeth nodded and got out of the car along with Benjamin .

"Mom. Get it done fast okay. We need to get back home before Sapphire wakes up"

As they reached up the church, they saw a crowd gathered near the big banyan tree.

"What's happening there?" Elizabeth asked

"Don't know" Benjamin mumbled and then his eyes widened seeing a teary Isabella at the centre

"Bella?"

"What?" Elizabeth asked

"Its Isabella over there"

"Come ,let's go see what it is" Elizabeth said and they walked towards the crowd.

"Sofia! That's enough. You are talking rubbish" he heard Isabella 's mothers angry voice

"She had an affair with the boss. And when he got tired of her, he fired her. He even fired Alessandro." Another lady said with an evil smile.

Benjamin's eyes widened in horror realising what's happening

"Ben" Elizabeth whispered

"What upbringing have you given to your daughter that she behave so immoral. And she has the nerve to come into the church." The lady said scornfully

"That's enough" Benjamin roared startling all the people.

He walked towards the mother daughter duo along with Elizabeth .

"Bella?" Benjamin called her gently

Isabella looked at him through her tearful eyes and Benjamin felt his heart skip a beat at that moment.

At that moment, he wanted to hide her away from all the bad things in the world

"Now who is this? Another of your lover?" Sofia asked

"Not another word" Benjamin said staring at the woman coldly

"Who are you to say that?"

"Benjamin Lockwood"

The lady's eyes widened in surprise

"You are that man?"

"Isabella's fiance" he said much to everyone's surprise

The lady scoffed.

"Trying to protect your lover? I thought you fired her because she was being a nuisance for you?"

"Nobody fired her. She resigned because she wanted to prepare for our wedding"

"You think I would believe this rubbish. You, the heir of a billion dollar company wants to marry this girl?"

Benjamin held Isabella 's hand in his and dragged her towards the church.

"Benjamin? What are you doing?" Isabella asked

"Righting the wrong I did to you Isabella"

Elizabeth and Rosetta hurried behind a furious Benjamin

"What are you doing?" Rosetta asked horrified

"I'm sorry Mrs Carter. All this is my fault and it is my responsibility to protect Isabella's reputation now" Benjamin said as he stopped in front of the priest who was staring at them open mouthed

"Father. We are getting married. Please do the needful" Benjamin said as he took off his birth mother's ring from the chain he was wearing. He had always worn it around his neck to feel her presence with him. What better ring to make Isabella wear on their wedding.

Father, who heard the ill comments on Isabella looked at an anguished Rosetta and nodded

Isabella stared at Benjamin in astonishment

"Isabella . I ,Benjamin Lockwood,in the presence of Lord Jesus, your mother and mine, promise you that I will always protect you, keep you safe and happy, until my last breath" Benjamin said as he made Isabella wear the diamond studded ring. The priest chanted the necessary prayers and declared them married.

Benjamin turned to look at Sofia.

"We are married now. And she is my wife. Now she is not Isabella Carter. She is Isabella Benjamin Lockwood. Benjamin Singh Lockwood's wife. Lockwood family's only daughter in law.. And I will not hear a single word against my wife." Benjamin said coldly