20 Twenty

Isabella sighed.

But no, she wasn't shocked.

At the back of her mind, she always deduced that Charles wanted to marry her for a reason that wasn't just love.

Definitely, the first thing that came to his mind when he saw her wasn't; Oh, I am going to marry her.

"Isabella?" She looked up at his worried eyes. "I can explain."

Shrugging lightly, she said, "You don't have to."

"I-"

She had her seat. "Charles, it is fine. You don't have to explain anything. How do I put this?" she asked as her eyes trained forward thoughtfully. Then, suddenly, she clicked her fingers. "Let's just say we are using each other."

"What? How do you mean?" Charles finally sat opposite her.

"I am getting married to you for protection from my ravaging ex-husband and you are doing it for your real father." She nodded slowly as her eyes met his focused ones. "That's how it is."