***ISABELLE AND ALEX
Isabelle knelt down beside Alex as the old man sat down in front of them, he looked quite displeased.
Isabelle couldn't help but remember when charlotte had first came, she had to kneel as well.
* Does this family have a thing for Kneeling?'.
Isabelle's legs were getting sore already but nobody said a thing. It was as if they were all doing a silence competition. Alex on the other hand was expressionless but he was having a staring contest with his grandfather and it seemed like it would continue forever.
'Alexander, you should kneel down right now!'
The person who spoke was older than Alex, old enough to be his father so Isabelle guessed it must be one of the old man's son.
The old man held his hand up to signal silence.
'Let it be Maxwell, as you can see, he is not able to walk so how can he kneel'.
The old man looked at Alex
'Am I right Alex? Or are you faking it?'.
Alex smirked, 'I guess you'll have to find out grandfather',
'Oh I will'.
'Can my wife get up now, she's in pain'.
Isabelle was so happy when she could finally sit but the strange thing was, nobody was sitting except Alex and the old man.
'You dared to get married without my consent Alexander'.
'You were going to force me to get married to someone that I don't love'.
*So that's why he married me, but what's the difference*
'Oh really, what about the one you are married to now, do you love her?'.
'Of course I do. We love each other'.
If Isabelle wasn't prepared for all this, she would've choked on her saliva.
The old man noticed saw that Isabelle did not say a thing since their arrival. He was impressed.
'Young lady, what's your name?'.
Isabelle slowly bowed as she spoke, 'my name is Rhea sir'.
'Ok. Listen Rhea, I want you to pack your bags and leave right away, I don't ever want to see you near my grandson ever again, I will give you anything you want in return'.
Isabelle was surprised but she remembered what Alex had told her,
*My grandfather is a surprising person, you should be ready for anything*
Isabelle slowly smiled, 'I'm sorry sir but I can't'.
'Why? I'll give you a lot of money'.
'I'm sorry sir, the only thing that can separate me from Alex is death, so unless you kill me sir, I won't leave him'.
Isabelle turned to look at Alex but he seemed angry and anxious as well.
*What's wrong with him*
'Hahahahaha! I knew it. From now onwards, call me grandfather'.
Isabelle smiled, 'Yes grandfather'.
The old man might seem nice right now, but Isabelle knew he was far from nice.
Isabelle gently hold Alex's hands to calm him down, the old man saw this and his expression turned gentle but it was very brief. So brief that nobody noticed it.
'You both will be shown your room but before that, let me do a brief introduction of the family to the new granddaughter in law.
I, Edward Smith, have only two daughters, Margaret and Jane'.
Isabelle wasn't surprised that the old man didn't mention Alex's father as one of his children. Charlotte had told her that the old man had disowned Alex's father, Ethan Smith, after he left home. The old man had also warned everyone including Alex not to ever talk about Alex's father.
'Margaret and her husband, Maxwell Smith, has two daughters as well, Zoe Smith and Nora smith. My other daughter Jane and her husband, has two sons, charles and Theo Smith'.
*Oh, so the one who spoke earlier was Margaret's husband*
Isabelle looked at Margaret who had been quiet this whole time but she had an imposing aura which made Isabelle frown.
*I don't like her*
The old man pointed to them all as he introduced them to Isabelle. Isabelle looked at them all carefully, they might not know her but she knew them very well. Charlotte has been sure to prepare her before their arrival so she knew who to trust amongst them all.
'Alright, nanny Bella will show you to your room. Alex, have you talked to your mother recently? Has Rhea met her mother in-law or is she still out there looking for that insolent boy?'.
'I don't know where she is grandfather'.
'Good. Anyone who disobey me by trying to look for that boy or even mention his name doesn't deserve to stay in his house, they don't even deserve to live!'.
Isabelle was shocked and almost gasped but Alex immediately held her hand.
They were immediately shown their room.
'What was that about?'. Isabelle asked Alex.
'You already know what the old man is capable of so this shouldn't come as a surprise to you'.
Isabelle sighed, she can't guarantee what will happen in the next few days.
'You didn't tell me the reason why you offered that contra....'.
Alex immediately covered Isabelle's mouth, then he whispered, 'this is the old man's turf Rhea, we can't be talking about this here'.
'Okay'.
'And yes, you did hear the reason earlier. We will talk about it some other time'.
Just like Alex had feared, someone was indeed eavesdropping on them, It was Margaret and her children, Zoe and Nora. They looked at each other when Alex and Isabelle stopped talking but Alex could already tell that someone was at the door.
'Are you done eavesdropping? If you're done then leave'.
The mother and daughters seeing that they have been caught, smiled awkwardly, 'We're just here to show the daughter in-law around and tell her the few rules of this house'.
Alex scoffed, 'rules? Is this a castle or what?'.
'No dear, it's just you know.....a normal thing'. Margaret smiled at Alex even though it was quite visible that it's a fake smile'.
'It's okay Alex, I'll go with her'.
'Alright, be careful'.
Margaret smiled and whispered to her daughters, 'She's good but we'll show her where her rightful place is'.
Isabelle followed them as they showed her around.
'First, let me tell you about the rules of this house. The first rule is, when an elder of this house is talking, you should never talk back'.
'But uhm.....
'You're breaking it Rhea, my mom is older than you so you can't object to whatever she is saying'.
It was Nora who spoke while Zoe looked at Isabelle with disgust in her eyes.
'The second rule is, Rhea, the garden I showed you earlier belongs to my mom, your grandmother in-law but she passed away. You must never enter that garden no matter what happens, father hates it when random people just enters the garden. The third rule is, Rhea, as a grand daughter in-law of the Smiths, you are not allowed to work'.
'Mom is right, we can't have you working for just anybody and then disgracing our family'.
Isabelle finally had enough and just as she was about to respond, someone else did, 'you guys should stop being so authoritative'.
It was Jane and Isabelle breathed a sigh of relief.
'What do you want Jane, I am just making the daughter in-law understand the rules of this house'.
'Well nobody asked you to, so knock it off. Come on Rhea, let's go'.
'Thank you ma'am but please can I say something?'.
'Sure my dear, go on'.
'Mrs Margaret, I understand the rule about going to that garden or talking back at the elders but about me sitting down at home and doing nothing is impossible. I have to work and nobody is going to stop me, I'm my husband secretary and nobody can stop me from working, I'm sorry but I'll have to break this rule'.
'What? You're Alex's secretary? What about Emily? Did you make Alex fire her so that you can take over'.
'What? Who's Emily?'.
'Oh don't pretend that you don't know who I'm talking about. Emily is the girl father arranged for Alex before he married you without our consent or knowledge. She was Alex's secretary and she loved Alex but unfortunately you came in between them'.
*Could it be...that room...no, that's a different matter. Emily is someone else*
'Why so quiet? Don't yo know about this?'.