A day before their meeting time Hannah got a call from Isabel again.
"Hannah,I'm so so sorry,but I'm going to have to cancel our plans.Something came up with work,unfortunately.So,so sorry!I'm definitely gonna make it up to you next time!I promise!"
"Isa,you promised it was gonna be a girls trip!"Hannah whined on the other side.She had lost a good shopping opportunity.
"It isn't really on my hands.I don't like sitting on a chair,listening to boring chats either."
"Fine,fine.I understand.You'll definitely make it up next time,okay?"
"When have I ever not given people what they deserve?"
"Okay,okay.Talk to you,later.Bye,bye!"Hannah didn't detect the strangeness the words carried and ended the call normally.
"Bye!"Isabel waited for the call do end and murmered gloomly."F****** b****!"
After awhile she got a call from Gael.
"Hello!"
"'Sup!How have you been?"
"What do you think?"
"You're right same,like a cheated partner should feel."
"You're way worse,though.You have to stand seeing her face everyday and sleeping next to her everynight."
"I've also been drowning myself with work just to avoid her.I never thought I would hate free time so much.Anyway,how has your side been?"
After a general conversation of work happened,Gael finally asked the most important question.
"Will she take the bait?"
"How could those two miss this golden chance?The main thing is,is your side ready?"
"They've been following her,but not too closely to avoid suspision.And according to the private investigators reports I've been able to pinpoint a few possible destinations they might meet.Did you know that your husband has a lot of properties that he keeps hidden from you?"
"Oh,and did you know a few of them are actually under your wifes name?"
"….How did you know?"
"You emailed the list to me last night,you idiot."
"….Oh…"Gael sighed and tiredly said "Sorry!I've been out of it lately."
"….Don't worry.It's not your fault anyway."Isabels voice softened. "We were just unlucky."
….
Another call was also happening at the same time with Hannah and James.
"James,I'm free for the next 5 days.How about a little fun time together for a few days?"
"Since when were you free?And isn't you husband in town these days?"
"Hah,why do you even have to mention him?Isabel probably has told you about our plans,suddenly something came up on her side and they were canceled,but how can my plans get canceled if Gael doesn't know?"
"Hannah,I know we haven't been caught for years,but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be more careful.Your husband might get suspisious."
"Gael adores me and would never doubt me,your legal b**** is out of town,who should we fear?"
"Right you got that little boy wrapped around your finger." He thought for a while and finally agreed."Okay,let's go to the villa in L city these days."
…
Isabel was guiding a few cleaning workers in the mansion.She had gotten the best she could find and the interior would be finished soon. 'La vecchia signora' would be habitable in two days,but the garden still had a lot of work.During this time she had also personally checked the places where the wine was made and checked the old records her grandfather had left behind.
Recovering the glory of Ricci family would've been way longer and harder if her grandfather hadn't left so many guides,plans and records behind.Maybe he had guessed that one day she would finally finish what he had started.Isabel was slightly thankful to James for reminding her of what she had and who she really was.She had never been just the wife of James Brown,a shadow whose name doesn't even deserve being known.She had always been Isabel Ricci,the only remaining heir of the Ricci family,a name more powerful than James Brown.Not only had she forgotten her identity,but James had also forgotten his,he forgot that at the beginning he had been Isabel Riccis boyfriend,his name unknown or said with a sneer.
Isabel went to the big rose bush.She fogly remembered planting this rose here together with her mother and grandmother.Though it had grown irregularly,the red roses had bloomed beautifuly.Even without getting closer to smell the roses,their fresh sent could be felt from affar.This rose wasn't just any simple rose.Her grandmothers maiden family had a passion for gardening,including her grandmother.This rose plant was a very old one that they had been wellkept for generations.Her grandmother would always come with a bunch of roses on her hands after visiting her brothers family.Isabel once took one of her roses and always kept it with her,even while she slept until it wilted.Seeing this her grandmother one day came with a branch and taught her the process to planted.She had patiently answered 4 year old Isabels 1000 whys and even kissed her cheeks covered with dirt after finishing the process.
She turned to the workers and said in italian.
"(Please keep this rose.I want to grow it like a tree.)"