Chapter 12 I Don't Belong to This Family

"What do you think you're doing with my granddaughter, Mr. Maxim Collins?"

The couple separated with a start. Isabella took advantage and quickly hurried to tie her robe, covering herself completely.

"With”" With his granddaughter...? Maximus turned around in amazement, finding himself in front of Margaret Sinclair.

There was a moment of silence and disbelief.

Margaret looked at Maximo with severity and suspicion, while he slid his gaze between Isabella and the woman. While the young woman remained static, with her mouth open.

"That's right, Mr. Collins, my granddaughter”" Margaret approached with a grimace of disgust. "I came because the crew members informed me that there was an incident with my granddaughters... And I find this...?" Can you explain it to me?

"Mrs. Sinclair, I think there must be a mistake here..." Máximo finally answered, with great confidence. “Valeria is not here... She's...

"Are you telling me that I can't recognize my own family?" Margaret interrupted him, crossing her arms, with that air of superiority.

"No, ma'am, but..." Máximo tried to explain, taking a step forward. Margaret did not let him continue.

"Mr. Collins, I think you're the wrong one here”" Margaret said. Máximo clenched his jaw when he heard that statement. "She's my granddaughter, Isabella Sinclair, only daughter of my firstborn and late son, Albert Sinclair..." Margaret said, pointing to Isabella and showing a lot of confidence. Máximo looked at Isabella, with a mixture of confusion and surprise. "Now, you haven't answered my question, Mr. Collins, and I'm very, very impatient... What the are you doing to my granddaughter?"

"No... We didn't do anything... "Madam, I..." Isabella stammered suddenly, snapping out of her shock, and jumping out of bed.

"Don't interrupt me, Isabella, I'm asking Mr. Collins the question. Margaret replied in a loud commanding voice.

The woman showed that icy and rough air that Isabella remembered of her grandmother in their only meeting during the girl's childhood, at her father's funeral; Margaret gave off a vibe that still gave the young woman some fear, so she could only nod and shut up.

"I was checking a wound, Mrs. Sinclair. Maximus blurted out, frowning and very confidently, without any hesitation, so that the woman knew that he was telling the truth, at least to a certain extent.

"A wound?" Margaret turned to Isabella, worried. - What did Valeria do to you?

"No..." Máximo intervened again. "It wasn't Valeria, it was me.

"What?" The woman frowned, perplexed.

"I met your granddaughter the morning before arriving at the cruise ship and unintentionally, I ran her over...

Máximo explained to Margaret, still watching Isabella out of the corner of his eye, who lowered her eyes and clenched her fists at his sides, as if hearing that story made him feel bad.

"What?!" You ran over my granddaughter?! "Margaret's impression was one of horror.

"Yes, it was an accident, my driver didn't see her and unintentionally hit her, when we got out of the car her granddaughter was in front, standing..." Máximo explained very seriously. - She told me she was fine; she didn't want to go to the hospital and left... I didn't know who she was, how could I know when she was dressed like a”, a homeless woman.

"Is that true, Isabella?" Margaret asked, dismayed, looking at the young woman who had her eyes down.

"Yes, I didn't have many clothes and..."

"No... Not that you dressed like a homeless woman, but that this man ran you over and didn't he take responsibility?

"Mrs. Sinclair..." Maximo got upset and went to refute the lady's comment, however, Margaret ignored him and focused all her attention on her granddaughter.

"Isabella, let me see..." Margaret ordered frowning.

The young woman turned slightly, nervously, and lifting one side of her robe, showed him the bruise on her leg.

"Yes, ma'am, he ran me over... But it was my fault... I passed by without looking... I told him it was fine... It was a small blow..." Isabella began to explain, trembling, under the watchful eye of Margaret, who seemed indignant.

"I understand. The woman nodded with a small spark of anger in her expression.

"Mrs. Sinclair, I must make it clear to you that I am not pretending to be ignorant. But her granddaughter, she never told me who she was..." Máximo glanced sideways at Isabella with a frowning expression. She looked down, embarrassed. - I met Isabella here and tried to get closer to take responsibility... That's why I'm here alone, Mrs. Sinclair, to hold myself accountable..." Maximo said with conviction.

"Well, I understand, Mr. Collins”" Isabella, what do you have to say about it? Margaret asked in a stern tone. Isabella just shook her head, her head down. "Very well, Mr. Collins, I appreciate your sincerity, I don't need to know more... But I came because I wanted to see how my granddaughter was doing, so, if you allowed me, I would like to talk to her for a moment, alone.

"Sure, I understand, Mrs. Sinclair. Máximo lowered his head slightly, as a formality. "Isabella..." The girl looked up, blushing. "You'll need painkillers, I'll bring them to you later..."

"Not necessary, Mr. Collins. Margaret interjected. “You don't have to pretend to attend to Isabella to take responsibility...

"What?" Máximo looked at her, confused.

"My granddaughter needs someone more prepared... So, I'll call the doctor on board, from now on, he'll take care of Isabella, and I'll take care of what she needs..." Maximo didn't say anything, he just pressed his lips together in a line, as if he was uncomfortable. "I remind you that you are a guest, and you should just enjoy the ride.

"Well, thank you. - Máximo turned around to leave, the door was heard ringing when closing.

Isabella threw herself back on the edge of the bed to sit up, the young woman was very nervous.

At the same time, her grandmother detailed it very seriously.

Perhaps until now Margaret was learning that the young woman was on board on the voyage.

Surely, Valeria told her everything that happened and now her grandmother came to warn her that she was not just another guest.

As Isabella had already assumed at first, perhaps the invitation she received to the cruise had been made by mistake.

All these thoughts approached the young woman, while she was scrutinized by the attentive gaze of her grandmother.

"Isabella... How much you've grown since we last met..."

"What?" The young woman looked up, confused.

"You're already a woman... You've become an incredibly beautiful young woman..." Margaret approached slowly, slid one of her hands under Isabella's chin, lifting her face. "Capable of getting any man's attention...

"No... I don't understand you..." Isabella muttered, looking at her confused. Margaret let go of her and began to walk around the room.

"Tell me something...

"What?"

"Is everything Collins said true?" Margaret asked, detailing Isabella's every gesture, with great interest.

"How?"

"Hasn't anything else happened between you?" Margaret stared at Isabella.

"Nothing else?" No... I don't know what she's talking about..." The girl looked really disoriented.

"Forget it... It's just that... It was a huge surprise to have met Maxim Collins in your room..." Margaret nodded, understanding that she had not met what she expected, Isabella was a very innocent girl for her age. "By myself, I found out that you had a dispute with Valeria, and I came to see how you were..." He added, grimacing in disgust. - That young girl, Valeria, may be my granddaughter, but I often dislike it. Margaret turned around, she seemed to be leaving. "Well, I have a lot of business to settle... Wait for the doctor, he'll come in a moment.

"Madam, wait!" Isabella said suddenly, without herself knowing what she was doing. "Aren't you going to scold me or run me?" Well, to another room or something... Because I know I can't leave...

"Why would I do it?" Margaret turned, puzzled.

"Well, because..." Isabella looked down again. "Because I don't belong to this family..." Everyone rejects me and despises me, and yet I'm here...

"That you don't belong?" Margaret took a step towards Isabella, for a small moment, there was a spark of sadness in her eyes. - Forget about that idea, Isabella, and from now on, learn this: you are a Sinclair, as much or more, than the other members of the family and if you are here, it is because I decided it.

"What?"

"Yes, I sent you the invitation and I wrote it personally..." You are my granddaughter, don't let anything anyone tells you make you forget that, so I order you, from now on, to call me grandma.

Margaret gave Isabella one last look, full of conviction, the young woman could only nod, puzzled.

That Grandma had invited her? Wasn't that the same woman who, along with her spouse, had banished Albert, her son, and Isabella's father? So why had he now changed his mind and accepted it? Why after so many years?

Isabella felt her pulse racing, her nerves were on edge, if what her grandmother told her was true and now, she belonged to the family, as Margaret claimed, did that mean that her life would change?