Chapter 14 Cause for Shame

There was the sound of a throat clearing, Isabella turned her gaze, next to her, was Máximo Collins, as she had always seen him, with that sullen and formal expression, which always accompanied him.

"Good night..." he murmured.

Frightened, Isabella quickly turned to Aiden, who as soon as she glimpsed Maximo, changed her smile for a grimace of few friends.

"Good night..." Aiden replied, with a shocking tone, while Isabella lowered her gaze, beginning to feel those nerves and that strange tingling sensation inside her again. "What is offered to you, Mr. Collins?"

"I have to talk to Isabella. - Máximo reported defensively, also using a hostile tone.

"By Isa, you mean”" My girlfriend. Aiden rose from his seat, haughty. He could not stand Maximo's arrogant attitude, because he had enough of having to put up with his family's. "Can you know that you have to talk to my girlfriend?" He asked, intoning the last word more loudly.

Maximo snorted, showing a lopsided smile full of malice.

"Your girlfriend?" I didn't know that in the Sinclair family they had the habit of being related to cousins...

"What?" Aiden frowned, confused, and turned his gaze to Isabella, who was watching him embarrassed from her seat.

"Do you want to try to keep lying to me?" I know the whole truth; Isabella is nothing more than your cousin..." Maximo growled full of satisfaction. - And the truth, I find it quite unpleasant and improper, the close way in which they treat each other...

"How?" Aiden raised an eyebrow, confused.

"I recommend you keep your distance from your cousin, if you don't want to create a misunderstanding..." Máximo demanded with shock. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a business to discuss with Isabella. He tried to take one of Isabella's hands to lift her from her seat and take her away.

"Hey! Aiden grabbed Maximo by the wrist, stopping him. "Even if you've discovered the truth... That doesn't give you any right to talk to us like that and want to take her away...

A wave of rage and indignation enveloped Máximo, who had thought that idiot to dare to touch him or to stop him?

"Let go of me..." Maximus snorted in a threatening, hostile tone.

"Don't you dare touch her..." Aiden replied frowning.

"You're not the one to tell me what to do." “Máximo jerked free of Aiden's grip.

Both men approached, stopping face to face, standing upright, and showing a mask of pride, irritation, and courage.

"Max!" What's going on here?! Emily hurried, accompanied by Carlos, who had seen from their table that something was happening.

"Nothing that concerns you. - Máximo snorted without taking his eyes off Aiden.

"You'd better go the way you came, little princess." Aiden murmured to Emily, intoning the last word sarcastically.

And that alone was enough for Máximo to feel the blood boil and grab Aiden tightly by the folds of his jacket, squeezing him in an intimidating way.

"Who do you think you are?" Hey? Do you think I'll let you talk to my sister like that? He asked angrily.

Isabella rose from her seat, pushing the two men with her hands, in an attempt to separate them. "Please don't argue..." He muttered with teary eyes, trembling with fear.

Maximo reluctantly let go of Aiden and they both took a step back, though they didn't change their hostile stance.

"What?" Is this all because of this girl? Emily approached curiously. "Wait... Aren't you the same girl who had a problem in the pool a few days ago?"

"Eh... I..." Isabella stepped back, not knowing what to say.

"I know you..." From somewhere else. Emily continued, thoughtfully, detailing Isabella's face. "It can't be..." A moment later, Emily took a step back, with an expression full of disbelief. "Aren't you...?" It can't be... Aren't you the girl we ran over? He asked with his mouth open.

Emily looked confused, because, although Isabella was dressed in simple clothes, she looked very different compared to when she was wearing the rags she was wearing on that occasion.

Besides, now that her face was clean, you could see that she was a very pretty young woman.

"Max?" Emily turned to Maximo, looking for an answer.

"Yes, it's the same girl. He answered, between his teeth.

"What?!" And what is a bad living like you supposed to do in a place like this?! Emily approached Isabella, arrogantly.

"Hey! I don't allow you to talk to my cousin like that! Aiden intervened, leaving Maximo to stand in Emily's way.

"Your cousin?" “Emily almost gasps for breath. "That means... If she's here and she's your cousin, that means she's...

"That's right..." Aiden crossed his arms and smiled satisfied. "She's a Sinclair.

"Ha, Ha, Ha.." Emily burst out laughing. - It can't be! A criminal, a homeless woman, is part of the prestigious Sinclair family! Ha, Ha, Ha, it's like for a cover. He concluded looking at Isabella, contemptuously.

"Emily, that's enough!" Maximo growled, feeling a sudden pity for Isabella, who lowered her face flushed with obvious shame.

"What! But it's true and you know it! No wonder you two spend it together..." Emily teased Isabella and Aiden. "No one will want them around, they are the shameful couple of the Sinclair family, a homeless man and a womanizing dog.

Aiden clenched his fists helplessly, because, although he could perfectly well go to fists with Maximo, he couldn't do anything to Emily, because no matter how cruel and ruthless the girl was, she was still a lady.

"Be very careful with what you say, little princess, because this dog can bite you." Aiden murmured; his jaw so tight he might break his teeth.

"You don't scare me with your barking, dog. Emily replied sarcastically.

"Don't you dare threaten my sister. Maximo intervened, who was still angry at Aiden, on the surface.

"Maximo, Aiden?" What is happening here? Another woman's voice intervened in the discussion.

As soon as Valeria entered the restaurant, as always, looking for Maximo, and she glimpsed that something was happening between him and his brother, she approached without thinking twice.

"Valeria... What are you doing here?" Aiden growled, knowing that his sister would only bring more trouble.

"Maximo, I apologize..." She bowed her head slightly in a small bow. "If my idiot brother has caused you any trouble or upset you in any way, let me make it clear that he doesn't represent the Sinclair family's standards at all.

Maximo looked very seriously at Valeria, who showed an expression full of embarrassment, however, Emily smiled maliciously at the whole show in front of her.

Emily saw a great opportunity, she remembered perfectly that this Valeria was the same one who had grabbed each other's hair with the homeless girl, which meant that they were not loving cousins.

"Hey, girl! Emily said, getting Valeria's attention. - Valeria, right? The young woman nodded. - Look, your brother is a jerk, but I think the biggest cause of the main problem is her.

"What?" Valeria slid her eyes, to where Emily was pointing, and noticed Isabella hiding behind Aiden's figure. "You?!" Since you arrived, you've done nothing but bring trouble and embarrassment to the entire Sinclair family! In a second, before everyone knew it, Valeria pushed her brother and raised a hand with the intention of slapping Isabella. "I don't know who had the stupid idea to invite you here!"

PLAF.

The slap resounded, and everyone was dumbfounded, their mouths open, when they realized that the slap hit the face of none other than Margaret Sinclair, who, at the last moment, got in the way.

"Grandma..." Valeria stammered disoriented, seeing her grandmother in front of her with her face sideways.

"Stupid brat..." Margaret growled, turning back to Emily. "I don't know why I had the stupid idea of inviting you!" “She shouted, red with rage.

"Grandma, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I didn't see you, I thought that...

"Did you think it was Isabella?" And who gives you the right to hit her? He asked authoritatively.

"I... I...

"I invited her, I was the one who had the stupid idea, as you say!" Margaret shouted.

"But grandma, she's just made trouble, she's embarrassed us in front of the Collins.

"And you?!" Isn't your childish behavior a cause for shame for our family?! Margaret shouted with an angry expression.

Valeria looked around, as everyone was still looking at her in surprise, it seemed that no one intended to speak for her, not Maximo, whom she was defending, nor her own brother.