Chapter 20 You Have No Choice

"No," murmured Maximus. Isabella and Margaret looked at him in surprise. "I won't marry her.

"Did I hear you right, Mr. Collins?" Margaret gave him a stern look.

"That's right, Mrs. Sinclair, I don't agree with this marriage, in fact, I'm here against my will, it's not my desire to marry, and your choosing Isabella, I don't think..." Appropriate. - Máximo affirmed, with great conviction.

Isabella had been surprised, indeed, but at the same time, a breeze of relief had invaded her still dazed head, for she did not want to marry this man either.

However, that did not make it any less painful to hear Maximo's words and his rejection.

"Appropriate?" And why, according to you, does the fact that you have chosen Isabella not seem appropriate? Margaret asked empathetically.

"Well...

Máximo glanced sideways at Isabella, the young woman had lowered her face, her expression denoted embarrassment, which stirred Máximo inside.

But he had already made a decision, he did not want to marry, much less a stranger in a marriage arranged by his father, and if he found an excuse, whatever it was, to save himself from this commitment, he would use it.

"Taking into account the..." Máximo cleared his throat. “Origin of your granddaughter... I don't think she's ready to take the position of head of the Sinclair and Collins family. - Maximus argued. "Mrs. Sinclair, we both know that for a marriage like this, there are protocols and also requirements... That's why Isabella doesn't seem like the right candidate to me.

Margaret frowned.

"Mr. Collins, are you aware of the consequences for your family if you were to refuse this marriage?" Margaret asked in a threatening tone.

"Consequences?" Máximo wrinkled his brow in confusion when a scandal broke into the room.

"Max?!" Max?! Max! Emily had abruptly entered the office, accompanied by Valeria. The young woman took her brother by the arm, pulling him. "Come on! You won't marry this filthy girl!

"What are you two doing here?!" What do you think they're doing in my room without my permission, you fool?! Margaret rose from her seat, turning red with rage.

"I'm here because my brother won't marry this pauper and little thing, our family won't fall into that scandal and humiliation!" Emily replied in a loud voice, haughtily.

Margaret opened her eyes with an expression full of indignation at hearing those words, her lips tightened into a grimace of disgust.

She slid her gaze to Valeria for a second, who was behind Emily, accompanying her. Valeria smiled satisfied; it was evident that it was she who led Emily to Margaret's room.

It seemed that Valeria still did not give up.

At the same time, Maximo noticed how Isabella shuddered when she heard the harsh and painful words that her sister had said.

"ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, EMILY!! Maximus shouted at the top of his lungs, getting up and letting go of his sister's grip with a jerk. "I already told you that this doesn't concern you!"

He wanted to undo the commitment, yes, but with as much tact and politeness as possible, as a Collins would.

Maximo wanted to avoid derogatory and humiliating words to save Isabella embarrassment, but his sister's impertinence was not helping him.

Emily and Valeria were stunned by Maximo's sudden scream, he was about to run to the two intrusive, when a sudden interruption stopped him.

"Mr. Collins..." Margaret interjected, showing a sudden smile of self-sufficiency. "We're done for today... And before he says anything else, I recommend talking to his father first...

"What?" Máximo wrinkled his eyebrow, confused.

"Now, everyone except Isabella can leave my room. Margaret said with authority, throwing herself in her seat wearily.

"Mrs. Sinclair..." Maximo tried to excuse himself, who was again interrupted, but this time, by a shrill shout.

"GET LONG!! Margaret demanded, irritated, suddenly returning to the point of exasperation. "LET THEM GET OUT RIGHT NOW!!

"Let's go, Max!" Emily asked. "We'll talk to Dad, I'm sure that when we explain everything to him and tell him what kind of fiancée you were given, he'll free you from this commitment."

Maximo stood paralyzed for a moment with his fists clenched at his sides, why did Margaret look so confident when she sent him to talk to her father?

There were many questions he wanted to ask, but Margaret was furious and no wonder, after the rejection of her granddaughter and the way Emily and Valeria treated her.

Maximo took a deep breath, looked sideways once again at Isabella's low face, "That's not my problem" he said to himself mentally to feel better and turned around to leave.

He felt that he was doing the right thing, that he was in fact doing Isabella a favor, because if she married him, the young woman would only have a life full of sadness and humiliation, in the cradle of her family.

"You are wretched, unhappy man, I will see you begging to marry you." Margaret murmured to Isabella, as soon as Maximo, Emily and Valeria left the room.

"Okay, grandma..." Isabella muttered, with some sadness in her tone. - It's better this way...

"What?" Margaret looked at her granddaughter, very seriously. Isabella felt a shudder when she noticed her grandmother's annoyance.

"It's just that... I don't want to marry him either. The girl blurted out, trying to fill herself with courage. "I... I wanted to talk about it with you... He was thinking of rejecting this marriage.

"I'm sorry, Isabella, but I'm afraid you don't have a choice."

"What..." Isabella swallowed thick with Margaret's words she had just blurted out. "What do you mean?"

"I mean... That you have to accept this marriage, whether you want it or not. Margaret said full of conviction.

“Why?

*

Maximo went out and found Aiden leaning against a wall, the boy moved restlessly, he walked from one side to the other, unlike Valeria and Emily, he had decided to wait outside.

"You pedantic imbecile, you won't marry Isabella. Aiden growled, standing up haughtily as soon as he caught a glimpse of Maximo.

"What's your problem?" As far as I know, this is not your responsibility, she is your cousin, or she has a complex and you fell in love with her. - Máximo replied, clenching his jaw.

Emily took him by the arm. "What do you bother about?" You won't marry her; we'll arrange it tomorrow with my father...

"She's too much for you..." Aiden murmured, then turned his back on Maximo. But the comment provoked Emily, who stepped forward.

"Who do you think you are, Can?" This family doesn't compare to the Collins, we're richer and obviously more civilized..." Emily crossed her arms arrogantly. "The only person worth the Sinclair is Valeria... Why are you, you are another little thing, like the destitute. Emily pouted feignedly, as a joke.

"I'm not going to speak for my family, because you're right, most of them are trash, including my sister..." Aiden turned to Emily, facing her.

"Aiden!" - Valeria complained, who was ignored.

"Not for me either, because you're also right, I'm a dog and a womanizer, but I can speak for Isabella, she's different from all of us, I can assure you that she's much better..." And I am not going to allow your imbecile brother and all your family, who are rotten inside, to damage it.

Aiden turned around once more and walked away on his way to the restaurant bar, needing a drink.

When the Collins were no longer in his way, he would return to his post, by the door of his grandmother's room, to wait for his cousin.

*

Maximo was tossing and turning in his room, remembering Aiden's words, he couldn't answer, he couldn't reply, because what could he say?

Maximo didn't know Isabella, he didn't know if she was a good person or not, but Aiden was right about one thing: With that marriage, Maximo and his family would only succeed in hurting Isabella.

To begin with, he didn't want to get married, let alone fall in love.

Only, things had changed... Isabella, that girl... She provoked things in him, inside him, difficult to explain, Máximo knew it, but he still didn't understand it and that made him very nervous.

He couldn't even imagine being close to her, her sweet smell, her soft skin, her mesmerizing gray eyes. That girl was quite a risk... A risk of falling in love, something he was not willing to give in.

Máximo poured himself a shot of whiskey, he needed to think things through with a cool head, what he would say to his father... Since Maximus was supposed to be obliged to marry, he had given his father the floor.

And now? What would her father say when he found out that she had rejected the marriage? Would he carry out his threats and banish them, take everything from him? If that happened, his businesses, his investments abroad, everything he had achieved, everything would go to hell.

But... Maximo had a good excuse and if Emily supported him, perhaps his father would listen to him.