Chapter 27 You Will Pay Dearly

- Maximo... Is something wrong? Marian murmured, somewhat alarmed, noticing the hubbub that had been unleashed at the event.

From the stage, next to Maximiliano, a few meters from Isabella, although they saw that people were crowding, they could not distinguish the problem.

"You know I don't like to meddle in other people's affairs, mother. Maximus replied coldly. "I've done my part, father, I'll retire to my room." He announced to Maximilian, turning around.

Marian stopped him, confused. "Their part? What do you mean by that?" he wondered, as he observed the scene.

"Wait, are you leaving now?" And the party? And your fiancée? Marian asked, perplexed.

"I'll have plenty of time to see her when we're married, won't I?" Máximo clenched his jaw, while his father smiled slightly, understanding his son's dissatisfaction. Marian, however, still did not fully understand.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to rest. Good night. Maximus concluded, and went to his room, leaving Marian and Maximilian behind, with confusion marking their faces.

Maximo let go of his mother's grip delicately and retreated to his room, he was angry, but with himself.

Supposedly, Máximo had proposed to Isabella in a performance, but inside, his heart was beating wildly, and he could only think about her, just as a boyfriend in love would.

He needed to get away, he needed his space, for the moment the best thing was to retire and not have to meet Isabella for the rest of the night.

Marian saw her son walk away indifferent, she pursed her lips in a line and turned to leave the room too, indignant. How could your son ignore his girlfriend at his own engagement party?

A bad feeling approached Marian's heart filling with fear, Could Maximo be the same as his father?

*

"Where are you going?" Valeria took Isabella by the arm. "Let me help you..." Definitely, the red wine color suits you better. He concluded as he spilled the glass of wine on his rival.

Everyone turned to see the incident when the young woman was already soaked, only a few of those present had glimpsed what happened.

Isabella looked around, stunned, noticing all those eyes on her, but now they weren't looking at her in celebration.

Around her, Isabella detailed many derogatory expressions, others of mockery and a few of surprise.

It seems that she is in the center of a show and the spotlight is on her.

The young woman tried to control her breathing, her body trembling, wine dripping from her head, all over her body and stained dress.

"You see... I told you it would fit you better. Valeria whispered, crossing her arms, and standing up arrogantly, while a mischievous smile was forming on her expression.

Her victory and internal celebration only lasted a couple of minutes, because a moment later, Valeria felt the burning of a slap that turned her face completely, it was so strong, so precise, that the girl stumbled, about to fall.

- You arrogant and spoiled brat! Margaret exclaimed, furious, pushing Isabella aside to face Valeria. - How dare you?! You need a good lesson to get you grounded!

"Mother! What are you up to?! It was an accident! Ricardo got in the way, trying to stop Margaret, who was already advancing to attack Valeria again.

"An accident?!" I saw what happened myself! Margaret shouted, angrily.

"Are you sure?" Because I don't think we saw the same thing..." Ricardo replied, calmly, trying to keep the situation under control.

"Are you playing with me?!" Margaret was beside herself.

"Calm down, Mom..." Ricardo spoke in a calm tone, as if dealing with a child in a tantrum. “This behavior is not normal, especially in the middle of a party. You can't attack your granddaughter like that. Breathe and calm down...

Margaret paused for a moment, noticing that everyone was looking at her and murmuring. A few meters away, Héctor recorded everything with his phone. Understanding her children's intentions, Margaret became even more enraged.

"They're cretins!" Do you think you're going to get something out of this?! Margaret grunted between her teeth, clenching her fists. Then he turned to Isabella, took her by the arm, and said, in a low but firm voice, "Let's go!"

They both left the mansion at a fast pace, Isabella did not have the time, nor the courage to say anything. Just as they were inside the limo and the door closed, Isabella burst into tears.

*

Emily had observed everything from a prudent distance, as soon as she glimpsed how Valeria spilled the glass of wine on Isabella's head, the girl had to use all her willpower and put her hands to her mouth, to contain a laugh.

Finally, the party had become interesting, she felt fulfilled and proud of her achievement, she had humiliated the homeless woman without having to lift a finger.

He stayed for a while longer curious, watching the discussion that was going on among the Sinclair’s, a family that seemed to him to be crude and ordinary.

As soon as he saw Mrs. Sinclair leave the room with the homeless woman, he knew that this was the signal for her retirement, and she slipped down another corridor, ready to escape the party, happy with her victory.

However, as soon as she stepped into the dim darkness of the hallway, Emily's pulse almost stopped when she was ambushed by a shadow that pushed her against a wall.

"Are you going to run away, little princess?" The man who had cornered her growled under his breath.

Emily looked up and, in a flash of light, recognized Aiden, who had her cornered, his body close to hers. He held her wrists firmly and his warm breath hit her face.

- Let go of me, can. Who do you think you are? Emily replied angrily, trying to get away.

"Me?" And who do you think you are? Do you think I don't know what you did? Aiden asked sternly, breathing heavily with fury.

"What?" I don't know what you're talking about..." Emily replied, pretending to be unaware as she looked away, feeling Aiden getting closer and closer.

"You provoked Valeria, you said things to her..." Aiden pointed with a frown, showing determination and an intensity that Emily hadn't noticed before. "Even if my sister spilled the wine on Isabella, which doesn't absolve you of guilt.

"You're crazy!" If you don't let go of me right now, I'm going to scream. Emily said, feeling suddenly nervous.

"Go ahead, he shouts." To be found in a dark hallway with the notorious princess-stealing womanizer..." Aiden stared her in the eye.

Emily stood for a moment absorbed in the deep blue of Aiden's eyes, which stood out in the gloom.

"What?" She stammered, confused.

“This is not going to stay like this. Don't think Isabella is unprotected, because here I am. And if the only way they're going to leave her alone is to teach them a good lesson, then they're going to have to face me. Aiden declared in a low, menacing tone, his jaw clenched, marking the lines of his sturdy jaw.

"I don't care about your threats..." Emily replied haughtily, trying to free herself from his grip.

"You should care, because from now on I'll dedicate myself to making your life impossible." You're going to pay dearly for what you did to Isabella. Aiden spoke hoarsely, letting go of Emily and taking a step back.

Emily's pulse quickened at Aiden's words. Was that guy trying to intimidate her? He definitely didn't know who he was messing with.

"No... I'm not afraid of you. What could you do to me? He tried to answer confidently, although his voice trembled slightly.

"Oh, I think you shouldn't care what I can do to you, if you really aren't afraid of my threats. Aiden replied wryly, smiling maliciously. "I thought you were just a spoiled, overbearing princess, but I've realized you're a poisonous viper." And those creatures, we have to cut off their heads.

Aiden turned and walked out, leaving Emily as confused as she was angry. "Am I called an animal?" she weighed indignantly, with a strong sensation of adrenaline in her body, something she had never felt.

*

The following days, Isabella did not want to leave the Sinclair mansion, and her grandmother respected him, it was not easy what the young woman had gone through and what, perhaps, she had yet to go through.

However, there was one way out that Isabella could not escape: choosing the wedding dress.

An occasion that should be special for any woman, for Isabella, it was an ordeal. So, the young woman only took care of trying on the dresses and it was Margaret, along with the shop assistants, who chose it.

Isabella needed rest and to disconnect from the outside world, recovering her spirits was not easy knowing what awaited her.

Which is why Margaret taking care of arranging all the details of the wedding on her own.

And to prevent Isabella from feeling lonely during those days, she hired a teacher of etiquette and good manners, who kept her company at times, while teaching the young woman the basics of high society.

Meanwhile, Máximo was in charge of managing the formal paperwork for the marriage.

So, in three days, everything was ready to carry out the wedding of the year.