Chapter 5 The Rebirth of the Family

The boat was imposing, Isabella had never seen anything like it in her life, with her mouth open and somewhat fearful, she advanced down the ramp towards the entrance.

She glimpsed a little of all the luxury that she would be surrounded by for the next few days, it was impressive, giant rooms, ostentatious decoration, everything shone and there were employees everywhere.

Upon arriving at the cabin, Isabella gasped, the room was equally shocking, almost the size of her old house.

Isabella walked detailing the small room she had at the entrance, a closet the size of a modest room, a huge bed with a TV in front that almost took up an entire wall, a modern and gigantic bathroom.

It was too much, all that was excessive, Isabella felt full of helplessness, if all that luxury was only for a family trip, she did not even want to imagine, what the houses in which they lived were like.

Was that the life of her family, that family that lived hand over fist, at the same time that she struggled to survive.

The young clerk caught the attention of Isabella, who was absorbed in observing her cabin, handed her the key to her room, a map to guide her on the cruise and a kind of pamphlet.

"Here are all the activities that will be done on the cruise and with the map, you can get there without getting lost..." She looked at the list quickly, there was yoga, gym, recreational games, swimming pool, some sports, even a casino and many other things.

 "The restaurant will be open almost twenty-four hours a day, it also has bar service and room service, from the intercom next to your bed you can call and order what you like to eat..." The young man explained leaving her stunned. “All activities are optional, that is, you can attend if you like or stay in your cabin... At the moment, there is only one event that is mandatory to attend...

"Which one?"

"Tonight's dinner”" All guests, that is, the entire Sinclair family, must be in the dining room at seven, punctually... There will be a welcome and some announcements will be made.

"I understand, thank you. Isabella nodded nervously.

To be in the midst of those people? If they were all like that Valeria, Isabella did not even want to imagine what awaited her on that cruise.

"And miss"

"Yes?"

"I recommend you stop by the boutique, it will be open from this afternoon, there you can find all the clothes you need to be in accordance with the trip..." The young man smiled at her. "For you, it's free..." He whispered at the end and turned to leave.

"Hey..." Isabella called out to him. "What's your name?"

"Julian..." The boy bowed slightly as a bow.

"Thank you very much, Julián." She blurted out somewhat relieved, at least the young man had been kind to her.

A brief time later, the cruise ship set sail, Isabella leaned out of the window feeling the pounding of her heart, there was no turning back, it would be fifteen days before she could leave there.

After watching for a while as the ship left the port, full of nerves, Isabella could only do one thing, kneel down and pray.

Just as her mother had taught her, she first thanked her for the day she was born, for having been saved from the men who had cornered her, for coming out unscathed from a possible accident and for the opportunity to make this trip.

Then, she asked, first for it to be a quiet cruise in which she would not have any more problems, she asked for strength and protection.

And in the end, she asked for an opportunity, so that, somehow, when she got off that boat, she wouldn't have to go back to the homeless shelter or live on the street.

*

Dinner time arrived. Isabella left her cabin, terrified, her hands sweating cold, because she did not know what awaited her with that family.

She entered the imposing and luxurious restaurant, full of tables, hanging lamps of crystals and fine silverware, which was enlivened by a small orchestra on the stage.

The receptionist of the restaurant received her with a slight smile.

"Miss Sinclair, you can take the table you like; the restaurant is very big, and your family will not fill it up... I suggest a table near the stage, from there the welcome and announcements will be made.

"Well, thank you. She muttered with some embarrassment.

Despite the receptionist's suggestion, Isabella took a somewhat withdrawn and discreet table. It was early, dinner had not started and very few diners had arrived, all unknown.

A long time passed, until it was almost time for dinner, when Isabella was surprised to notice how a person abruptly sat next to her.

"Hello, cousin!" “Smiling greeting. “Almost and I didn't recognize you...

"Oh, Aiden..." she murmured looking around, because she didn't want to have to run into Valeria again.

"Wow, you look beautiful!" He said, looking Isabella up and down.

"Thank you, I...

"Wow! He looked her straight in the eye. "No, really, you're beautiful, too bad you're my cousin because..." Aiden raised an eyebrow maliciously. “I don't even want to imagine how you would look if you wore some makeup and clothes more in line with your age.

"What?" Isabella looked at her outfit.

She wore a simple dark green floral dress, sleeveless, with a knee-length bell skirt and matching sneakers, it was a simple outfit, not ostentatious.

Of course, there were much more beautiful and striking clothes in the boutique, but that didn't interest her.

That was one of the few outfits he could find according to his taste and that could serve him for a modest life after the cruise ended.

"Hey, Isa..." Aiden settled into the seat next to him. "Does it bother you if I stay at this table with you?"

"No, but..."

"Great, because I think I'd be better off sharing a table with you, you know..." Aiden winked at him. “At the table of the exiles...

"What?" Were you also banished from the family? Isabella asked, stunned.

"Not formally, but I don't take her with most of them..." Aiden pointed to a table a little far away, from where Valeria, along with the older couple, were looking at them in a contemptuous way.

"Oh... "

"Hey, look..." Aiden pointed to the entrance of the restaurant, it was almost seven more guests began to arrive.

Aiden entertained himself by pointing out each character, explaining to Isabella his affinity with the family.

There were approximately thirty people, including distant cousins, second uncles and aunts, but essentially the main successors of the family were Albert Sinclair, Isabella's father, who was banished and had already passed away, Ricardo Sinclair, Aiden and Valeria's father; and Héctor Sinclair, who was also Isabella's uncle and had two daughters and two sons.

Practically everyone was in the room, dinner was about to begin, when at the main entrance, Máximo and Emily Collins appeared, dressed in gala clothes, as models.

All eyes were directed to them, in the living room, there was a moment of silence, followed by murmurs, especially because Margaret de Sinclair herself accompanied them.

Isabella stood for a moment with her mouth open. Was it them, the ones who had almost run her over that same morning, she looked carefully at Maximo, her heart jumped, the young woman now looked even more attractive under the dim lamps of the restaurant, but definitely, it was the same man.

"They...?" Isabella stammered to Aiden, unable to believe her eyes. “Are they also Sinclair? What relationship do we have? "

"No..." murmured Aiden frowning, looking at the newcomers. “They are not Sinclair, they belong to the Collins family, our biggest competition.

"What?"

"Yes, it's just that..." Aiden was thoughtful. "I can't believe it... What are you doing here...?" And accompanied by grandma? He looked at Isabella as if she could give him an answer. "Wasn't it supposed to be a family reunion?"

"I... I don't know..." she stammered confused.

Isabella detailed the older woman who accompanied the young Collins, Margaret de Sinclair, her grandmother, whom she vaguely remembered from her father's funeral, but of course, she looked much older now, though her cold expression still gave her some chills.

With all the impression of confusion, horror or rage that could be seen in the expressions of the guests, Isabella was sure that something important was happening, or, rather, was about to happen.

The dinner started normally, as far as possible, the delicious dishes were served, however, the atmosphere became somewhat somber.

Still, no one dared approach the table where the Collins were dining with the Sinclair family leader, Margaret.

After the dessert plates were cleared, the waiters began to hand out the champagne and everyone caught a glimpse of how the prominent Mrs. Margaret, a somewhat wrinkled woman with many strands of gray hair, got up from her seat to go to the stage.

"Good evening..." the woman began with a microphone in her hand. "Sinclair family, you are all welcome to this family reunion... I know it's very strange for all of you to meet again like this, we hadn't done a family reunion since... Since the death of my late William fifteen years ago...

The woman took a moment of silence.

"How strange..." Isabella muttered in her seat, thoughtful.

"What?" Aiden asked curiously.

"I hadn't heard about my grandfather's death, but if it was fifteen years ago, it must have been close to my father's death. Isabella replied somewhat confused.

"It must be a strange coincidence..." Aiden nodded, when Margaret's voice, from the stage, interrupted them.

"But as you may have already imagined, there is a reason for this trip I convoke... Today we begin a new stage in the family and that is why we are here... Before we start with the announcements, I want us all to raise our glasses and toast..." He said raising the glass he was carrying in his other hand. "Because this will be a new stage of expansion, and this trip will mean the rebirth of the Sinclair family...

"Cheers! They all said in unison, each drinking from his glass.

"Good..." The woman handed the glass to an assistant and settled in the middle of the stage. "As the main and only head of the Sinclair family, I invited you here because I think it is time to leave my power in the hands of my next successor..." Everyone tensed expectantly. "That's why, during the next fifteen days on this cruise, I will be in charge of getting to know and analyze each of my grandchildren very well, because I will choose one of you and the chosen one will be the one who inherits the head of the Sinclair family.

"What?!" “A thunderous scream was heard in the room.