Chapter 65 I've Learned a Lesson

Isabella left that huge house, wiping away a tear that escaped her.

Full of a thousand emotions, she had discovered a terrible truth hidden at the center of the Collins surname, the cruelty of which its former leader, Maximilian, was capable.

Isabella had confirmed her fear of being exiled, what she had heard, was true, there was only the doubt of whether her spouse was doing it out of ambition like her father or because he was being threatened as Marian suggested.

However, there was a truth behind it... Máximo never really loved her and that was the most painful stab Isabella could have received.

Each of her words, gestures, caresses, kisses, touches, every smile and romantic moment, everything was planned, everything was faked by Maximo, he pretended that he loved her, he even went so far as to tell her that he loved her and it was all a deception in order to make her fall in love.

Isabella felt hurt, mocked, and betrayed, but it was all her fault, how could she have believed that man, how could she have thought that he could fall in love with her?

He himself rejected her, he always looked at her sternly, he himself said in front of her that she was not appropriate, how many signs he gave and she did not see them, she was a fool to believe that, from one day to the next, he had changed his mind.

She had lived on the streets, she had seen a thousand ways in which people were scammed and even so, she had fallen deceived before Maximo.

Perhaps she had allowed herself to be deceived, because deep down, Isabella wanted this, she wanted to think that Máximo loved her, that she could be worthy of his love and affection, like this, with her past as a poor pauper.

And even with everything she knew, she couldn't hate him, because she still loved him. And although she was sure that Máximo did not want her, she hoped that, at least, Máximo was not so guilty, if he was really being threatened.

Isabella was heading towards the nearby heliport of the property, where her grandmother was waiting for her, she tried to suppress everything she felt so as not to worry Margaret.

Poor, little, naïve, ignorant, destitute, the banished, the disinherited of the Sinclair family, so much contempt, so many horrible words, so many humiliating moments since she met her family, the Sinclair’s.

However, she endured it all, because she had met some people, she could call family and at least she would no longer be alone, although most did not love her, her grandmother Margaret and her cousin, Aiden, had won her love and affection.

But now, did the Collins want to take it all away again and exile her, leave her alone again? Just thinking about it made him panic.

She was never going to allow it.

Now, that Maximilian was her main enemy and that Isabella was already alert, aware that he was a very dangerous man, she would not be intimidated, there was no doubt about that.

But the situation for the young woman had become more than complicated, what could she do right now against Maximilian?

If he tried something, without evidence, without a plan, he would only make Marian pay the consequences, in addition to a direct attack from his enemy, who would already be alert.

Or if he spoke to Maximo and what Marian said turned out to be true and he was only being used by his father, what could Maximo do against Maximilian if he was threatened?

Isabella had to be intelligent and logical.

The only option left to her, which she had already taken, was to use her resources, all the ones she had at hand, which, luckily, she now had more than enough.

And with this thought, the young woman stopped in the middle of the road, taking out her cell phone.

"Aiden?"

- Hello, cousin. How are you?

- Well... Emm... Listen, I need a huge favor from you.

"Yes, tell me, whatever."

"You told me you wanted to get away from it all for a while and spend your time on something interesting, didn't you?" Isabella asked, and Aiden remembered what had happened to Emily, whom he hadn't seen since their argument.

“Yes.

- Well, I have the perfect job for you...

“What work?

"I want you to investigate someone for me." It may take you some time, but I'll provide you with all the resources you need...

“Do you want me to work as a researcher? Aiden asked, puzzled.

"Or hire a dozen of the best, I don't know." I just need someone I trust to take care of this project.

- Okay, I'll see you at grandma's house so you can give me the details.

"Thank you, Aiden. Isabella breathed a sigh of relief before hanging up the phone and continuing on her way to the helipad.

If Maximilian thought that he could easily get rid of her because she was ignorant and a naïve pauper, he was very mistaken.

That man was not the master of his destiny, and neither should he continue to manipulate the destiny of Marian, a woman guilty of only one thing, falling in love.

With a heavy heart, Isabella reminded herself of two important points:

The first was that, although Máximo could be another victim of Maximilian, which did not cancel out the fact that he had been falling in love with her falsely, that his kindness and sweetness, from the beginning, was a performance.

The second, Marian, deserved to be saved at all costs and Isabella was going to take care of it, because only in this way, would they both be saved.

Isabella remembered what her mother had once told her, good things happen to good people, and then, what about bad people, why hadn't that man still paid for what he had done?

She did not understand it, but it was very clear that Maximilian had to pay for all the evil he had done.

The young woman was reunited with her grandmother, who was waiting for her outside the heliport, they would return in a short time, as they had traveled in a helicopter.

"Did you get everything you needed?" Margaret asked as Isabella boarded.

"Yes, in fact, Mrs. Collins told me that..." Isabella began to say, but Margaret raised her hand with authority to interrupt her.

"What you've achieved, Isabella, is for you, so that you feel better about the decision you make..."

"What?"

- Honestly, I don't think Máximo is capable of what you say, but I respect your certainty of having heard him. However, until you come back, face the situation, and I hear the whole truth from both sides, I will not change my mind.

"But you...

"Yes, I'm rooting for you, but only because I think you should be prepared. You must study and strengthen yourself. This will do you good as an heir and future ringleader, regardless of what happens to Maximo, his father, or your uncles. At least you'll be able to defend yourself.

"Grandma..." Isabella muttered, surprised.

"Isabella, not all storms or difficult moments come only to shake us up and make us suffer..." Margaret adopted a more maternal tone, taking the young woman's arm with affection. “Sometimes, they come to teach us a lesson and make us stronger.

"Well, I have already learned a lesson from my spouse..." Isabella replied confidently.

"Which one?" Margaret asked, frowning curiously.

- Máximo once told me that the world we live in is full of cruel, envious, and unscrupulous people... And that I must always show my strength, power, and mettle in front of them... Isabella remembered with pain what Marian had told her about Maximilian and his sufferings. “After what I've been through and what I heard today... Now I'm sure Maximo was right. The world is full of cruel, envious, and unscrupulous people, but I am no longer going to bend or let myself be defeated by any of them. She thought about her uncles, Valeria, Emily, and Maximilian, and also about the possibility that Máximo could be like them, although she was still not entirely sure.

"Well, then, what good advice your spouse gave you," Margaret added. "That shows he's not as bad a man as you think.

Isabella smiled at Margaret's comment and the helicopter drove back home.