Chapter 67 I Swear

Isabella and Margaret were settling into their new penthouse and although they gave directions to the new service staff who would work for them with the arrangements upon arrival, they had a very busy and tiring day.

They did not expect any visitors on their first day in another country, however, that same afternoon, there was a loud knock from the front door.

"Ma'am?" “A young lady from the service caught the attention of Isabella, who was in her room preparing everything for her first day at university.

"Yes?" Isabella asked, a jump in her heart when she heard the call. Could it be that Máximo had come for her?

"A gentleman is looking for her...

"Who?" Isabella felt a chill run through her body.

- The man told me that his name is Diego Ortiz.

"What?" The initial excitement faded, giving way to a wave of nerves. She recalled her last meeting with Diego on their wedding day. What was he doing there?

Isabella hurried out and found Diego waiting in the living room. He was dressed formally and elegantly, and his face showed an unusual seriousness.

"Diego?" Isabella muttered as she entered the room. He turned around at the sound of her voice.

"Isabella..." His face showed a faint hint of pain at the sight of her.

Isabella felt the grimace of suffering on his face and felt bad for him. "What...?" What are you doing here? He stammered, slowly approaching.

- Máximo called me. Diego said with determination.

"What?" Why? Isabella asked, surprised.

"He told me that you would be here and gave me orders to take care of you." Diego replied seriously, trying to hide the pain he felt when he saw her.

Despite her efforts, she couldn't stop her heart from racing as she stood in front of her. Isabella would always be the love of his life, and the swirl of emotions he experienced was uncontrollable.

- Did Máximo send you? Isabella asked incredulously, stopping a few meters away from him.

“That's right. He looked worried. He said you might need some support and..." Diego moved a little closer, trying to offer comfort.

"No... No, no, no..." Isabella stepped back uneasily. "What do you mean Máximo sent you?" What do I need support? He... He exaggerates, Diego, I'm fine... I...

Anxiety invaded her. Diego had already mentioned to her that he worked for her spouse, and she wondered if this was the way Maximo tried to keep her under surveillance. In addition, the situation became even more awkward with Diego's recent confession about his unrequited love for her, something that Máximo was unaware of.

"Isabella, you're new to this country. There's no doubt that you'll need someone to guide you and help you a little, right? Diego replied, softening his expression, and trying to sound kind, although it hurt him to see how she backed away as if she was afraid of him.

"No, Diego, we have the necessary personnel, I'm really sorry, but..." But this... This is not right, no... I can't..." She tried to find the right words to express herself.

How hard could it be to tell him that it was awkward to have him around after he'd rejected him, plus he didn't want to have a potential spy for Maximo around him?

How could she ask her to leave without showing that grimace of pain that she had already seen? Isabella didn't want to hurt him, as she had evidently hurt him enough with her previous rejection.

"Listen..." Diego's voice drowned out Isabella's, trying to sound neutral. - I know you must feel uncomfortable after what happened at your wedding, I am a little too much, believe me. But you're still my friend, Isabella, aren't you? The girl I grew up playing with, laughing, and crying with. You already made it clear to me that you don't love me, I understand that. I plan to put that bad moment behind me...

"It's just that..." Isabella tried to interrupt him.

"I'm here on the orders of your spouse, Isabella, and I don't intend to do anything strange." Diego looked at her seriously. "I promise to respect your decision.

Both remained silent for a moment, Diego remained firm and serious, at the same time that doubt was seen in the young woman's eyes.

She felt guilty, Diego was once her friend, her best friend, but for some strange reason, perhaps because of their separation for several years, she now saw him as a stranger.

Something inside Isabella did not allow her to feel comfortable with her words, possibly because of the strange and awkward reunion they had on the wedding day.

Isabella could not ignore the fact that, despite Diego claiming to be the employee and friend Maximo, he had tried to steal the bride and after Isabella's rejection, Diego still remained as the best man, a very compromising situation.

"Sir..." Margaret's voice interrupted the conversation. "I would appreciate it if you would leave."

"What?" Diego turned, frowning at the authoritarian tone.

"Grandma..." Isabella murmured, surprised.

"I heard what you said to my granddaughter. I may try to convince her, but I'm not fooled. Margaret approached; her brow furrowed.

"What are you implying, ma'am?" Diego straightened up, visibly annoyed.

"I'm saying you're not trustworthy. A man who tries to steal his friend's fiancée on his wedding day, and behind his back, is nothing more than a coward. Margaret spoke firmly, causing Diego to clench his fists helplessly.

- Yes, I know I did it wrong. There were many things I did wrong... The first was to leave it. Diego turned to Isabella, with anger and helplessness in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Isabella. I shouldn't have left you. I should have taken you with me wherever I went, so none of this would have happened. You would not have been in trouble, and you would never have been forced to marry Maximus. But I knew you wouldn't leave your mother, and at the time, I had nothing to offer you...

"Diego..." Isabella looked at him sadly. He fixed his gaze on Margaret again.

- That day, the day of the wedding, I did not know who Maximus's fiancée was. It was only at the last moment that I learned that it was Isabella. I despaired, I didn't think clearly, I just ran impatient to save Isabella...

"Save her?" Margaret raised an eyebrow, skeptical.

"Máximo is not the right man for her, and I also know that the Collins family is not a rose garden..." Diego replied firmly.

"How do you know that?" Margaret crossed her arms, defiantly.

"I know because..." work for them. They are a pretentious and proud family. Although Maximo is my friend, I can say that he is not the best candidate for Isabella. He is too sullen and moody for her.

"You don't have any..." Margaret tried to refute, but she was interrupted by Diego.

"Listen, I'll be honest. I love her granddaughter and will always love her, but I understand that she is already married and rejected me. I acted on impulse at the time, but I know where my place is. Isabella made that very clear to me, so I'm not going to dwell on that. I'm sorry for what I did and the bad time I caused, but it's done. I understand that they may feel distrustful, but I am not going to leave. I'm here to do my job. I would be honored if they gave me a vote of confidence and allowed me to stay to help, especially since Isabella is my friend. Beyond my feelings, there is the affection I have for our friendship. “Diego spoke with conviction and seriousness.

"Well, if he doesn't leave, I'll call security to get him out." Margaret replied angrily, not being influenced by Diego's speech. Her distrust of him was firm and she was not willing to change her mind by words.

"Try it, everyone knows I'm here and what my orders are." Máximo sent them to her, and I even have an apartment downstairs..." Diego inflated himself confidently, annoyed by Margaret's intransigent attitude. "The only person who can get me out of here is Maximo Collins, so I invite you to call him and ask him to do it."

Margaret turned red with rage. Who did that man think he was? His insolence and unpleasant attitude irritated her deeply. He claimed to know where his place was, but his actions and words proved the opposite.

Isabella approached Margaret, worried. - Please calm down...

"I'll call Maximo right now..." Margaret growled, her jaw clenched, as she turned to get the phone.

"And what will you say to him?" If Maximus sent you to watch me, it's because he trusts him..." Isabella murmured, following her.

"When I tell him what that man tried at the wedding, I assure you that he will never trust him again..." Margaret replied maliciously.

“And much less in us because we never said anything to her. Isabella replied, leaving Margaret speechless. The woman stopped in her tracks. "Listen to me, grandma, now we need to keep a low profile. We don't need fights or confrontations... I don't want to make excuses for Máximo to make me come back.

"Are you going to let that man stay?" Margaret opened her eyes, surprised.

"He won't stay with us." You heard it, he will just do his job... Diego is..." Isabella paused for a moment, reminiscing about her childhood with him. “He's not a bad person. Yes, he made a mistake, but he has retracted and apologized.

Isabella looked down, embarrassed. Perhaps Diego's speech had not affected Margaret, but it had affected her. He felt guilty and thought that Diego had been honest. He had never been a bad person or acted against her; He had only made a mistake by letting himself be carried away by his feelings.

"Even so... I don't trust him..." Margaret murmured.

"Okay, you don't need to. Nor will we be alone with him; we have a team of staff and bodyguards..." Isabella muttered calmly.

"I don't know...

"I'll keep it at bay." He knows I don't love him, at least not in the same way he loves me. Isabella whispered, and Margaret understood that the young woman still felt a certain affection for Diego, for their old friendship. "Just... Let's just let it do its job. If he does something strange, I myself will ask him to leave, or I will inform Maximo that I do not want him here. Isabella concluded, convincing her grandmother.

Margaret nodded suspiciously. Perhaps Diego was there to spy on her, but Isabella came to the conclusion that she had nothing to hide. If Diego informed his boss that she was happy studying, Máximo would be calmer and there would be no reason to make her return.

"Okay..." The woman looked at Diego suspiciously. "You can do the job you say Maximus sent you for, but don't you dare try anything weird. Margaret said with authority.

"Don't worry, Mrs. Sinclair. I promise you that I only want Isabella's well-being. I swear to you.