Chapter 78 An Eye for an Eye

"There's a lot I have to tell you, and I just hope you don't hate me, or you can forgive me for the decision I've made, because I'm not going to change it..." Isabella said, looking Máximo in the eye with conviction.

"What?"

They both got up, Isabella looked a little nervous, but determined, Máximo was completely intrigued.

"It's your parents..." she blurted out, swallowing thickly, because she didn't know what reaction Máximo might have.

Isabella told him everything, absolutely everything she had discovered about the abuse that Maximilian had done to Marian, explaining why she herself thought that Maximo was guilty, because of the similarities of her own story and that of her parents.

As she progressed through the story, Isabella detailed how Maximo's countenance changed, transforming from a grimace of horror to an expression of complete anger and indignation.

He moved, he muttered talking to himself, he seemed crazy, with that dark look covered by the wrinkled eyebrow, his expression was scary, even though he tried to control himself, for Isabella, because he didn't want to scare her.

At the same time, she felt guilty, she felt that she betrayed Marian's trust by telling everything to Maximo, however, Isabella's consolation was knowing that this was a necessary evil, Maximo should know what was happening between his parents.

And, besides, she felt guilty for having to put Máximo through this pain, when just a few moments ago, he had expelled another suffering, and they had penetrated in a beautiful moment.

But she couldn't keep it from her, now that she knew the truth about her spouse and that she could trust Maximo, it was the right time to let go of every secret.

"I knew it!" I knew my mother was hiding something, but I never thought it was so... Horrible... I'm going to kill him..." growled Maximo, while the young woman listened to them with concern.

"What?"

"Isabella... It's time to go back. He ordered, approaching her with that frowning expression that used to frighten her.

"Max...?" What do you plan to do? Isabella asked, alarmed.

"What am I going to do?" Isn't that obvious? I have not yet decided what the worst punishment for my father will be, but I assure you that it will be severe and I will not have mercy..." commented Máximo with a clenched jaw and a spark of fury in his eyes, as he began to walk towards the car.

- Max, wait! Isabella called him, stopping him. "You can't face it...

"What?" Máximo raised an eyebrow, incredulous.

“Not yet...

"Why should I stop?" Máximo asked seriously.

"Because I have a plan," Isabella said.

"A plan?" pondered Maximo, although that did not interest him much at the time.

"Do you think I can hold back while my mother is still trapped, and my father thinks he can do whatever he wants?" He continued, with anger and pain on his face.

"No, Max... I only need a few days... Please wait for me a couple of days...

"What?"

"After what Marian told me, I knew I had to expose your father. She was the only one who knew the truth about what Maximilian did, but she had no proof..." Isabella explained. - Then I understood that I had to prepare myself and look for the truth about Maximilian. That was the only way to save your mother and me from exile... Of course, when I thought you were collaborating with your father...

"What do you mean...?" What truth? Maximus asked, not quite understanding.

Marian told me that they never knew anything about Maximilian before he appeared in their lives. He was a very private man in that regard and, although his parents investigated him, they found nothing..." Isabella continued.

- What does that have to do with what you are doing to my mother?

"Max, you may never find tangible proof of what your father did to Marian. There is only her word and perhaps the testimony of some employees who are not afraid of Maximilian...

"And that's enough for me," said Maximus.

"But it won't be for the authorities..." Isabella refuted.

"What?" - Máximo looked at her confused.

- Maximo, I know that he is your father, the man who raised you, but he is also the one who took you away from your mother and practically destroyed her... And be that as it may, I plan to send him to prison.

Máximo was silent for a moment, he just stared at Isabella, never before had he seen her with so much authority, with so much determination, without a spark of fear.

Send him to prison? Máximo hadn't thought about that, that's not the way prestigious families fixed things, they didn't get involved with the police, with scandals, or with the media.

They themselves were her judges and executioners, they themselves imposed their punishments and lessons, which was a kind of unspoken rule at its core, but Isabella had not been raised that way.

Prison? It sounded very logical, until now Máximo had thought of giving his father the beating of his life, to release all the impotence and then, make him go through the same thing that his mother went through, only that he would send him to a hut, where he would live in exile for the rest of his life.

An eye for an eye, only to a much worse degree, however, there was Isabella, ready to send him to prison and seemed to have no intention of backing down on her decision.

Perhaps for Maximilian that would be much worse, something that was not expected... Yes, definitely, better than sending him to live in a guarded hut, was to put him in a small cell of iron and concrete.

Fuck the scandal or whatever the media said! The opinion of the public gave! And although it was his own father, Maximus knew very well that Maximilian had to pay for all the damage caused.

"Max..." Isabella pushed him out of her thoughts. "Listen to me, your father must be hiding something very big from his past. How did he become a millionaire out of nowhere? What happened to his family, his parents, his siblings? Did he not have anyone? Why keep his life a secret before he meets your mother?

"I... No, I don't know... - Máximo replied, stunned by what Isabella was proposing.

"I asked Aiden to investigate...

"What?" “Máximo was surprised. I didn't expect Isabella to have taken that initiative.

"Aiden has been looking for information about your father..." she said, confidently.

"But my mother already said that they investigated it and found nothing..." Máximo was still thoughtful.

"Maybe they didn't look in the right places or didn't have the resources we have now, but Aiden...

"Did you find anything?" Máximo asked, anxiously, with a mixture of concern, fear, and disappointment on his face.

"Yes, but you haven't told me what it is." He only said that it is something very important and that in a few days he will have all the information. Isabella explained.

"A few days?" Isabella, I need to get my mother out of that house right now..." replied Maximo, stressed. "Take her to a doctor, help her...

"Max, if your father suspects that we know something, he might try to run away or do something against your mother..." Isabella reasoned, and Maximo looked down thoughtfully. "Maximilian is a very dangerous and cunning man. We must be cautious...

"But..." Oh my God. Maximus exhaled, letting out all his breath. Isabella held both of her spouse's hands firmly.

"As long as Maximilian doesn't suspect anything, she'll be fine, she'll be safe, she'll still be locked up, but he won't try anything..." Isabella muttered, trying to reassure Maximo.

- How they did all this happen and right under my nose?! How did I allow it?! he asked himself, frustrated.

Maximo broke free from Isabella's grip and dropped to the ground, sitting on the grass, while holding on and rubbing his head in desperation.

“Max... I'm so sorry, really, I know it's your father..." she said, crouching down beside him.

"After what you told me, I can't help but think about what he could have done in the past that is worse than what he did to my mother. I just want to destroy it. He growled, noticing how every muscle in his body was tense.

"I'm sorry..." Isabella took one of her hands gently, caressing it.

It hurt him to see him like this. Máximo seemed to be crumbling, and it was no wonder; All the horror that her father did, the suffering that her mother went through, everything fell on her like a bucket of cold water.

"I know this must be very hard for you..." she murmured.

"My father was never the most affectionate, he wasn't even very attentive..." commented Maximo, with a lost look. "I always thought he was just very strict, a cold, dry man, with little empathy, but I never thought that..." Máximo clenched his jaw, feeling a lump in his throat. He couldn't finish the sentence.

“I think that... many times appearances can be deceiving, even the closest people may not be all they seem... “Isabella said, sitting next to him. "That doesn't mean you're guilty, I know now..." You were a kid in the beginning, and he was your father, the man you were supposed to trust. He was the one who failed... No, you.

Maximus exhaled, feeling a small spark of relief. His spouse's words sounded comforting, and he thanked the universe to have her by his side at that moment.

Isabella got up, wiping her butt a little from the dampness of the grass, and held out a hand to her spouse. His expression reflected tenderness, understanding, and compassion, which made Maximo's heartbeat faster.

"Shall we go home?" She asked with some shyness.

Maximo stretched out his hand towards Isabella's.

"Thank you.

“Why? she asked, perplexed.

- For forgiving me and staying by my side. - he affirmed, remembering the offer he had made to Isabella to give her freedom once she had told him the story of his past with Elisa. She smiled at him, blushing, as she had always done with Maximo Collins.