Chapter 85 Liar

This was the last straw! Of course, everyone already knew that those two were in love! Emily had declared it loudly!

But... Could they really not contain themselves in a moment like this, after everything that had happened and the fact that she had fainted? This was too much.

Maximo weighed as he entered the room, trying to shoot lightning bolts through his eyes, to burn Aiden's hands, which were still on his sister.

He was already in a bad mood about everything about Maximilian, added to what Isabella had told him about Diego and now he had to deal with this.

"Max?" Emily stammered, visibly nervous when she noticed her brother's irritation.

"The doctor has arrived..." Maximo growled, stepping aside to allow the doctor and Isabella, who accompanied him, to enter.

After several minutes of check-up, the doctor left, leaving recommendations for some rest and avoiding stress.

"All right, who wants to start? Máximo asked, while looking at the couple seriously".

"Max, I..." Emily tried to speak but was interrupted by Aiden.

"Maximo..." Aiden got up from the sofa next to the bed, determined and dignified. “Emily and I started our relationship some time ago, a few months ago, actually. Máximo raised his eyebrows, surprised. "And we decided to keep it a secret...

"I asked that it be kept secret..." Emily interjected, looking at the ground with embarrassment. - For my father... I knew that Maximilian would not accept it easily and I thought it was better to meet first.

"I thought they hated each other..." Maximo looked at Emily with a contradictory expression.

"Well, they say that from hate to love is only one step..." Emily shrugged.

"Emily..." Maximo took a step forward, but Aiden intervened again.

- Maximo, I know you don't like me, and we all know that I wasn't your fan either, but after all these discoveries and seeing that you are honest with Isabella, I have managed to accept you... I can even say that lately I have liked you a little.

"You say it because you are going out with my sister..." Máximo crossed his arms.

"And you forcibly married my cousin, whom I love like a sister..." Aiden replied, making Maximo frown even more. - Look, I'm getting to the point: I love her, I'm madly in love with your sister, and I'm going to be with her, even if you don't agree. However, I would also like us to get along, for our families and for the women we love. Aiden extended his hand to Maximo, who looked at him seriously and his lips pressed in a line.

"Max?" Isabella called him with concern.

"Maximo, please, I love him..." Emily interjected urgently.

After a moment full of tension, Maximo, absorbed in himself, reached out to Aiden, and gave him a firm squeeze.

"Welcome to the family, brother-in-law. Maximo said, lightening his expression and surprising everyone. "Thank you for everything you did, Aiden. Thank you for helping Isabella, my mother, for saving my family and for loving my sister, even though it can be a little unbearable at times...

"Max! Emily complained, blushing.

Maximo let out a small smile, trying to keep his seriousness. Aiden, relieved, was about to let go of his hand when Maximo held him slightly.

"But listen, if you ever hurt my sister, know that she won't be alone..." I'll make you pay for every tear she sheds because of you, understand? Maximo warned him with the same warning he had given Aiden when he married Isabella.

Aiden, understanding Maximo's gesture, nodded with a witty smile.

“I understand. Aiden said with a lopsided smile. "Thank you.

"Well, we'd better leave them alone..." Maximo said, taking Isabella's hand, who looked at him with admiration and pride. Finally, he and his cousin could get along. "But remember that the doctor recommended rest. He warned, causing Aiden to roll his eyes and Emily blush.

Just as the couple was about to leave the room, Emily's call stopped them.

- Wait! Max, Isabella!

“What's going on? Feeling bad? Maximo asked, turning worriedly.

"No, there's something I wanted to say..." Emily blurted out, visibly embarrassed.

"Tell me...

"It's... Above all, for Isabella...

"What's going on?" Isabella asked, looking at her curiously.

"I want to start by apologizing..." Emily began, moving closer to Isabella. The young woman, surprised, remained silent. - Listen, I... I'm new to this, I'm just learning to apologize. I was always taught to be superior and not to bend..." Emily tried to explain, noticing Isabella's confusion. “It's not that I want to justify myself, I'm just trying to say that I want to change, I want to be better and start by recognizing my mistakes. Isabella, I'm sorry for what I did to you and everything I told you. I was wrong; you are really a good, kind, honest woman. Without a doubt, you are much better than me...

"I don't..." Isabella tried to refute, but Emily wouldn't let her speak.

"Yes, I understand, I'm sure you'll say that you're not better than anyone else, you're... You are a great, brave, and intelligent woman, capable of facing my father..." Emily said, while Isabella opened her eyes wide. "Aiden told me that all this was because of you; You were the one who had the idea and made the decision to investigate it, you even wanted to confront it. That's it... Admirable...

"Thank you. Isabella muttered, visibly moved.

"I hope that one day you can forgive me and that we can get closer. Thank you for all you did".

"I have nothing to forgive you, Emily. Just knowing that you want to improve, I feel happy. And from the bottom of my heart, I hope they are very happy. " Isabella replied, looking at both Emily and Aiden.

Maximo wrapped his spouse around his shoulders, looking at her proudly. Emily was right; Isabella was a very brave woman, even though she herself sometimes doubted it.

After the emotional words, the couple left the room to accompany Marian and Elena with tea. There was only something left to be resolved, and in a few hours, Diego would have to face the truth.

"Good afternoon..." Diego greeted the woman from the service who received him at the door of the mansion.

“Mr. Ortiz, Mr. Collins is waiting for you in the office. - The maid invited him in.

“In the office? Diego replied, surprised. What was Máximo doing there? No one used that office, except Maximilian.

"That's right, sir. Go ahead.

Diego entered the house and went to the huge door of the office, knocking cautiously. Maximo's sudden call, for no clear reason, and the meeting at the Collins' main mansion, in his father's office, seemed suspicious to him.

"Go ahead!" Maximo's voice echoed on the other side.

Diego opened the door and entered. Máximo was standing in front of the desk, with a frowning and somber expression, waiting for him. The office seemed larger than usual. Diego approached cautiously, when suddenly, Máximo moved abruptly.

A strong blow hit Diego, who fell to the ground, dazed.

"You're an unhappy, liar! Maximo growled, feeling relieved after the blow.

"What...?" Diego stammered, trying to get up and holding his jaw.

"I know the whole truth, Diego..." Máximo continued, walking back and forth in the office. - You worked for my father...

"What?" Diego was surprised, wondering how he knew. Did he make a mistake? Or was it Maximilian who told her?

“Or should I say that... You work for our father..." added Maximo, stopping in front of Diego, who had already rejoined, watching him face to face, with anger and helplessness.

Diego felt as if he had received a second blow, this time in the stomach. He struggled to stay upright against Máximo.

"How do you know?" Diego stammered, completely astonished.

"Does that matter?" - Máximo replied. "The only thing that matters is that I know. I know that you are the son of Maximiliano, who is actually Gustavo Ortiz. I know that he planted you in my companies to keep an eye on me, and that you tried to steal my fiancée, Isabella...

"What?" Diego's eyes opened wide. His heart was beating wildly. What would happen now?

"Now that I've summarized everything I know, I recommend that you be honest and tell me the parts of the story that I still have to go..." Máximo hissed in a threatening voice. "Because if you dare to lie to me...

“Max... I..." Diego stammered, nervously.

"And the first thing I want to know is... Do you still have feelings for my spouse?"

"Come on! Tell me! Do you still have feelings for Isabella?! Máximo repeated, when he got no answer, while Diego remained paralyzed.