Chapter 96 The Refuge

Remaining silent, Máximo saw his spouse let go of her hand and go to the closet in his parents' room.

He just watched her walk away not knowing what to say to her or how to cheer her up, how to take away that pain and make her feel better, it seemed like it had been a bad idea to let her come back so soon to that place so full of memories.

The young woman approached a corner, bent down, sculpted for a while, very carefully among some boxes full of dust and from there, she took out a small box.

"What's that?" - Máximo asked seeing Isabella return with the box, she did not answer, she just left it on a counter, opened it and took some photos of it.

Maximo saw the old and somewhat blurry photos that Isabella showed him, memories of her childhood, of a sweet and beautiful girl, happy with her loving parents.

Isabella's crying intensified as she went through the photos, the moans became louder, Máximo couldn't take it anymore, after taking the last photo, he pulled her against his chest, squeezing her tightly in a strong hug, while he himself held back his own tears.

Seeing Isabella like this, in that state, had him destroyed inside.

Isabella clung to Máximo and there she cried like a little girl, like that girl who didn't have the opportunity to say goodbye to her father, and that young woman who lived through her mother's suffering and couldn't even mourn her properly, because she had to be strong to survive on the streets and in the shelters.

Several minutes later, Isabella calmed down, Máximo had let her vent, while he caressed and held her.

"Better?" Máximo asked cautiously.

“Yes... I... I think so..." The young woman tried to wipe her tears with her hands, sad.

"I'm so sorry, my dear..." Máximo slid his thumb down Isabella's cheek, wiping away an unruly tear.

"Okay, I'm okay..." Isabella tried to sound louder and more confident.

"No, it's not right..." Máximo took her by the shoulders and stared at her. - Listen to me well: if I had a power, if I were granted a single wish, I swear I would ask to erase all the suffering you have gone through, because you do not deserve it...

"Max..." Isabella pursed her lips, pouting.

"But since I know it's impossible and I can't change your past, I can only offer you one thing..."

"What?" Isabella asked in a thread of voice.

“A better future...

"Oh, Max, my honey..." Isabella felt her eyes fill with tears again.

"No, listen, please..." I know that sometimes I am difficult, stubborn, bitter, jealous, and possessive. I don't think I deserve your love... But even so, I was fortunate that you love me, and I thank you more than I can express. I have no way to pay you. Every day I try to be a better version of myself, for you, for our family. All I can offer you is to do everything in my power to make you happy, to give you a better future and so that you never suffer again. I pray every day that this will be enough for you to continue to love me.

Isabella's tears were pouring down again.

Máximo kissed her with intensity and passion, taking her in his arms as from the beginning. Despite the passage of time, nothing had changed in their hearts.

The sweet taste of Isabella's lips, which he always loved, now linked with the salty taste of her tears, yet he didn't stop.

Isabella reciprocated the kiss, feeling her heart agitated, how much more could she love that man, she was even capable of giving her own life for him.

Once, when they met, she had the absurd idea that they were destined, sometime later, she was certain, he was the love of her life.

Their lips parted, both of them trying to regain their composure and breath. Isabella took a photo of the table, one that stood out from the others, showing her newlywed parents, just the two of them in the town hall.

"Max... Did I ever tell you how my parents met?" Isabella asked, handing an old photo to Maximo.

"No..." he replied, surprised, as he looked at the image.

"My father ran over my mother. Isabella said with a faint smile. Máximo looked up at her, initially surprised, but then smiled as he remembered how they met and their first meeting.

"Come," he said, taking Isabella's hand. "It's time to go home." “The young woman picked up the photos and together they walked towards the exit. “I was thinking it would be good to remodel this place.

"Really?" Isabella asked, surprised.

"Yes, this could be a good refuge for when you want to escape the city and rest..."

"And if you want, you could sometime accompany me..." She added. "And it could be our refuge."

"I like that..." Maximo stopped at the door, staring Isabella in the eyes.

"I love you, Max," she blurted out without hesitation.

"I love you, Isabella.

*

A LITTLE EXTRA: three years later.

Aiden was clinging to his spouse's hand, though she was actually the one squeezing him tightly as her moans echoed throughout the room.

"Come on, princess... Keep it up! You can! Aiden encouraged her.

"Now! " Emily shouted with all her might, in the midst of a shudder.

Emily breathed heavily, trying to catch her breath, while Aiden gave her a brief but sweet kiss on the forehead.

A moment later, a loud squeak caught the attention of both of them: a nurse was approaching with the little girl wrapped in a blanket, and the world seemed to stop for them.

"Welcome, Amelia..." Aiden murmured to the little girl, while the nurse handed her into Emily's arms.

"She's perfect..." Emily murmured, a lump in her throat, trying to hold back tears.

After a while, Emily was moved to her room, and the family, who had been waiting anxiously outside, began to enter, filling them with flowers, balloons, gifts, and congratulations.

"I told you so!" You must have a girl! Maximus exclaimed with a triumphant air. "You're going to have to take great care of her...

"What are you talking about, if you also have a girl?" Aiden replied haughtily.

"Yes, but I don't have so many sins to pay for..." Máximo lowered his voice, muttering the last words to Aiden. “With women.

- Sins with women?! Aiden shouted indignantly. - HA! If I have been a gentleman, have I not, princess?... It's not my fault that women naturally approached me...

"Approach naturally?" Emily raised an eyebrow from her spot on the gurney, paying attention to the conversation.

"Yes, it wasn't my fault..." Aiden shrugged his shoulders as if nothing had happened. So, I don't have any sin to pay, least of all with my daughter. What's more if I had. n more daughters, I'm sure nothing would happen... My destiny will be to be surrounded by my beautiful princesses. Aiden said proudly.

"Ten?!" You are crazy?! Emily shouted, both perplexed and irritated. "You'll have to have them with someone else, because it won't be with me... Do you know what hurt me?" I would like to see you going through this pain...

"Honey..." Aiden approached his spouse, muttering. - Don't make me look bad, you ruin my performance. I just want to annoy Maximo; Then we'll discuss the number of children, okay?

"Number?" Is it serious? Emily asked aloud.

"You can't handle the ones you have..." Maximo muttered maliciously, trying to hold back a laugh. "We all know Emily is in charge, you don't have to act on anything... Have dignity, please.

Everyone in the room laughed, Emily, Maximo, Marian, Margaret, Isabella, even Aiden himself, who ended up giving up, had already lost this battle against Maximo, but not the war.

For a long time, the family talked and joked, everyone had fun and pampered little Amelia, until it was time to leave the new parents alone.

Margaret and Marian were walking ahead, they were very focused on a conversation about who the baby looked like the most, who was still too young to know, by the way.

Further back, walking slowly, came Isabella and Maximo, holding hands.

"Why didn't you say anything?" I thought we would give you the news..." Maximo murmured to his spouse discreetly.

"No, we'll do it later..." she whispered, thoughtfully.

"But the family was together...

"This is your moment, Max, a special and unique moment for Emily and Aiden... Then we can get together and say to everyone, in the meantime, let's let them enjoy their bubble of happiness... Later, we will have ours again. Isabella whispered, running her hand tenderly over her belly.

The end.