Chapter 4 You Are Also a Sinclair

Isabella was stunned, while Maximo stretched the bundle of money towards her.

"Here," he snorted.

"What?" Isabella looked at him confused.

"Here, some money. He repeated very seriously, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't want it. She refuted immediately, backing away. "

Although Isabella was in need of that money, after hearing Emily's derogatory words, pride did not allow her to receive it, it seemed humiliating.

"Miss, receive it, it's compensation for the bad time, I'm sure it will help you a lot." The driver intervened very modestly, bowing slightly in front of her. "My boss won't let her go, until she gets something for the setback."

Isabella looked embarrassed at Maximo, who was still holding the sizable bale of bills stretched out toward her.

That this man wouldn't let her go? Well, he seemed a rather stern and authoritarian man.

"Well..." Isabella took the bills, lowering her gaze.

Máximo was paralyzed for a moment, he felt some pity for the young girl, he momentarily felt the need to tell her something, but he didn't know what or why.

"Thank you. Isabella muttered under her breath when she noticed that Maximo was still standing there, like a statue, waiting for something.

A second later, Isabella turned around, continuing on her way, her pulse racing with rage and indignation, feeling like a small thing, just as Emily had let her know.

Isabella inhaled deeply, to prevent any more tears from flowing, and hurried toward her destination.

Meanwhile, Máximo returned to his car and like her, he also had an accelerated pulse and his senses somewhat dazed, but she guessed that perhaps he felt that way because he still had the impression of the accident.

The car started slowly, in the background you could hear Emily's words as a murmur, Maximo was concentrated on the window, watching Isabella who was walking hurriedly on the sidewalk, he saw her stop a couple of meters away and divide the money he had given her, between two homeless elderly people who were sitting on the sidewalk.

The car moved forward, and Máximo almost twisted his neck in an attempt to continue watching her through the window, he saw how Isabella resumed her pace, making a small gesture of pain and then, he lost sight of her.

She felt bad, he felt a tightness in his chest, but she was stubborn and stubborn, good that with that money she would have been able to pay for a hospital, treatment and even have money left over, that was the comfort he gave himself, it was not his fault, nor his problem, but hers.

***

Almost at the line, a few minutes before sailing, Isabella arrived with heavy breathing at the port from where the cruise ship would depart, stopping at a small reception that she recognized as bearing the same stamp as the ticket she was carrying.

"Excuse me..." He murmured to the elegant man behind the counter. Whoever barely looked up, saw her with horror.

"Excuse me, miss, but we don't offer charitable aid here... Please leave. “He snorted reluctantly.

"What?" No, you're wrong, I'm not here to ask for help..." She tried to explain when the subject interrupted her.

"Oh, is she a new employee of the service?" The man detailed it from top to bottom. "I'm going to have to talk to the manager, they should be more careful who they hire with..." He growled, raising the speaker of a phone to call someone.

"No!" I'm a guest! Isabella said, irritated, leaving the envelope containing the letter and the ticket above the reception.

The man was perplexed by the girl's statement and very slowly, he left the phone speaker in its place, opened that envelope and when he reviewed both papers, his eyes opened wide.

"Well, I'm going to need an ID." The subject grumbled, incredulous, raising his face with dignity, while typing quickly on his computer.

Isabella took the damn ID out of her pocket and also left it on the counter.

How long would people continue to look down on her for her appearance? she weighed indignantly remembering the accident that had happened a few minutes ago.

Finally, after several minutes of waiting, the receptionist verified that both the identification and the ticket were real, and still somewhat surprised by the appearance of the young woman, he went to her.

"Well, Miss Sinclair, could you hand us your bags?" For the staff to take it to their cabin. The man said. Isabella raised her small bag.

"I only have this one and it will stay with me. She replied and the surprised man nodded.

"Well, in that case... We will guide you immediately to your cabin."

The subject called another employee to accompany her, and they only managed to advance a few steps when, suddenly, they heard the scream of a woman stopping them.

"Hey, listen!"

Isabella and the clerk turned around and saw a middle-aged couple, and a couple of young men, a boy, and a girl, both very attractive, all walking hurriedly, while a group of clerks dragged a pile of suitcases further back.

The younger girl walked up to her, not even taking a moment to look at her face or ask.

"You!" He stretched out a small carry-on suitcase toward Isabella. "Where are you going?!" Take my bags and take them to my cabin right away! He snapped his fingers.

"What?" She stammered, Isabella, confused.

"What, what, what?" The girl approached Isabella in an intimidating way. "Are you stupid?" Don't you know who I am? Hurry up while my dad checks us in or it's the last day you'll work here! He said while raising an eyebrow arrogantly.

"Excuse me, Miss Valeria. The clerk interjected, with an embarrassed expression. "But I think there's a mistake..."

"What?" Valeria looked at him angrily.

"The young lady here..." The young man pointed to Isabella. “She's a guest.

"What?!" Valeria shouted in horror. "No, no, no, you must be wrong, because as far as I know, this is a family reunion, no one but the Sinclair family will be present. She blurted out angrily.

"Yes, miss, that's the thing, she's a Sinclair too. The employee explained.

"It can't be!" The boy who had arrived with Valeria approached from the reception, smiling. "Nice to meet you! He stretched out his hand to Isabella. "I'm Aiden Sinclair.

"Isabella... Isabella Sinclair. Isabella stretched out her hand towards him, somewhat unsure.

"What are you doing?!" How do you hold his hand?! Look at her, it's obvious that she's not a Sinclair! Valeria said indignantly, pulling Aiden out.

"Didn't you hear?" Aiden looked at Valeria frowning. "Of course she's a Sinclair!" Then Aiden turned to Isabella curiously. "Wait, what branch of the family do you come from?"

"What?" Isabella looked at them confused.

"Whose daughter, are you?" Aiden insisted to Isabella.

"My father... My father is Albert Sinclair. I stutter somewhat uncomfortable with Aiden's closeness, which he detailed attentively.

"It can't be!" Are you Uncle Albert's daughter?! The one they disinherited and banished?! I'm your fan! Aiden hugged Isabella, making her more nervous. "We're cousins, Isa!"

"Let go, Aiden!" Valeria screamed, pushing Aiden, to approach Isabella arrogantly. "So, you're the disinherited one in the family?" “He looked her up and down. "I don't know what you're doing here, you and your family don't belong to the Sinclair’s anymore... You're a disgrace!" Shame on you to call me your family! “She snorted angrily.

"Enough is enough, Valeria!" Aiden got in the way.

"Hey!" A voice was heard in the background, everyone turned, it was the middle-aged man, he was approaching holding the hand of a woman, the same one who had arrived with the young people. - What are they doing?! We are already registered, let's go! He shouted with authority.

The couple passed by them, Isabella noticed how the older man, looked at her suspiciously and how Aiden also threw a bad face at her.

"I'll get my cabin..." He growled reluctantly. "Goodbye, Isa! I'll see you later..." Aiden winked at Isabella and continued on his way.

"I don't know who had the stupid idea of inviting you to this meeting, but don't think that you're already one of us because you're here, enjoy yourself while you can, because when the cruise ends, you'll return to the rat hole you came from." Valeria whispered with a look full of arrogance, and then passed by, bumping Isabella.

Isabella remained static, she no longer knew if it had been a good idea to have attended that family reunion, but just imagining having to return to the shelter, a chill ran through her body.

No! It was impossible, she couldn't go back because she knew what was waiting there, it was preferable to live on the street.

"Miss?" The clerk who accompanied her to the cabin called her, making her react with a start. "Don't worry, as I understood, you're a Sinclair too, so enjoy, I got something out of this family, dress up, dress well, eat a lot and have fun..." The boy smiled warmly at her, getting Isabella to calm her nerves a little.