Chapter 6 You Are Also A Sinclair?

• Without further delay, he pulled out his wallet, extracting a substantial amount of money, which he offered to Isabella.
• Isabella was stunned as Máximo extended the bundle of money towards her.
• "Take it..." he grunted.
• "What?" Isabella looked at him, confused.
• "Take it, some money," he repeated, his expression serious, raising an eyebrow.
• "I don't want it," she immediately refused, stepping back.
• Despite needing the money, Isabella's pride wouldn't allow her to accept it, especially after Emily's contemptuous words. It felt humiliating to her.
• "Miss, please take it. It's compensation for the inconvenience. I'm sure it will help you a lot," the chauffeur intervened with modesty, bowing slightly. "My boss won't let you go until you receive something for the trouble."
• Feeling embarrassed under Máximo's serious gaze and the insistence of his chauffeur, Isabella hesitated. Would this man not let her leave without taking it? He seemed quite severe and authoritative.
• "Well..." Isabella finally took the bills, lowering her gaze.
• Máximo stood silently for a moment, feeling a twinge of sympathy for the young girl. He briefly felt the urge to say something to her, though he wasn't sure what or why.
• "Thank you," Isabella muttered quietly, noticing Máximo still standing there like a statue, waiting for... something.
• A moment later, Isabella turned away, her heart pounding with anger and indignation, feeling small and insignificant, much like Emily had made her feel.
• She took a deep breath to hold back the tears and hurriedly continued on her way towards her destination.
• Meanwhile, Máximo returned to his car. Like Isabella, his pulse raced and his thoughts were jumbled, perhaps still reeling from the aftermath of the accident.
• The car started slowly, and in the background, Emily's voice murmured faintly. Máximo stared out the window, watching Isabella walk briskly along the sidewalk. He saw her stop a couple of meters away and divide the money he had given her between two elderly homeless people sitting on the sidewalk.
• As the car moved forward, Máximo strained to keep watching her through the window. He saw Isabella resume her pace, wincing slightly in pain, and then she disappeared from his view. His gaze lingered on the spot where she had been, a mix of emotions swirling within him, before the car turned a corner and Isabella was no longer in sight.
• He felt uneasy, a tightness in his chest, but he remained stubborn. Even though with that money she could have paid for hospital treatment and still had money left over, he consoled himself. It wasn't his fault, not his problem, but hers.
• ---
• Almost at the deadline, just minutes before the ship was due to set sail, Isabella arrived at the port, breathless. She stopped at a small reception area, recognizable by the same seal as the ticket she carried.
• "Excuse me..." she murmured to the elegant man behind the counter, who barely glanced up and looked at her with dismay.
• "Excuse me, miss, but we do not offer charitable assistance here... Please, leave," he grumbled reluctantly.
• "What? No, you're mistaken. I'm not here to ask for help..." Isabella tried to explain, but the man interrupted her.
• "Ah, are you a new employee of the service?" The man scrutinized her from head to toe. "I will have to speak with the manager. They should be more careful with who they hire..." he growled, picking up the phone to call someone.
• "No! I am a guest!" Isabella shouted, irritated, as she left the envelope containing the letter and the ticket on the reception desk.
• The man was perplexed by her statement. Slowly, he put down the phone receiver, opened the envelope, and as he reviewed both papers, his eyes widened.
• "Well, I will need some identification," the man grumbled, incredulous, raising his face with dignity as he quickly typed on his computer.
• Isabella took out the requested identification from her pocket and placed it on the counter.
• How long would people continue to underestimate her because of her appearance? She pondered indignantly, remembering the accident she had just experienced minutes ago. Finally, after several minutes of waiting, the receptionist confirmed that both the identification and the ticket were real. Still somewhat puzzled by her appearance, he addressed her.
• "Well, Miss Sinclair, could you hand over your luggage to us? So that the staff can take it to your cabin," the man indicated. Isabella lifted her small bag.
• "I only have this, 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 man called another employee to accompany her, and they had only taken a few steps when suddenly they heard a woman's scream stopping them.
• "Hey, listen!"
• Isabella and the employee turned around and saw a middle-aged couple and a pair of young people, a boy and a girl, both very attractive, all walking hurriedly, while a group of employees dragged a pile of suitcases behind them.
• The youngest girl approached Isabella without even bothering to look at her face or ask.
• "You!" She thrust a small carry-on bag towards Isabella. "Where are you going?! Take my suitcases too and bring them to my cabin immediately!" She snapped her fingers.
• "What?" Isabella stammered, confused.
• "What, what, what?" The girl stepped closer to Isabella, intimidatingly.
• "Are you stupid? Don't you know who I am? Hurry up while my father checks us in or this will be the last day you work here!" She shouted, raising an eyebrow arrogantly.
• "Excuse me, Miss Valeria," the employee intervened, looking embarrassed. "But I think there's a mistake..."
• "What?" Valeria looked at him angrily.
• "The young lady here..." The employee pointed to Isabella. "She is a guest."
• "What?!" Valeria shouted in horror. "No, no, no, you must be mistaken, because as far as I know, this is a family gathering, only the Sinclair family will be present." She snapped angrily.
• "Yes, Miss, that's the thing—she is also a Sinclair," the employee explained.
• "It can't be!"