Chapter 8 The Rebirth Of The Family

• Dinner time arrived. Isabella left her cabin, terrified, her hands sweating cold, as she did not know what awaited her with that family.
• She entered the imposing and luxurious restaurant, full of tables, hanging crystal chandeliers, and fine silverware, enlivened by a small orchestra on the stage.
• The restaurant receptionist greeted her with a slight smile.
• "Miss Sinclair, you can take any table you like; the restaurant is very large, and your family will not fill it up. I suggest a table near the stage, where you will be welcomed and announcements will be made."
• "Okay, thank you," she muttered with some embarrassment.
• Despite the receptionist's suggestion, Isabella chose a somewhat secluded and discreet table. It was early, and dinner had not started yet; very few diners had arrived, all strangers.
• Time passed, and it was almost dinner time when Isabella was surprised to notice someone abruptly sitting next to her.
• "Hello, cousin!" he greeted with a smile. "I almost didn't recognize you..."
• "Oh, Aiden..." she murmured, looking around nervously, hoping to avoid encountering Valeria again.
• "Wow, you look beautiful!" he exclaimed, looking Isabella up and down.
• "Thank you, I..."
• "Wow!" He looked straight into her eyes. "No, really, you are beautiful. It's a shame you're my cousin because..." Aiden raised an eyebrow mischievously. "I can't even imagine how you would look if you wore some makeup and clothes more suitable for your age."
• "What?" Isabella looked down at her outfit.
• She was wearing a simple dark green floral dress, sleeveless, with a knee-length bell skirt and matching flats. It was a modest and unpretentious choice.
• Certainly, there were more beautiful and eye-catching clothes available in the boutique, but that didn't interest her.
• This dress was one of the few outfits she had found to her liking and that could serve her well for a modest life after the cruise.
• "Hey, Isa..." Aiden settled into the seat next to her. "Do you mind if I stay at this table with you?"
• "No, but..."
• "Great, because I think I'll do better if I share a table with you, you know..." Aiden winked at her. "At the outcast table..."
• "What? You were also cast out of the family?" Isabella asked, astonished.
• "Not formally, but I don't get along with most of them..." Aiden pointed to a table somewhat distant, where Valeria, along with the older couple, were watching them disdainfully.
• "Oh..."
• "Hey, look..." Aiden pointed to the entrance of the restaurant. It was almost seven, and more guests were beginning to arrive.
• Aiden amused himself by pointing out each character, explaining their connection to the family.
• There were about thirty people, including distant cousins, second uncles and aunts, but essentially the main heirs of the family were Albert Sinclair, Isabella's father, who had been exiled and had already passed away; Ricardo Sinclair, Aiden and Valeria's father; and Hector Sinclair, who was also Isabella's uncle and had two daughters and two sons.
• Practically everyone was in the dining room, and dinner was about to start when Maximo and Emily Collins made their entrance at the main entrance, dressed in formal attire like models.
• All eyes turned to them, and the dining room fell silent momentarily, followed by murmurs, especially because Margaret de Sinclair herself was accompanying them.
• Isabella stood with her mouth open for a moment. Was it them? The ones who had almost run her over that same morning? She looked closely at Maximo; her heart skipped a beat. The young man looked even more attractive under the dim restaurant lights, but he was definitely the same man.
• "Them?" Isabella stammered to Aiden, unable to believe what her eyes were seeing. "Are they also Sinclairs? What relation do we have?"
• "No..." Aiden murmured, frowning as he looked at the newcomers. "They are not Sinclairs; they belong to the Collins family, our biggest competition."
• "What?"
• "Yes, it's just that..." Aiden fell silent.
• "I can't believe it. What are they doing here? And accompanied by the grandmother?" He looked at Isabella as if she could give him an answer. "I thought it was supposed to be a family gathering?"
• "I... I don't know..." she stammered, confused.
• Isabella observed the older woman accompanying the young Collins, Margaret de Sinclair, her grandmother, whom she vaguely remembered from her father's funeral. But of course, she now looked much older, although her cold expression still gave Isabella chills.
• With all the expressions of confusion, horror, or anger that could be seen on the guests' faces, Isabella was sure that something important was happening or, rather, was about to happen.
• Dinner started normally, as far as possible. The delicious dishes were served; however, the atmosphere became somewhat somber.
• Still, no one dared to approach the table where the Collins were dining with the head of the Sinclair family, Margaret.
• After the dessert plates were cleared, the waiters began to distribute the champagne, and everyone watched as the prominent Mrs. Margaret, a somewhat wrinkled woman with many strands of gray hair, got up from her seat to address the stage.
• "Good evening," the woman began with a microphone in hand. "Sinclair family, welcome everyone to this family gathering. I know it's very strange for all of you to reunite like this; we hadn't had a family gathering since... since the death of my late William fifteen years ago..."
• The woman took a moment of silence.
• "How strange..." Isabella muttered in her seat, pensive.
• "What's strange?" Aiden asked curiously.
• "I hadn't heard about the death of my grandfather, but if it was fifteen years ago, it must have been close to the death of my father," Isabella responded, somewhat confused.
• "It must be a strange coincidence," Aiden nodded, when Margaret's voice interrupted them from the stage.
• "But as you may have already guessed, this trip that I have called for has a reason... Today we begin a new stage in the family, and that's why we are all here... Before we start with the announcements, I want everyone to raise their glasses and toast," she said, raising the glass she held in her other hand.
• "Because this will be a new stage of expansion, and this trip will signify the rebirth of the Sinclair family... Cheers!"
• "Cheers!" they all said in unison, each drinking from their glass.
• "Well..." the woman handed the glass to an assistant and settled in the middle of the stage.
• "As the main and only head of the Sinclair family, I have invited you all here because I believe it is time to pass on my power to my next successor," she continued. Everyone tensed, expectant. "That's why, during the next fifteen days on this cruise, I will take the time to get to know and analyze each of my grandchildren very well, because I will choose one of you, and the chosen one will inherit the head of the Sinclair family."
• "What?!" a thunderous cry was heard in the room.