Chapter 3

• In the blink of an eye, she sees how two tall, well-built men dressed in black step in to defend her. She quickly gets to her feet, fear gripping her so tightly it makes her want to cry and scream at the life she’s living.
• Isabella was about to run, but someone grabbed her hand. Panic surged through her—she thought it was one of the bad men. But no, it was one of the men in black.
• "Are you all right, miss?" the bodyguard asked.
• With teary eyes, still trembling with fear, she nodded before murmuring,
• "Thank you so much for saving me."
• Yet, distrust lingered in her voice as she pulled away from his grasp.
• "It’s thanks to my boss that I was sent. Do you need anything?" he asked, noticing her pale face.
• "I don’t need anything… You’ve already done enough for me. Once again, thank you," she said before turning away and continuing her path.
• That’s when she noticed the two luxury cars parked ahead. In one of them sat Cristian, watching her through the tinted window. But she couldn’t see him. To her, the glass was just a mirror reflecting her own disheveled appearance.
• If only she knew Cristian was looking straight into her eyes, what would she think?
• Isabella took a deep breath, still staring at the glass that only showed her reflection. A weak smile crossed her lips before she walked away.
• She ran again, as far as her strength would take her.
• Rubén got into the car after making sure the men who had tried to harm the young woman were left breathless and unable to get back up.
• "Who was that girl?" Cristian asked.
• "I didn’t ask her, sir… She looked terrified, but when I asked if she was okay, she said she was," Rubén said.
• "What are you waiting for? Move, I don’t want to waste any more time," Cristian said, full of bitterness, yet unable to stop thinking about those green eyes.
• He shook his head, and Liam noticed his unease, but he didn’t say a word.
• Isabella stopped running because her legs couldn’t take it anymore. She thanked God and the man who had sent his people to save her life. Her stomach growled, a clear sign that even her baby was hungry. She stepped into a café, the delicious scent of freshly baked bread filling her nose. Wiping away her tears, she walked up to the counter.
• She pulled out the little money she had left as her turn to order arrived.
• "Good afternoon, what would you like to order?" asked the older man behind the counter.
• "Hello… Could you please give me these two cheese buns and… a small coffee?" she asked while the man observed her carefully.
• "As you wish. You may take a seat wherever you like, and your order will be ready shortly, miss," he said kindly.
• She nodded, feeling as if her world was crumbling. With weak steps, she made her way to a table by a large glass window. As she waited for her order, she placed her belly firsthand. Unable to hold back, tears streamed down her face—Isabella was one of the most desperate moments of her life.
• A waiter arrived with her order, and to her surprise, he placed pastries and a cup of hot chocolate in front of her.
• "Excuse me, but there must be a mistake… I didn’t order this," she said, looking up at the young man.
• "Don't worry… This is on the house, miss. Please, accept it and enjoy it," the waiter said kindly. She nodded, but his kindness struck her heart so deeply that she covered her face with her hands and began to cry. The emotions overwhelmed her—after everything, someone was finally being kind to her. Just like the man who had saved her.
• Isabella took a deep breath before starting to eat. Even though she wanted to devour everything quickly, she forced herself to eat slowly out of embarrassment. She savored the chicken pastries and the creamy hot chocolate, letting the warmth comfort her.
• After finishing her meal, she felt as if life was returning to her body. She stood up and approached the man at the register.
• "I can’t accept this, sir. I truly insist on paying for it," she said, holding the tray in her hands.
• "Allow me, please," he replied, taking the tray and handing it to a passing waiter. "What’s your name?"
• "Isabella Thorne, sir," she answered, feeling a wave of embarrassment.
• "You’re new in town, aren’t you? I won’t ask why you were crying, dear. I’m sure that if my beloved wife were in my place, she would have done the same for you. So, there’s no reason to feel ashamed."
• He paused for a moment before asking, "You don’t have a place to stay, let alone a job, do you?"
• He was a charismatic man, radiating warmth and good energy.
• "The truth is… no," she said, her eyes glistening.
• "Would you like to work for me? I don’t pay much, but you could work part-time while looking for another job to support yourself."
• When the man said that Isabella looked him straight in the eyes.
• "Are you serious, sir?" she asked.
• "Do I look like someone who would lie to a young woman like you? My name is Federico. This café belongs to my wife and me, and she would love to meet you, dear. The job I’m offering is as a waitress—keeping the place clean and providing good service. I’ll be expecting you first thing in the morning," Federico said.
• "Excuse me, but… could I start now? I really want to pay you back for what you’ve done for me," she said, trying to smile.
• "No, dear, go get some rest. It’s obvious you’ve had a rough time. Look, two blocks from here, there’s a hotel that charges per night. Some of my employees stay there because it’s affordable," Federico said as he packed a few more pastries and handed Isabella fifty dollars.
• "No, sir, I couldn’t possibly… You’ve already done enough by giving me food and a job without even knowing me."
• "Don’t be stubborn, young lady. Take this as an advance on your salary. Go rest, and I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Working hours are from 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM."
• "You truly are a blessing. While so many have wanted to harm me, you’ve offered me your help. Thank you so much."
• "When life gets tough, there’s always a ray of sunlight. And even if that light is small, it’s enough to start growing," Federico said wisely.