Chapter 17

Every new beginning is full of prospects and suspicions, but Isabella was putting everything she had into this new journey and was willing to move forward regardless of what happened.
Aléssio and Isabella chatted animatedly in the car, their smiles bringing the hope of a future filled with new achievements and emotions. As they approached the house, Aléssio spotted in the distance a feminine silhouette, standing leaning on a black car with two burly men, one on each side of that woman. Aléssio had no doubt who that silhouette was.
— Oh no! — Aléssio exclaimed, displeased.
— What happened? Any problem?
— Stay in the car while I handle this, okay, princess? Everything will be fine.
Isabella's heart seemed to want to jump out of her chest; her hands were sweating more than usual. Her whole body shivered, she had a bad feeling about that scene, as if something was about to happen and could ruin all her plans. The girl's eyes didn't blink, trying to read the lips of those people talking to Aléssio; she had no idea who they were until she managed to read Aléssio's lips.
— Mom, you can go now; I don't need you. I know well what I'm doing with my life.

"Mom"? Isa thought to herself. Aléssio had never mentioned his mother; he had only talked a bit about his father and the legacy that had left him in a life of crime.
Isabella's cellphone rang loudly, taking her out of her reverie. She quickly searched for her cellphone in her purse and looked outside where Aléssio was with his mother, and the woman grumbled, staring at the car, as if she had heard the cellphone ring.
— Hello? Paloma, I can't talk right now.
— Crazy, where are you? I tried calling you all day.
— Paloma, it's serious. I'm moving to Aléssio's house and I'm very busy right now.
— No! Isa, you can't do such a crazy thing. I have something to...
Before Paloma could finish her sentence, Isabella hung up the phone and put it back in her purse. Aléssio was coming towards the car, and she wanted to know what was going on there.
— Love, what happened? Was it your mother? — Isa asked curiously.
Aléssio started the car and drove past the black Cadillac One with tinted windows, in silence and without looking around. Nothing could be seen inside the car until the lady rolled down the backseat window and gave Isabella a good stare, sending a shiver down Isa's entire body. She felt that it wasn't a typical mother-son encounter and that she wouldn't be introduced in a usual manner, like a regular daughter-in-law.
Silence always tortured Isabella; she preferred a poorly worded answer to silence. The agonizing torture continued. Aléssio parked the car and opened the door for his pregnant girlfriend.
The mystery tormented Isabella, weighing on her like a shadow that followed her every step. Her thoughts swirled like a hurricane, causing a storm in her mind.
The absence of words, of explanations, haunted her more than any difficult conversation could have, creating an abyss between Isabella and Aléssio.
— Aléssio! Aren't you going to say anything? Curiosity is killing me. — Isa stopped in front of her boyfriend and declared — I need answers, since we're going to live together, I need to know what's happening in your life.
— Isabella! — Aléssio firmly held Isa's shoulders and looked into her eyes — you don't need to know everything, and it's better if you don't. Trust me; it will be better for you and the baby. Now, let's go.
Aléssio released Isabella's shoulders, and she felt the lingering pressure from his strong grip. They grabbed their bags and headed into the house, which Isa was already familiar with from some shows she had done with Aléssio.
While unpacking, Isa reflected on what Paloma wanted to talk to her about. Of course, Paloma would try to convince her to give up on living with Aléssio, but Isa wasn't considering any other solution, let alone abortion.
"Crazy idea," she thought.
But she still wanted to know what her friend had to say, so she sent a message.
"Friend, I couldn't talk. Aléssio's mother was in front of his house, and she seemed very upset. I want to know what's going on. Send me a message with what you have to say, and I'll read it calmly."
Isabella sent the message and continued unpacking, organizing the wardrobe space that Aléssio had already reserved for her.
— Hi, princess. I brought some passion fruit juice and some donuts. — Aléssio entered the room all smiles with a tray in his hands — there are also some grapes. The mom-to-be needs to eat well.
— Oh, Aléssio, you're not going to spoil me like this, are you? I might get used to it. — Isa replied playfully.
— Well, get used to it; this will be your life from now on. I won't let anything bad happen to you or our baby. — Aléssio ran his hand over Isabella's belly.

And that scene seemed like the ending of a movie where everyone lives happily ever after. Aléssio, usually reserved and serious in the complexities of his mafia life, now displayed a relaxed, almost playful expression. Isabella, in turn, radiated joy, as if the simple act of being together in the room embodied happiness.
For a moment, the weight of their responsibilities in the mafia seemed distant, and the room was just a sanctuary where they could enjoy the present, without fearing what tomorrow might bring.
Isa's phone rang, pulling her out of that magical moment and bringing her back to reality.
"What I have to say needs to be in person."
It was an enigmatic message from Paloma that didn't shake Isabella, as she had placed all her hope in her future life with the father of her baby.