LOGINShare
08. The brother-in-law
Last Updated:
2023-05-17 03:30:34
Related chapters
He Can't Forget Me 09. Negotiation
Mariana cringes in the corner of the alley, trying to control her rapid breathing and stifle her sobbing sobs.She clings to the hope that the voices and footsteps she hears are not Maxwell's or Isabella's, but fear consumes her, and she cannot help but fear the worst.The noises become louder, indicating that people are approaching quickly. Mariana presses one hand against her mouth to hold back any sound that might betray her. Her heart beats strongly in her chest, and the tension increases with each second.Suddenly, a figure passes through the alley, and Mariana holds her breath. She cringes even more, trying to blend into the shadows, hoping she won't be seen. The footsteps stop very close to her hiding place, and the girl closes her eyes, expecting the worst."Did you see anyone running around here?" a male voice asks."No, I didn't see anyone," replies another, female voice. "It was probably just our imagination. This alley is kind of dark and it gives you the creeps."Mariana
Last Updated : 2023-05-17He Can't Forget Me 10. Ideological falsehood
"I don't like it, Mariana." Walking beside her was James, the man who met her the day the girl discovered the betrayal; the man who had saved her life. He repeats with more emphasis:"I don't like it at all!""I know, James, I don't either. But believe me, it's the only way.""Mariana-""It's going to be all right.""How is it going to be okay? Because out of the blue your ex-mother-in-law and your ex-brother-in-law want to get close to you? You told me yourself that-""Yes, James, but you have to trust me. I know what I'm doing, nothing bad is going to happen to me.""If nothing bad is going to happen to you, then why did you feel obligated to bring me in as a witness?"Mariana stops walking. The two are minutes away from arriving at the park, the location of the arranged meeting between Mariana, Isabella and Maxwell."You trust me?"I-""Do you or don't you?"Overcome by fatigue, James sighs deeply before answering:"Yes.""Thank you."Mariana gives her friend a tight hug. The two
Last Updated : 2023-05-18He Can't Forget Me 11. News
Alone inside the huge and increasingly lonely house, the businessman Maximilian Philips, lying on the floor with a bottle of whiskey beside him, looks up at the ceiling.The chandelier is radiant, imposing, and in itself already demonstrates a luxury that the man had once made a point of boasting.But now, what was it but a handful of cut glass with light bulbs inside?Max takes another sip of whiskey.The new maid, Lanis, knocks twice on the door before entering;"Mr. Philips, you have a visitor."Send them away," he retorts. His voice is pasty from excessive alcohol consumption."But, Mister Phillips, it's a-""I've already sent away!""Yes, sir."Of course, after the divorce, women in love with him, who had always desired him and sighed when he passed through the halls, would go after him like bees go for honey.But Maximilian wanted none of them.The drone had lost its queen bee. And worse: because of his own malfeasance.Staggering, Max stood up and took six long sips from the bo
Last Updated : 2023-05-18He Can't Forget Me 12. A new reality
Two weeks had passed since the terrible encounter in the park.Two weeks have passed after Isabella contacted us once again, and said that everything was ready for the birth of Elena and Hector.In other words, everything was ready for Mariana and James to leave the scene.The girl cried and begged her friend to back off, not to do this to her. He had a brilliant career, friends who liked him. But from the beginning he always made it clear that for Mariana he would go to the end of the world.After all, he left his hometown to be closer to his friend, less than a month after he left her at the bus station.The fake news had already been forged. Everyone was talking about the horrible crime committed a few days before, where an unknown group of criminals kidnapped, tortured and destroyed the victims so horribly that the bodies were barely recognizable.And almost at the same time, Elena, a secretary for a ghost company, was buying a beautiful apartment in the far corner of the urban en
Last Updated : 2023-05-19He Can't Forget Me 13. Funeral
To Isabella Philips' eternal luck, the dark and sophisticated clothes, the black gloves, and the wreathed hat that covered a good part of her eyes, hid the true expression that sometimes stubbornly appeared on her face: a smile of triumph.Around him were many people. Most were Mariana's former acquaintances and relatives. Her mother, a woman Isabella had always thought was weak and rather lame, had passed out and never returned. "Careful, Mama," a man whispered in her ear. She immediately recognized Maxwell's voice. "Remember that we are saddened and terribly shocked by the sudden loss of our poor Mariana.""You never fail to notice anything, do you?""I believe that is one of my greatest gifts."Maximilian's brother also has trouble keeping a sad expression, but of course he would never admit that. The coffin is closed in the center of the huge chamber, and partially closed blue curtains are around it, where the funeral was taking place. From there, they would go directly to the lo
Last Updated : 2023-05-19He Can't Forget Me 14. Commotion
Maxmilian is stunned by the words and gesture of James' mother. Her expression of pain and fury turns to surprise and confusion. Still enraged, the woman coughs before continuing to scream:"My son was a good man! A man of integrity! He never got into trouble, he was always responsible. He had a great job, he was my greatest pride! And then YOU got in his way... And he died!"Isabella, for her part, quickly reacts to the situation, intervening to calm the enraged woman."Please, Mrs. Simpson, contain yourself! You are at the wake of my daughter-in-law, who like your son, was a victim of a horrendous crime! What are you implying? My son has nothing to do with this!The woman, her eyes watering with tears, stares at Isabella with a mixture of pain and anger. She takes a deep breath before she speaks, her voice laced with grief."The wife of this... this monster you call a son... she was pregnant with his child and he abandoned her!"Everyone around seems shocked by the revelation. A gr
Last Updated : 2023-05-20He Can't Forget Me 15. Game
Isabella is less than six steps away from James' mother, who is still raging and spouting barbarities about Maxmilian to the others present, when she feels someone tugging on her arm."Have you gone mad?", Maxwell practically growls in her ear, failing miserably to keep his facial features neutral.The man's mother lets go, also enraged."What do you think you're doing?""Funny, I could ask you the same damn question."I'm taking action about this outrage, of course! If that woman keeps talking, we could be in trouble.""Forget that old woman, we have worse things to deal with," Maxwell says, his eyes startled.Isabella immediately becomes worried."What happened?" she asks, looking away before adding, "Are Elena and Hector giving us trouble?""No. Maxmilian just entered the restricted area of the hall.""What?""He just went through the curtains, Mama."Exasperated, the woman takes a step toward the scene, but stops and talks back to Maxwell:"The coffin is closed, we don't have to w
Last Updated : 2023-05-20He Can't Forget Me 16. Decision Making
Nervous, all James could do in the waiting room of the small private office was bite his nails, look around, and count the time Mariana was in there. The clock read half an hour.Just as the man was giving up and heading for the door to demand to know what the situation was, it opened. The doctor, with straight hair and olive-colored skin, said to him:"Please come in."He didn't have to ask twice. Mariana was lying on the stretcher, her eyes watering. James went to her immediately and held her hand."Is everything okay, how's the baby?""The baby is fine," the doctor replied. "The abnormal bleeding was just a hormonal imbalance due to stress. Mariana needs plenty of rest and to avoid situations that wear her down.""I was so afraid of losing my baby," she murmured."Well, you can rest assured, Miss Elena. Everything is under control now. Just remember to take your vitamins daily, drink plenty of water, and don't put yourself in emotionally risky situations."James looks at her."We'l
Last Updated : 2023-05-21
Latest chapter
He Can't Forget Me 43. Epilogue
Mariana is thirty-two weeks pregnant. Lost in thought, she caresses her belly and sighs, closing her eyes afterward.Knocking at the door. She turns when a man enters, smiling, and kisses her on the forehead."How are you, dear?" he asks."Good. Just a little anxious.""About the arrival of our child?""Yes," Mariana murmurs, looking back at the window. "Yes, that's what I'm thinking about."James crosses his arms."Did you know you're a terrible liar?"The woman rolls her eyes but doesn't disagree. Instead, she takes short, heavy steps and sits on the bed in the spacious room."Love," James murmurs, sitting next to her.As if she simply couldn't bear the idea of seeing him or looking at him directly, Mariana just keeps staring at nothing. Then, she starts caressing her belly once again."Love," the man insists."What do you want me to say?""The truth."She remains silent. James continues:"It's about him, isn't it?"Although she doesn't mention any specific name, Mariana knows who h
He Can't Forget Me 42. Determination
Mariana's words hit Maxmilian like a punch in the gut. He feels a knot forming in his throat and his eyes fill with tears again. The hopes that had begun to flourish are drowned out by the painful reality.He looks at her, searching for words that can express his pain and regret."Mariana... I know I was a terrible husband. I know I did terrible things. I don't take away your reason, you must be dying of anger at me, and in your place, I-""In my place? You have no idea what it's like to be in my place! You didn't before and you don't now!""Mariana-""I was kidnapped! I was taken hostage. And even worse, by YOUR family! I had to fake my own death, and I even dragged an innocent person along in the process. James, who barely knew me, had far more consideration and empathy for my life than you, Maxmilian. There is NOTHING you can say or do. Absolutely nothing. That's the truth."Mariana's words are like arrows straight through Maxmilian's heart. He feels the weight of his guilt and reg
He Can't Forget Me 41. Hurt
Mariana simply cannot absorb the vast amount of information that takes over her mind.The words, images and attitudes of the last few hours are etched in her mind, and try as she might, she relives every frame and every second of what could be an action movie, drama and definitely a tragedy.In mere months, her life had turned into a total and complete mess. And now...And now she was there, in that hospital, after once again almost losing her son: her most precious possession.The heart monitor at that moment, however, signaled that everything was fine... At least for now.The door to the room opened.And... there he was.His situation was deplorable: blood and dirt still covered his skin in some spots: one of his eyes was seriously damaged... But the shine of his eyes, of those eyes, still remained.Mariana remained motionless, trying in vain to appear indifferent towards Maxmilian, but failing. Her son stirred in his belly, as if guessing that his father was there.Slowly, the man
He Can't Forget Me 40. Attendance
Maxmilian arrives at the hospital dirty, not only with blood, but with dirt.His gait is heavy and difficult. One of his eyes is partially closed and swollen from the enormous amount of punches he has taken.The only thing that made him happy, and even then partly, was that Maxwell would never again be a problem for anyone.Michele was gone. Since she was the owner of that property that was made to be inhospitable and difficult to access, her former lover probably knew well about the escape routes and the most complicated way to be located.He himself had a hard time getting out of that maze, walking in directions he knew were wrong, but with no choice. Then, after finally gasping and stumbling, Maxmilian managed to find a dirt road that, minutes later, became asphalt.It was a man who gave him a ride as soon as he saw the state Max was in. When the stranger dropped him off at the hospital door, the businessman pulled out a small wad of one thousand dollars from his pocket and discree
He Can't Forget Me 39. Escape
Mariana had felt fear many times before.She remembered how frightening it was when, when she went to sleep, all the lights in the house were turned off. The darkness made her head ache with panic, and nightmares often stunned her mercilessly.The girl also felt an unusual fear of butterflies, although she had never told anyone about it. When they took off, flapping their colorful wings in the sky, everyone around thought it was beautiful. She just wanted to run away.But Mariana had never felt so afraid as she did at that moment, when she saw the amount of blood running down her legs and knew that yes, she was losing her baby.Maxmilian immediately releases Michele, who runs out the back door of the house as if her life depended on it.Isabella screams and makes mention of going after her, but hesitates when she sees Maxwell's wound.Mariana is so shocked and immersed in loss, grief and pain that she can't move. Maxmilian holds both sides of her body and embraces her."Mariana! Maria
He Can't Forget Me 38. The shoot
At first, Mariana really believes that everything is over.She sees the pale, tear-stained, hate-filled face of the former secretary, the way she snarls and cries. The gun doesn't stand still aiming at a specific point, because the hand that holds it is also terribly shaky.Then, in a space of time that could be hours, days, minutes or seconds, Michele pulls the trigger.But Mariana feels nothing. Not even a burning sensation or the beginnings of pain.Because she has not been shot.In a burst of screaming courage, coupled with a very high speed and coordination, Maxmilian pushed the redhead's wobbling body, causing her to miss, and badly, the target.A loud male scream echoes throughout the room as Maxwell, holding his left shoulder tightly, falls on his own knee. Blood drips down his shirt, spreading rapidly."You bastard!" shouts Mariana's ex-brother-in-law.Mariana watches in shock as chaos unfolds before her eyes. Hearing the gun fire and seeing Maxwell wounded awakens a mixture
He Can't Forget Me 37. Final point?
Mariana watched in a mixture of astonishment, curiosity, and even denial as the car actually started to come closer to the house.This place had been tailor-made to be her captivity. It was obvious that these were not mere passersby."I guess it all ends here," Maxwell mutters, between his teeth.Mariana puts her hand on her belly. The baby begins to fuss wildly.When the door finally opens, the woman doesn't know where to look first.At the secretary who wasn't really just a secretary, Michele, wide-eyed from what could be panic.To the gray-haired but imposing woman holding Michele by the shoulders as if she were a prisoner.Or to the man... the man who simply could not take another step when he saw Mariana.Not only alive, but pregnant. Pregnant with their child.Tears stream down the girl's face. Maxmilian is still standing there, staring at her, dumbfounded and absolutely in shock.Isabella looks at Maxwell:"Everything is over now," she says, in a stern tone. "Our role in this g
He Can't Forget Me 36. The day of the rescue
Emanuele takes a step back."What did you say?"Maxwell doesn't answer, just stares at her."What did you say?!" she repeats, exasperated. Her voice comes out much shakier and wobbler this time.Her ex-brother-in-law just shrugs."That's it, Emanuele. I'm sorry."Was he? Everything seemed to indicate that she didn't.She sits back in her chair, slowly."The secretary... No, it's not possible.""You don't believe me?""How would a secretary do all those things? That's impossible."A sad little smile appears on Maxwell's younger brother's face."Impossible, you say?"Scratching one of his eyes, he tries to keep his tone of voice as cool as possible, but fails:"It would be impossible if we followed the normal course of things. If we followed... you know, the established pattern. But you know, my dear Mariana... Everything you know so far, and even everything I know... They are nothing but a beautiful web of lies, perfectly contrived to leave anyone who is the most curious in the dark."
He Can't Forget Me 35. Old enemy
Maxwell looks once at the cell phone screen, frowns, rubs his eyes, and stares again at the incoming text message. No, he was not blind; the text remained the same after he doubted what his eyes showed.So, by elimination, Maxwell was going crazy. Or...Everyone around him had loosened the screws and he was the only one mentally sane.His mother had made it very clear that she was going to go after Michele to redo the deal, make more money at the expense of the front secretary, and thus ensure that she would become richer than she already was. What Max didn't expect was that she would not only threaten him with a gun, but also rat him out to Maxmilian.And at that moment, that was where they were headed, to the perfect captivity hidden in an equally perfect place. Mariana would be freed and would probably return to the arms of Maxwell's older brother.As if she could smell her own rescue coming, Mariana, leaning back in a rocking chair in the living room, looked up at the glassed and
