There are two sides to the story

_Madrid, Spain.

   Max led them past the large garden, past the fountain to the manor where people lurked around. Workers in matching scarlet and white uniforms greeted him.

    Stella looked around stunned, the house was huge, it looked more like a palace with fancy architecture and intricately carved oak doors and Spanish motifs, paintings, there was a miniature, Madonna, in the hallway.

"You live here?"

"I do" 

  The people greeted him, he nodded. He seemed to be of great recognition here. Someone was hauling their luggage past them.

"Hey_"

"Don't worry about that"

He tapped the lift and it "dinged" open. Unperturbed by all these luxuries she noticed.

"You must be very tired, Sirena"

"Not really"

Considering that it was her first time on a plane, she was. Her fingers dug into her seat the whole time. 

   Mia was trying to grasp his shirt with her fingers, entertained by that, he put up his finger in her view and she took it. They got to the top floor.

   She first saw large TV and realized it was a window with a spectacular view of the sky, pink blended with orange blended yellow and the sunset on the horizon partially shielded by the trees.

"I thought this was one quality HD TV" she chuckled, nervous

He grinned "It's my favourite show" 

    The tiles were a dark compelling shade of blue with flame-like designs, grey walls, modern chandeliers, fancy mirrors, a TV room and two bedrooms, and a door that was locked.

     She freshened up after a wholesome dinner in an en suite in her room and pulled on a dress. Bathing Mia and breastfed her till she slept.

    He wasn't around, she had a lot of questions in mind and hoped to ask him after dinner. If he hadn't gone through all that trouble to get that Visa and tickets, she would've said no.

 Lying down on the king-size bed, half asleep.  

______________

       Hugo Alvarez Dela Cruz lightly struck a golf ball with a putter, he grit his teeth when he felt a sharp pain on his back, a girl pushed a chair to him.

"Gracias, I'm getting a little bit too old for this" he chuckled. She smiled.

"Take it easy Abuelo!" She held his hand, his 7-year-old foster daughter said, he brushed her golden locks with his weathered fingers.

"You're too kind, hija"

He found her playing on the field in the foster home and she slipped and hurt her knee. He practically ran to pick her up. She was on the brink of tears.

"It's alright my dear"

"It stings" she sobbed, he brought out a clean handkerchief and dabbed her wound and another to wipe her tears. She bit her lip to keep from crying more. He went down on one knee even though it hurt.

"It's okay, I cry a lot too" She was sceptical and snorted 

"It's not true"

She shook her head and till her hair bobbed.

"No me digas, que va!"

He got the first laugh out of her.

"Where are your friends?" He asked, she looked around and looked even more upset.

"They all went home with their new parents"

"You know, I am looking for someone to take home, a certain little girl" 

"¿de veras?" Her blue eyes rounded in excitement.

"Si, she has golden hair and big blue eyes and she's wearing a pretty pink dress"

She looked down at herself, her eyes sparkled "Like me?" 

"Correcto" he tapped her nose 

"But you're like a hundred years old" her nose wrinkled

 "Ouch"

"Le Siento," she said meekly and he chuckled.

"Abuelo?" He asked.

"Abuelo!" She giggled

"What's your name?" He asked, she turned shy and looked at her feet, her slippers were old, he would buy her a new one.

"Lupita"

  _________________

1 year ago

St Louis Missouri state.

Max wondered what he could be going through in the hands of those doctors. It was well over 6 am and Stella was still asleep. Anxious and afraid, he called the chauffeur to tell him he was ready to go home. Placing his ring on the nightstand. 

...

Madrid, Spain.

  The nurse led him to the room where he was bedridden. Max broke into a cold sweat when he almost didn't recognise Alejandro with his head shaved and his pale skin like he hadn't been out in the sun for so long.

His father's dark brown eyes rolled over to him and outstretched his thin hand, Max went over to cup them in both his hands. Dismissing the nurse.

"Dad"

"Hijo, you're looking well, unlike me" he chuckled and broke into a series of whooping coughs. His thin, chapped lips widened into a smile, satisfied.

"Why didn't you say anything earlier?"

"It doesn't matter, I'll be gone anyway"

"Don't_"

"Do I look like I have much time on my side?"

Max fell silent.

"Maxie, you're my only chance of leaving my legacy in this world. I have no one else but you"

He fell silent to recover and catch his breath

"I have a little story to tell, one last time"

  He strained his ears to listen to what he was saying, then adjusted the bed, slowly it moved till Alejandro was in a sitting position but reclined. 

"I have been fighting all my life to keep you and your mother safe from the hands of a madman named Alvarez"

"Who's Alvarez?" He asked, perplexed 

Max paled opening the door, he almost walked into a bald man who looked intimidating with his big stature.

"It's ok Hijo, this is Gustavo Gonzalez chief of security"

"Young master" he nodded his greeting and gave way for him to leave.

Maximus scanned him and left.

   He stayed at the pub, his lips thinned at the bitter aftertaste of alcohol. He received a call weeks ago that his father had passed away.

A lady joined him.

"Hey, do you need company?"

  He faced her, she was slim with long thick black hair with mesmerising green eyes in a red dress. 

"I appreciate your kind gesture but I'd prefer to be alone right now"

"You look so sad, is there anything I can do to help?"

Her hand touched his shoulder, he took her hand.

"Lady, I'm married and if you really want to help me, I suggest you give me some time alone"

She looked a bit offended by that "I'm not a wh*re looking for a one night stand as I happen to... own this pub and you're the only one who happens to be here" she smiled and tapped her thighs getting up.

"Wait...I apologize" 

She sat back "It's okay, you're not the first man to think that"

"I just lost someone very important to me"

She wrapped her arms around herself.

"I was going to say just about the same thing..."

"Really?" He asked 

"Yeah, it's complicated" her eyes sparkled with fresh tears "I loved him very much"

"Who is he?"

She scoffed "I did things that I'm not proud of and when you love someone, you would do just about anything for them right?"

"Right" he said slowly.

"What happened?"

She was about to say something but shook her head.

"I shouldn't say but it was very nice meeting you..."

"Max" 

"Angelica Fuentes" they shook hands and she left in hurry.

Gustavo came in "Jefe, it's time to go"

"What happened?" He asked, surprised he was looking right at something black.

"Your father's funeral is today"

Surprised at the black suit hanging at the back of a car. 

   Max realized all this time he was in America because Alejandro wanted him out of the way of whatever feud he and Alvarez had. He had to suffer through hours of the funeral and meeting with the priest afterwards to hear him express his condolence.

"Gracias" he said blankly.

Gustavo joined him when he knelt in front of the gravestone

"I swear to you father, I'll put him down at all costs"

                                    ****