Chapter 16 Stay At Isabel's house
As Mason stood frozen, his mother's words echoed in his ears, piercing his heart like shards of ice. His marriage to Isabel, a union orchestrated by his mother's wishes, had not erased the shame she felt towards him.
"Don't add to our disappointment, Mason," Nina's voice dripped with frustration. "You're a grown man now, married. You know your responsibilities."
Mason remained silent, his spirit crushed by the weight of her disapproval. He had no desire to defend himself, to prove his innocence against the accusation that hung in the air like a suffocating fog.
Nina continued her tirade, her words washing over him like waves against a rocky shore. He listened impassively, his mind numb to the sting of her words.
When his mother finally left, Mason retreated to his room, his footsteps echoing in the deafening silence. The sight of Isabel, sleeping peacefully on their bed, ignited a fresh wave of anger within him. How could she sleep so soundly while he felt like a pariah in his own home?
He wanted to drag her off the bed, to shake her awake and confront her with the reality of their situation. But he held himself back, his sense of reason temporarily clouded by his emotions.
Instead, he grabbed a pillow from the bed and headed for the couch, seeking solace in its familiar embrace. As he drifted off to sleep, the words of his mother echoed in his mind, a haunting reminder of the shame he carried within his heart.
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In the early morning light, Isabel's eyes fluttered open to an unexpectedly captivating scene. Mason emerged from the shower, draped in nothing but a towel, his chiseled upper body on display. In that moment, he seemed impossibly more alluring, and Isabel found herself involuntarily gawking at the unexpected view.
Up until then, Mason remained oblivious to Isabel's lingering gaze, but the atmosphere shifted when their eyes locked, freezing them both in place. A wave of embarrassment washed over Isabel as she belatedly recognized the shameless intensity of her stare.
It was the first time Isabel had encountered such a perfectly handsome man standing half-naked before her. His allure was not something to be glanced at briefly; rather, it held her gaze, appreciating his stunning features in every conceivable way.
Now overwhelmed with shame, Isabel wished she could bury herself in the ground. She couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes again, fearing he might be furious with her. She averted her gaze, searching desperately for a way to escape the awkward situation.
Though Mason wasn't his usual furious self, irritation and disgust simmered beneath the surface. He felt insulted by Isabel's gaze, deeming her unworthy of appreciating his appearance. He wanted to lash out at her for staring, but he restrained himself, choosing instead to approach the bed where the still-nervous Isabel lay.
As he neared, the sweet yet spicy scent of Mason's shower gel filled Isabel's nostrils. Before she could comprehend the situation, Mason loomed over her, leaving her breathless and panicked, fearing a repeat of yesterday's altercation.
"I hope this is the last time," Mason coldly threatened, his tone void of emotion. "Otherwise, I won't hesitate to make you blind forever, Isabel."
Isabel found herself caught in a whirlwind of fear and embarrassment, and Mason's menacing threat only added a layer of guilt to her already tumultuous emotions. His words made her feel as if she had committed a grave offense, one deserving of punishment. What stung even more was that the threat came from her own husband, the person she believed she had every right to gaze upon, if not more.
However, Isabel acknowledged that reality often played out differently from her desires. She reluctantly accepted blame for allowing her eyes to wander.
"I...I... am truly sorry, Mason. It was unintentional, and I'll ensure it won't happen again," Isabel stammered, attempting to rein in her tears. Yet, her efforts failed as her tears welled up and spilled over.
Mason remained impassive in response to her apology and tears. He briskly exited her line of sight, heading to the closet to dress.
In his absence, Isabel hastily rose and sought refuge on the balcony. She lingered there until Mason vacated the room, avoiding the impending storm of his hurtful words and humiliation that she anticipated. She didn't want to subject herself to the painful aftermath of their encounter.
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As the evening approached, the entire family geared up for the dinner invitation at Isabel's house, except for Mason, who hadn't yet returned from the office. Isabel grew increasingly anxious, having already assured her family of their joint attendance. Complicating matters, Mason had enthusiastically accepted the invitation just the day before, but now there was no sign of him, leaving Isabel perplexed about what to do. She worried that his absence would disappoint her family.
Frustration building, Isabel contemplated calling Mason, but hesitated, mindful of the potential storm his reaction could unleash. Meanwhile, Nina, unaware of Mason's delayed arrival, assumed both Isabel and Mason were ready to leave. Discovering Mason's absence, Nina was visibly irritated.
"He must be caught up at the office, Mom. Please don't be upset with him," Isabel pleaded, attempting to shield Mason from his mother's wrath.
Knowing that Mason would likely lay the blame on her if Nina scolded him, Isabel recalled the stern warning she received from Mason about keeping certain matters hidden from his parents.
Just as Nina was about to speak, Mason entered the room. His presence, however, left him visibly uneasy, suspecting that Isabel might have complained to his mom.
"Mom, I was..." Mason began to explain but was abruptly cut off by Nina.
"Don't bother with your excuses, Mason. Don't you tire of offering one after another?" Nina expressed her frustration, tired of witnessing Mason repeat the same behavior.
Mason fell silent, overwhelmed with humiliation. He couldn't believe his mother was so indifferent to insulting him in front of Isabel.
"Anyway, both of you are staying at Isabel's house for a few days. So, pack your things after you get dressed," Nina declared, surprising both Isabel and Mason with the unexpected turn of events.