Chapter 17 A Living Hell
Mason wrestled with the urge to immediately oppose his mom's request, but a lack of courage held him back. The thought of staying at Isabel's house was utterly unappealing, yet the fear of confronting his mother paralyzed him. He anticipated another round of insults if he spoke up.
Suppressing his discomfort, Mason's discomfort didn't go unnoticed by Isabel. "There's no need for that, Mom. We can return after dinner," she interjected, keenly aware that Mason was reluctant to spend the night at her place.
Isabel understood that her home might not be Mason's ideal retreat, and she didn't want to burden him further. Grateful that he accepted the dinner invitation, she prioritized his comfort. "What are you saying, Isabel? Don't you want to spend a few days with your family?" Nina asked, surprised by Isabel's proposal.
While Isabel yearned for family time, she recognized the potential discomfort it would cause Mason. She worried he might unleash his usual harsh remarks on her family, and she didn't want them to feel insulted by her husband.
"Mom, it's not a big deal. But if you prefer, I can stay for a few days. Mason doesn't have to do the same since he has work," Isabel suggested, hoping Nina would agree.
"Absolutely not. You've just gotten married, Isabel. It doesn't seem right for Mason to be alone there. What will your family think? Besides, Mason's dad is here to manage the company. You don't need to worry about that," Nina asserted, firmly disagreeing with Isabel.
Isabel exchanged glances with Mason, who appeared helplessly silent, his entire being silently pleading with his mom to reconsider. Sensing his unspoken distress, Isabel decided to voice her protest once more.
"I don't think that would be necessary, Mom. I don't want for me..." Isabel was abruptly cut off by Nina.
Nina could discern why Isabel might be vehemently opposing Mason staying at her home. It wasn't hard for her to deduce that her son lacked interest in staying there with Isabel.
"Do you have any problem staying at Isabel's house, Mason?" Nina asked, catching Mason off guard.
"N...No... Mom," he replied, contradicting his true feelings under his mother's pressure. Isabel instantly sensed that his response was coerced.
"See, he doesn't have any problem, Isabel," Nina declared, smiling. Isabel remained silent, unsure of what to say after Mason seemingly confirmed his lack of objection.
"Okay then, pack your stuff and come downstairs," Nina instructed, leaving Isabel and Mason alone.
Isabel braced herself for a scolding from Mason after Nina left, but surprisingly, it didn't happen. Instead of saying anything, Mason went to the washroom to freshen up.
Isabel couldn't decipher whether he genuinely agreed with his mom or not. Nevertheless, she packed her clothes, eager to spend a few days at her own house.
Upon returning from the washroom, Mason got dressed and begrudgingly started packing his clothes. He wished he could escape this situation, dying rather than enduring Isabel's family.
"Do you need help with packing?" Isabel offered when she saw him aggressively stuffing his clothes into the bag.
Hearing Isabel, he paused, shot her an annoyed look, considered saying something harsh, but refrained, realizing it would be futile when it was his mom's idea. Yet, he couldn't help but blame Isabel in his mind for this predicament.
After completing their packing, they descended the stairs together. Nina's eyes fixated on her son and daughter-in-law. Despite their imperfections, dressed elegantly for the dinner invitation, they looked like a perfect couple. Isabel's lavender dress and Mason's black suit complemented each other seamlessly.
"You guys look really good together," Nina complimented, giving a genuine smile.
Isabel felt a rush of happiness, noticing the sparkle in her mother-in-law's eyes. Mason smiled slightly at the compliment, but deep down, he harbored disgust at being praised alongside Isabel.
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Upon arriving at Isabel's house for dinner, Jenna, Isabel's mom, extended a warm welcome to everyone. It marked Mason's inaugural visit to Isabel's home, even though his parents had been there previously. However, as Mason took in the surroundings, he couldn't help but dwell on the stark contrast between his affluent background and Isabel's modest family.
While Isabel's family did own a house, Mason couldn't help but notice the significant disparity. The house, in his eyes, lacked any semblance of luxury and was so cramped that walking comfortably was a challenge. To Mason, it felt more like a slum, an unfamiliar environment that clashed with his accustomed lifestyle.
Pity for himself crept in as he contemplated his marriage to a girl from not only what he deemed an unattractive appearance but also a financially constrained background. Glancing at his sister, Anna, he saw mirrored disbelief in her eyes, realizing she shared his sentiment about Isabel's house.
To Mason's astonishment, his parents seemed completely at ease, smiling as if the humble surroundings were perfectly normal. Following their lead, Mason reluctantly took a seat in the living room, which, in his judgment, resembled more of a storage area. The couch he sat on proved to be the most uncomfortable he had ever experienced. The absence of air conditioning, replaced only by an old ceiling fan, did little to ease Mason's discomfort, causing him to break into a sweat.
Anna shared in Mason's discomfort but masked it, too apprehensive to display any reaction in front of their parents. In contrast, Mason struggled to feign contentment in what felt like nothing short of a living hell to him.