Chapter 26 I'm Cheating On You
"Did I? Hmm, didn't notice. Does it look like I've been crying?" Isabel feigned surprise at Martha's question, though inwardly she knew her reddened eyes likely gave her away.
"Oh... I'm sorry for prying. I just thought..." Martha's words trailed off as Isabel cut in.
"Don't dwell on it, Martha. I'm perfectly alright," Isabel replied softly, fighting back the urge to let her emotions surface in front of Martha.
Martha didn't press further, choosing instead to leave Isabel to her thoughts.
At dinner, everyone gathered around the table except for Mason. Despite Isabel's lack of appetite, she forced herself to join, not wanting Nina to suspect anything was amiss.
Nina noticed Mason's absence and Isabel's uncharacteristic silence, her concern growing.
"Is everything alright, Isabel?" Nina asked, her mind jumping to the possibility of Mason causing trouble.
"Yes, Mom..." Isabel replied, pasting on a fake smile.
Unsatisfied with the response, Nina encouraged her to share if something was bothering her.
Isabel shook her head, signaling that everything was fine, but before she could elaborate, Mason arrived home.
"Is this the time you choose to come home?" Nina's tone held a note of displeasure.
"And don't bother with work excuses. We haven't been at the office since this afternoon," John interjected, having been informed of Mason's deliberate absence from an important meeting earlier in the day.
Isabel remained stoic, quietly continuing her dinner, while Nina was taken aback by John's revelation.
"Where have you been all day, Mason?" Nina pressed, her tone edged with concern, which only seemed to irritate Mason further.
"Why do you always suspect me, Mom? Don't I have the right to go where I please? I'm an adult, and I don't owe you an explanation for every aspect of my life!" Mason's outburst startled everyone at the table, leaving Anna speechless at his uncharacteristic display of rudeness towards their parents.
"Are you going to yell at us now?" Nina's shock was palpable, prompting Mason to realize he had overreacted. He quickly apologized, excusing himself and fleeing upstairs in embarrassment.
"Don't take it too hard, Mom. Maybe Mason's just really stressed," Anna offered, attempting to comfort Nina, who silently left the table, her hurt evident.
Isabel sighed heavily, finishing dinner before assisting Martha with the dishes. However, she couldn't shake off the concern for Mason, prompting her to bring his dinner to his room after Martha had retired for the night.
"Why did you bring all this?" Mason's annoyance was evident as Isabel attempted to explain her gesture.
"You hadn't eaten. I just thought..." Isabel's words were cut off by Mason's furious interruption.
"So, you thought this was your chance to play the role of my wife?" His anger was palpable, misunderstanding Isabel's genuine concern.
"I told you not to try to deceive me like you did with my parents!" Mason's frustration only escalated as he confronted Isabel, blocking her path with his imposing figure.
"What?" Isabel couldn't hide her surprise as Mason's rage bore down on her, his eyes blazing with fury.
In an instant, Mason forcefully knocked the tray of food from Isabel's grasp, leaving her gasping in shock.
"What's gotten into you?" Isabel couldn't conceal her annoyance, bewildered by Mason's irrational behavior.
"You're what's gotten into me. I can't stand having you around anymore," Mason seethed, his anger palpable.
"Then why did you marry me? Was it my idea to tie the knot? You're the one to blame here, not me," Isabel retorted, tears welling up in her eyes. She refused to shoulder all the blame for their marriage, firmly believing Mason shared equal responsibility.
"Really? Then why haven't you ended it, as I've suggested from the start?" Mason's rage intensified as Isabel dared to challenge him.
"Why should I? I'm not the one sneaking around, seeing someone else while we're married. I'm not the one betraying you behind your back," Isabel's words slipped out before she could stop them, a surge of regret flooding her.
"What?" Mason's surprise was evident, struggling to comprehend her accusation.
Isabel remained silent, attempting to leave the room, but Mason abruptly seized her forearm, his grip tight and menacing.
"What did you say? Explain yourself," Mason demanded, his eyes narrowing with a threatening intensity, leaving Isabel with no choice but to confront the truth she had inadvertently unveiled.
"I saw you today with a girl at the cafe. Are you cheating on me?" Isabel's voice trembled with fear as she confronted Mason.
Mason burst into laughter, as though her accusation was the punchline to a joke. Isabel's curiosity deepened at his unexpected reaction.
"Just as I suspected, you're too clever for your own good. Did you think I would deny it? That I'm not cheating on you?" Mason's words dripped with sarcasm, devoid of any guilt upon being caught.
"Guess what, Isabel? That girl was Addison. My first love. And yes, you're right. I am cheating on you because I still love her, and I always will," Mason declared proudly, utterly unconcerned with the impact his words had on Isabel.