Chapter 28 Decided To Threat Isabel
Isabel's strength had been drained, leaving her unable to muster a response to Mason's taunts. She lay there, feeling sick to her core and utterly devastated by the events that had unfolded.
Mason, frustrated by Isabel's silence, grew suspicious of her intentions. He couldn't shake the fear of her exposing him to his parents, a prospect he dreaded. Determined to silence her once and for all, he approached her with a menacing air, causing Isabel to recoil in fear, anticipating further harm.
But to her surprise, instead of lashing out, Mason tenderly ran his fingers through her hair, a stark contrast to his previous aggression. However, his affectionate gesture was swiftly overshadowed by a chilling threat whispered in her ear.
"Don't you dare utter a word about me to my parents," he hissed, his voice dripping with malice. "Or I'll ensure your family suffers in return."
Isabel's blood ran cold at the threat, her mind reeling at the thought of Mason involving her loved ones in his twisted games. Anger surged within her, but she found herself rendered speechless, her throat constricted with pain.
As she struggled to find her voice, coughing fits racked her body, each spasm intensifying the agony in her throat. Yet, Mason showed no mercy, relishing in her suffering as he mocked her plight.
"Looks like you've lost your voice," he jeered, a cruel smirk playing on his lips.
Biting back tears, Isabel clenched her fists, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her break down. But as Mason sauntered off, leaving her alone with her torment, Isabel couldn't shake the feeling of helplessness that consumed her.
Isabel lay motionless, her body consumed by feverish heat, her head heavy with sickness as she slipped into a fitful slumber.
Meanwhile, Mason returned from his workout, busying himself with his morning routine without sparing a thought for Isabel. He didn't bother to check on her, his indifference palpable as he went about his day.
Downstairs, Nina grew increasingly concerned by Isabel's absence, her usual presence at the breakfast table conspicuous by its absence.
"Is everything alright with Isabel? Why isn't she joining us for breakfast? Isn't she supposed to be heading to college?" Nina inquired, her worry evident in her voice.
Despite the knot of nerves tightening in his stomach, Mason feigned ignorance, fabricating a lie with practiced ease.
"I'm not sure. I last saw her sleeping peacefully. I didn't want to disturb her, assuming she might be tired," Mason replied smoothly, inwardly relieved when Nina seemed to accept his explanation without question.
Satisfied with Mason's reassurance, Nina dismissed her concerns, choosing to let Isabel rest undisturbed. She instructed Martha to have breakfast ready for Isabel when she finally woke up.
As the hours passed and lunchtime approached, Martha grew increasingly perplexed by Isabel's continued absence. With a sense of apprehension gnawing at her, she made her way upstairs to rouse Isabel herself.
But when Martha reached Isabel's room and called out to her, there was no response. Panic gripped her as she realized Isabel lay unresponsive, her stillness sending a shiver down Martha's spine.
Martha's confusion turned to alarm as she realized the severity of Isabel's condition. With trembling hands, she reached out to shake Isabel awake, only to recoil in shock at the searing heat emanating from her skin.
"Good Lord! Isabel, are you alright?" Martha's voice trembled with concern as she touched Isabel's forehead, her own panic rising at the feverish temperature she encountered.
Feeling utterly helpless, Martha knew she had to act fast. She dialed Mason's number, her voice quivering as she relayed Isabel's dire state.
"Mason, it's urgent... Isabel has a dangerously high fever, and she's unresponsive. We need to get her to the hospital," Martha pleaded, her fear evident in every word.
But instead of rushing to Isabel's aid, Mason's irritation flared at the inconvenience of the situation. Dismissing Martha's concerns with a callous indifference, he refused to entertain the idea of leaving work for Isabel's sake.
"Do you really think I have time to deal with this nonsense? Tell her to stop overreacting and don't bother me with trivial matters. I'm busy," Mason snapped, cutting off Martha before she could utter another word.
Left stunned and helpless, Martha could only watch in despair as Mason callously brushed off Isabel's plight, his disregard for her well-being leaving her feeling utterly abandoned in her time of need.
Martha was left utterly bewildered by Mason's callousness towards Isabel and his dismissive attitude about his own wife. Faced with Mason's indifference, she felt compelled to reach out to Nina for help.
Within half an hour of Martha's call, Nina rushed home, her heart pounding with worry as she made her way to Isabel's room. Her worst fears were realized when she found Isabel lying motionless on the bed, her pallor drained and her breathing shallow.
The sight of her daughter-in-law in such a state sent a shiver down Nina's spine, filling her with a profound sense of dread. Without a moment's hesitation, she sprang into action, calling the family doctor and her husband John in a frantic bid for help.
Despite her efforts, Nina's attempts to reach Mason proved fruitless, leaving her feeling increasingly panicked and alone in the face of Isabel's deteriorating condition.
Thankfully, the family doctor arrived swiftly, responding to Nina's urgent call for assistance. With practiced efficiency, he began examining Isabel, his face grave as he assessed her condition.
"What's the diagnosis, Doctor? Is she going to be alright?" Nina's voice trembled with concern as she awaited the doctor's assessment of Isabel's condition.
The doctor's grave expression only heightened Nina's anxiety as he delivered the grim news. "She's not doing well. Isabel has a high fever and is experiencing chills. On top of that, her blood pressure is dangerously high," he explained, his words sending a wave of dread coursing through Nina.
"But she was fine just last night. How could she have gotten so sick all of a sudden? Could it be because of the weather?" Nina's mind raced with questions, desperately seeking answers to explain Isabel's sudden illness.
The doctor shook his head firmly. "No, it's unlikely. This fever seems to be the result of exposure to extremely cold temperatures, possibly from taking a long shower with ice-cold water," he reasoned, his diagnosis leaving Nina stunned.
Reluctantly accepting the doctor's explanation, Nina watched as he administered medication to Isabel and issued strict instructions for her care. The severity of Isabel's condition weighed heavily on Nina's mind as she resolved to ensure her daughter-in-law received the best possible care.
As Nina attempted once more to reach Mason, her calls went unanswered, leaving her increasingly frantic. It was then that Martha, witnessing Nina's struggle, stepped forward to reveal the truth about Mason's callous response to Isabel's plight.
"Ma'am, I tried calling your son first. But he refused to come, claiming he was busy, even after I told him Isabel's condition was serious," Martha confessed, her words leaving Nina speechless with disbelief and anguish.