Chapter 29 Doing Something Wrong
"You told him and he still refused?" Nina's disbelief echoed through the room, her mind struggling to comprehend Mason's callous reaction to Isabel's illness.
But as she mulled over the situation, Nina couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that Mason might have deliberately concealed Isabel's condition during breakfast. The thought gnawed at her, fueling her growing anger towards her son.
With each passing moment, Nina's concern for Isabel intensified, compounded by the realization that Mason's actions may have put Isabel's life at risk. Despite her reluctance to entertain such thoughts, Nina couldn't shake the nagging suspicion that Mason had callously abandoned Isabel to her fate.
Desperate for answers, Nina attempted to call Mason once more, only to be met with frustration as his phone remained switched off. When John returned home, Nina wasted no time in recounting the shocking turn of events to him.
John's brows furrowed in concern as he listened to Nina's account. Immediately, he reached out to Mason's office, hoping to ascertain his whereabouts. But the revelation that Mason had left the office early only added to the mystery surrounding his actions.
"What? Where could he have gone? Is he on his way home?" Nina's voice betrayed her confusion, her mind racing with unanswered questions about her son's inexplicable behavior.
"I'm not sure. I assumed he'd already be here when I left the office, so I didn't check on him," John admitted, his own bewilderment mirroring Nina's as they grappled with the unsettling reality of Mason's sudden disappearance.
Nina's anger towards her son simmered as she watched him return home seemingly oblivious to Isabel's condition. Determined to confront Mason about his neglect, she resolved to have a frank conversation with him about his behavior.
In the meantime, Nina directed all her attention towards caring for Isabel. Despite Isabel regaining consciousness shortly after receiving the injection, her body remained weak and unresponsive, leaving her unable to articulate her thoughts or move with ease.
Nina took it upon herself to assist Isabel with meals, gently spoon-feeding her prescribed medication. Once Isabel had eaten, Nina encouraged her to rest, staying by her side as she drifted off to sleep. Her heart heavy with worry, Nina remained vigilant, unwilling to leave Isabel's side for even a moment.
As night fell and Mason returned home, he was taken aback to find his mother waiting for him in his room. His feigned surprise at Isabel's condition only fueled Nina's frustration, but she held her tongue, unwilling to disrupt Isabel's rest.
"What happened to her?" Mason's concern sounded genuine, but Nina remained silent, her gaze steady as she waited for him to acknowledge his role in Isabel's illness.
As Mason attempted to maintain his facade, Nina saw through his deception, refusing to be swayed by his feigned ignorance.
"Mom, seriously, what's wrong with her? Is she okay?" Mason persisted, but Nina remained resolute, unwilling to indulge his charade any longer.
"Can we talk?" Nina's request was firm, leaving no room for argument as she exited the room, leaving Mason to ponder the gravity of his actions in Isabel's silent, sleeping form.
Mason's brow furrowed in confusion as he tried to decipher his mother's intentions. Part of him feared that Isabel might have divulged the events of the previous night, including the mention of Addison, but he couldn't be certain, having relied on his threat to keep her silent.
Nevertheless, he made his way to his mother's room, hoping to glean some insight into her sudden summons.
"What's this about, Mom?" Mason's voice betrayed his uncertainty as he confronted Nina.
"Why didn't you tell me about Isabel's illness this morning? You knew, didn't you?" Nina's accusatory tone left Mason scrambling for a response.
"What? No... How could I have known, Mom? I'm not a doctor or a mind reader. The last time I saw her, she was sleeping peacefully. That's all," Mason replied, feigning innocence while inwardly panicking at the prospect of Isabel confiding in Nina.
Sensing his mother's suspicion, Mason attempted to ascertain whether Isabel had indeed confided in her.
"Did Isabel say something to you?" His question hung in the air, laden with apprehension.
"She's too sick to speak properly. But why would she need to tell me anything when I already know what you're capable of?" Nina's response sent a chill down Mason's spine, his worst fears seemingly confirmed.
"Why didn't you come home when Martha informed you about Isabel's illness?" Nina's next question left Mason reeling, his carefully constructed facade crumbling under her scrutiny.
Caught off guard, Mason struggled to formulate a plausible explanation. "I was busy, Mom, and I told Martha as much. There was a lot of pressure at work," he stammered, his excuse ringing hollow in the face of Nina's unwavering gaze.
Nina's smile held a bitter edge as she watched Mason squirm under her piercing gaze, his feeble attempts at deception only serving to confirm her suspicions.
"Still lying, Mason? Do you really think I'm that naive?" Nina's words cut through the air like a knife, leaving Mason momentarily stunned.
His heart pounding in his chest, Mason struggled to maintain his composure, his mind racing as he tried to decipher Nina's cryptic accusation.
"Mom, I don't understand. What truth are you talking about?" Mason's voice wavered slightly, betraying his growing unease.
Nina's expression hardened as she confronted him head-on, her tone laced with suspicion. "The truth that you left the office the moment your father did. You also conveniently switched off your phone. Care to explain where you've been, Mason?"
Caught off guard by Nina's directness, Mason's mind raced as he scrambled to come up with a plausible explanation for his sudden disappearance. But deep down, he knew that his mother was onto him, and the weight of guilt threatened to consume him.