Chapter 34 Craving For Your Touch
Isabel returned home, her steps heavy as she headed straight to their room. She winced slightly as she checked her wound, carefully applying more ointment. The pain had eased a little since she had applied the medicine earlier in the morning, a small mercy she was grateful for. At least Olivia hadn’t noticed the burn—if she had, Isabel was certain Mason wouldn’t have survived her wrath.
"Isabel... May I arrange lunch for you?" Martha’s voice cut through the quiet, startling Isabel. She quickly pulled her collar up, hiding the mark on her neck.
"No... I already had lunch," Isabel replied, her voice steady, though her heart raced. Martha gave a nod and quietly left the room.
With a sigh, Isabel turned her attention to the pile of assignments waiting for her. The deadlines loomed large, and she knew she couldn’t afford to waste any time. As she sat at the desk, she noticed Mason's iPad lying on the table. He rarely used it, except for the occasional online game. Since he wasn’t home, Isabel decided to use it for her work—it would make things faster, and she could return it before he got back.
Settling on the couch, she opened her books and began working. Time slipped away as she immersed herself in the assignment. Nearly three hours later, exhaustion caught up with her. She had woken up early that morning, and the lack of rest was taking its toll. Her eyes grew heavy, and before she knew it, sleep claimed her, the iPad still in her lap.
In the evening, Nina peeked into the room and found Isabel fast asleep amidst her scattered assignments. Isabel looked so worn out that Nina decided not to wake her, instead letting her rest for a few hours.
Mason finally came home later that night. He saw Isabel sleeping peacefully on the couch but didn't notice his iPad resting on her lap. Irritated by the sight of her sleeping so soundly, he started making noise in the closet, deliberately trying to wake her.
Isabel jolted awake at the sudden clatter and scrambled to sit up, but in her haste, the iPad slipped from her lap and hit the floor with a thud. Both she and Mason turned their heads sharply towards the sound, Isabel’s heart pounding in her chest as she silently prayed the iPad hadn’t broken.
"Is that my iPad? What were you doing with it?" Mason snapped, striding over to pick it up. Isabel froze, her body stiff with fear.
“What the hell? You broke it,” Mason spat, his fury cutting through the small hope Isabel had that maybe, just maybe, the iPad was still intact.
Her eyes darted to the device in his hand, and she saw the cracked display. Guilt washed over her in waves, an overwhelming sense of regret for ever touching the iPad in the first place.
Mason couldn't believe it. The audacity she had to touch his things without permission left him reeling.
"You really had the nerve to mess with my stuff without even asking," he growled, his glare pinning her in place, making her feel small and vulnerable.
"I'm so sorry, Mason," Isabel pleaded, her voice trembling. "I needed to finish an assignment, and my phone isn’t working properly. I swear I didn’t do anything except some research. I didn’t mean to break it. Please believe me." She desperately tried to explain, but the mere idea of her using his belongings fueled his anger.
Mason’s mind raced. Did she actually think that just because they were so-called husband and wife, she had the right to his things without asking? His rage blinded him, and before he knew it, he hurled the iPad to the floor, shattering it completely. The sound of the crash echoed in the room, leaving Isabel frozen in shock.
She stared at the broken pieces, her terror mounting. In that moment, she was certain that if she stayed any longer, she would be next. Without a second thought, Isabel turned and fled from the room, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to escape the wrath she feared was coming.
As Isabel tried to flee, Mason was faster. In a flash, he grabbed a fistful of her hair, yanking her back with a force that made her gasp in pain. He pulled her close, their faces just inches apart, his grip relentless.
“It hurts—please, let go,” Isabel sobbed, desperately trying to free herself from his painful hold, the intensity of the pain making her tremble.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Mason snarled, his voice low and menacing. “Do you enjoy bringing out the worst in me? You like it when I hurt you, don’t you? That’s why you keep pushing me to the edge.” His words were venomous, his breath hot against her tear-streaked face, and Isabel could feel the threat of violence hanging in the air.
“You’ve lost your mind, Mason,” she cried, her voice cracking with fear. “I’d rather die than crave your touch. Please, let me go. I swear I’ll never touch anything of yours again.” But her words only seemed to fuel his anger. Instead of releasing her, Mason tightened his grip on her hair, making the pain even more excruciating.
"Fk your promise! I don’t give a damn whether you crave my touch or not because I’d rather lose my hands than touch someone like you in any way you might fantasize about. You know what? I’ve told you before, and I’ll say it again—get the hell out of my life, or I’ll make sure you experience hell every single day," Mason snarled, his words dripping with venom. But before he could continue, the sound of someone entering the room cut him off.
“What the hell is going on here?” Anna’s voice rang out, full of shock as she stepped into the room. She had come to talk to Isabel but froze at the sight in front of her, utterly bewildered.
Mason released Isabel’s hair, shoving her away to put distance between them. Isabel immediately clutched her head, the pain in her scalp so intense it made her feel lightheaded.
“You raised your hand against her, Mason?” Anna’s voice was laced with disbelief. It was hard to reconcile this side of her brother with the man she thought she knew.
“You have no idea what she’s done, Anna,” Mason shot back, noticing the disgust in Anna’s eyes. “She’s a manipulating btch, so don’t waste your sympathy on her.”