Chapter 25 Mason Was Cheating
"Isabel? Are you alright?" Olivia couldn't help but ask when she noticed Isabel's confused expression. Isabel nodded and attempted to appear genuinely engaged.
"But you seemed nervous about my invitation. Do you think your husband won't accept it?" Olivia sounded sad, eliciting sympathy from Isabel.
Isabel truly didn't want to decline the invitation, but she felt helpless. Mason would never agree to go anywhere with her. Moreover, she didn't want to bring Mason to Olivia's house, fearing that Olivia might sense something amiss in their relationship.
"It's not like that. I think he would love to go for dinner, but I don't want to," Isabel stated, instantly disappointing Olivia.
"What?" Olivia exclaimed, surprised by Isabel's rejection.
"Please don't be sad. Actually, I don't want Mason to feel pressured. He has been giving me time since our wedding day, barely attending his office. I don't want to interrupt him in the company's work anymore," Isabel explained, feeling guilty about fabricating yet another lie to her dearest friend.
Olivia found Isabel's lie understandable, having grown accustomed to a similar situation with her own father, an industrialist who often had to prioritize work over social gatherings.
"Oh, I see. Anyway, I will look forward to the day when Mason will be free so that I can invite you both," Olivia said, providing Isabel with some relief.
Afterwards, they spent some more time together, and Olivia dropped Isabel off at her house.
Isabel invited Olivia to come inside, but she declined, citing the emptiness of the house at that time, deeming it unnecessary.
"Invite me when everyone's there so I can meet your new family," Olivia said, smiling, and drove away after bidding farewell to Isabel.
As Isabel entered the house, she recalled that her sister Emma's birthday was approaching, and she hadn't bought a gift yet. Knowing Emma's love for novels, Isabel decided to head to the library and pick up a few books as her birthday present.
Lost in her thoughts, Isabel made her way to the library, a few blocks away from her house. It took her nearly fifteen minutes to reach the destination. As she was about to enter the library, her attention was drawn to a café in the opposite direction. The café's transparent glass exterior allowed Isabel to spot Mason inside.
Before she could comprehend the situation, Isabel observed Mason sitting across from a girl. It was evident that they were together, engaged in a lively conversation. They weren't just talking; they were laughing joyfully. Isabel couldn't help but notice Mason's unusually happy demeanor, a stark contrast to his behavior towards her since their marriage. To add to her surprise, she saw Mason holding hands with the girl, gently caressing them as they conversed.
Isabel stood frozen in place, deeply wounded by the scene before her. She didn't want to hastily jump to conclusions or assume an affair, but a part of her couldn't shake the belief that Mason might be cheating on her.
Despite the urge to confront them, Isabel found herself unable to summon the courage. The weight of the situation left her feeling lifeless, contemplating the possibility of being betrayed.
Unable to bear the scene any longer, Isabel's eyes welled up with tears. Without stepping into the library, she swiftly turned around and fled from the place.
As she ran, Isabel couldn't help but replay the image of Mason's smiling face in her mind, engaged in animated conversation with that girl. The tears kept flowing, a painful reminder of how tenderly Mason had held the other girl's hands. Feeling betrayed by her husband, Isabel's heartache intensified with every step.
Lost in her anguish, Isabel ran without realizing her destination. She came to a stop near a park, where the sparse crowd allowed her some solitude.
Seating herself on a bench, Isabel became an embodiment of emotionlessness, giving way to a torrent of tears the next moment. Despite her rational mind urging her not to care, her vulnerable heart insisted on feeling the opposite. The sight of her newly married husband reveling in happiness with another woman was something Isabel couldn't ignore.
"Why? Why did this have to happen to me? Why am I the one deemed the ugliest?" she whispered to herself, placing blame on her skin condition.
Isabel couldn't escape the memories of Mason's disdain and cruelty towards her imperfections. Now, he had escalated to infidelity, disregarding the fact that he was married, and his wife was very much alive.
The more Isabel dwelled on the situation, the more an unbearable pain swelled within her heart. Watching Mason with another woman was far more agonizing than she had anticipated, even though her feelings for Mason were still uncertain.
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In the evening, Isabel returned home and headed straight to her room. Nervous about facing Nina in case she noticed her tear-stained state, Isabel sought solace in the confines of her room.
With determination to appear strong, Isabel made her way directly to the shower, hoping to wash away any traces of her earlier tears. However, her resolve crumbled, and the water seemed unable to quell the emotional storm within her. Closing her eyes only brought back vivid images of Mason's happiness with the other girl, and even under the soothing flow of water, Isabel couldn't escape her tears. She felt like a pawn of destiny, cursed to suffer.
Lost in her pain, Isabel failed to realize that she had been standing under the shower for an hour until a knock on the door jolted her back to reality. Hastily drying herself and getting dressed, she assumed it was Mason. To her surprise, when she opened the door, it was the maid, Martha.
"Are you okay, Isabel?" Martha inquired immediately upon seeing her.
Isabel offered a slight nod and asked if Martha needed anything from her.
"Madam mentioned that you might be hungry after coming home. So, I brought you some food," Martha explained, gesturing toward the meals laid out on the table.
Upon seeing the food, Isabel realized she hadn't eaten anything since leaving college. However, the sight of Mason with someone else had stolen her appetite. Grateful for Martha's gesture, Isabel thanked her, though she couldn't shake the feeling that Martha was observing her strangely.
"What... What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?" Isabel asked, curious about Martha's demeanor.
Hesitant, Martha debated whether it was appropriate to inquire about Isabel's personal matters but ultimately decided to ask, "Did you cry earlier, Isabel?"