Chapter 35 You Become A Monster
Anna rushed to Isabel’s side, her heart aching with pity as she saw the tears streaming down her sister-in-law’s face. She had never felt such deep sympathy for anyone, especially not just because Isabel was family, but because, as a woman, it pained her to witness the brutal way Isabel was being treated. For the first time, Anna felt a seething hatred toward Mason that she had never experienced before.
Mason, on the other hand, found Anna’s concern laughable. He was convinced that Isabel was putting on an act, trying to manipulate Anna the same way he believed she had fooled their parents.
“Don’t fall for her tricks, Anna,” Mason sneered, his voice laced with mocking laughter. “She’ll twist your mind and turn you into her puppet, just like she did with Mom and Dad.”
Anna’s hatred deepened at his words. It was hard to believe that her brother could hurt someone so badly and then still speak of them with such contempt. The fact that Mason felt no guilt, and was instead trying to paint Isabel as the villain, made Anna’s stomach turn.
Refusing to dignify his words with a response, Anna focused on Isabel, ignoring Mason completely. She gently tried to console her, holding Isabel close as she cried, each tear a testament to the pain Mason had so callously inflicted.
"Anna, stop it. She doesn't need you. Let her carry on with her fake crying," Mason said, trying once more to convince Anna, but this time she’d had enough of his nonsense.
"Enough of your disgusting behavior, Mason. How low are you willing to sink just to prove you’ve become a monster?" Anna’s voice was sharp, leaving Mason momentarily speechless.
He was caught off guard by her sudden change in tone. Up until now, he’d believed Anna shared his disdain for Isabel. The shift in her attitude made him jump to the conclusion that Isabel had somehow succeeded in brainwashing her too.
"Unbelievable! You’ve fallen for her pathetic act too. Come on, Anna. She’s making a fool of you," Mason said, his disbelief tinged with amusement at the idea of Anna taking Isabel’s side.
"What’s happened to you, Mason? I know you hate her and can’t see her as your wife, but that doesn’t give you the right to treat her like this or to hurt her. If you can’t be a good husband, at least try to be kind," Anna replied, her voice firm as she tried to make him see the truth of his actions.
But instead of reaching him, her words only fueled Mason’s rage. It was infuriating for him to hear such things from Anna, who had always seemed to support him, but now was speaking up for the person he despised most.
"Honestly, I don't even blame you for what you're saying. It's just her magic, pulling everyone under her spell," Mason sneered, trying to dismiss Anna’s words.
"You're pathetic, Mason. And I feel terrible for being your sister," Anna shot back, her voice cold. Her words hit him like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, his face clouded with sadness.
Until now, Anna had been the only one who supported his stance against this marriage, but now she was turning against him too. The realization made his stomach churn with disgust as he blamed Isabel for driving a wedge between him and his sister, just as she had with their parents.
"So, you’ve succeeded in destroying our bond too, haven’t you? I swear I’m going to kill you today," Mason growled, his rage blinding him as he moved toward Isabel with violent intent. But before he could reach her, Anna stepped in front of him, blocking his path.
"If you take one more step toward Isabel, I’m calling Mom and Dad, and you’ll have to deal with them," Anna threatened, her tone firm. Mason could hardly believe these words were coming from his sister.
He stood there, speechless, realizing that he was now the villain in the eyes of his own family. The fact that everyone was siding with Isabel, speaking on her behalf, was something Mason simply couldn’t accept.
"I can't believe you're talking like this, Anna. Why can’t you see that she’s messing with everyone’s mind? She’s playing us, Anna. Open your eyes and understand!" Mason's voice was laced with frustration, disappointment weighing heavily on him as he looked at his sister.
But Anna only felt more disgusted with each word he spoke. It was baffling to her that Mason genuinely believed Isabel was the one to blame when, in reality, he was the one destroying everything.
"You’ve become so blind that you can’t even tell right from wrong anymore," Anna shot back, her voice firm. "I understand you don’t see her as your wife, but at least respect her as a woman."
Mason couldn’t help but hear Anna’s words as dripping with sarcasm. He wished he could make her see that Isabel was truly the problem, that she didn’t deserve anyone’s sympathy.
"Since when did you start talking like a feminist? Didn’t you hate her just as much as I did until yesterday? What did she do to you?" Mason demanded, his gaze fixed on Isabel with a look so intense it felt like he was throwing daggers at her.
Anna, now thoroughly disillusioned, lost the desire to argue with him further. His questions no longer seemed worth answering. Instead, she turned her attention to Isabel and asked, "Are you okay?"
"Hey, do you want to come to my room? You can stay there for a while," Anna offered, her voice gentle.
Before Isabel could respond, Mason stormed out of the room, unable to bear the sight of Isabel being pitied. As soon as he left, Isabel let out a deep breath of relief, the panic she had been holding at bay easing just a bit.
"Are you really okay, Isabel?" Anna asked, concern evident in her voice.
The question triggered a fresh wave of tears from Isabel. She felt overwhelmed, realizing she couldn’t continue in this marriage any longer. The idea of following her in-laws' advice to leave Mason was becoming more appealing as each day passed, her safety and sanity feeling increasingly at risk.
"I’m not okay, Anna. I really can’t do this anymore. Every day, it’s getting harder to stay in this so-called marriage. I just want to be free," Isabel confessed through her sobs. Seeing Isabel so broken, Anna’s heart ached. For the first time, she reached out and hugged Isabel, offering what comfort she could as the two of them shared a quiet moment of solace.