Chapter 36 Meet With Grandmother
Isabel felt her heart fluttered as she absorbed Anna's comforting hug, unable to keep herself from hugging her back. "Do you want to talk to Mom and Dad about this?" Anna asked gently. "Mason needs to apologize for what he’s done to you."
The very idea of involving Mason's parents was the last thing Isabel wanted. She was certain that Mason would react violently if she said anything to his parents. Breaking the embrace, Isabel looked at Anna, her eyes wide with fear. "Please, don’t tell Mom and Dad. Mason won’t handle it well if you do."
Anna's confusion deepened as she saw Isabel's fear. "Did he threaten you if you told Mom and Dad?"
Isabel’s silence was all the answer Anna needed. "This is getting out of hand," Anna said, her frustration evident. "He’s hurting you, and you’re afraid to involve anyone because of his threats. He’ll keep hurting you if you don’t do something."
"We can’t change the past, Anna," Isabel replied, a bitter smile curling on her lips. "Marrying Mason was my biggest mistake, and now I’m paying for it." Her smile didn’t reach her eyes, which were shadowed with the pain of a decision she regretted more than anything else in her life.
Anna found herself at a loss for words, feeling a deep sense of pity for Isabel. Though she struggled with the idea of Isabel excusing Mason’s behavior, she knew better than to push her into doing something she wasn’t ready for. After all, Anna had never experienced the kind of mistreatment Isabel had faced.
"You need to remember, it’s not just your fault," Anna said gently. "Mason is to blame too. He chose to marry you, and now everything’s fallen apart. But don’t blame yourself for this. You’re not at fault, Isabel." Her voice was steady, and she meant every word she said.
Isabel stared at Anna, disbelief in her eyes. The sincerity in Anna's voice seemed almost too good to be true, and for a moment, Isabel wondered if Anna’s concern was genuine or just an elaborate facade.
"Is this real, or are you just trying to deceive me? Do you really care about what I’m going through?" Isabel asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.
Anna felt a pang of regret as she reflected on her past behavior towards Isabel. She realized how her own previous disdain had made Isabel wary of this sudden shift in attitude. The contrast between her past and present actions was not lost on her, and she understood why Isabel might doubt her sincerity.
"I’m sorry for how I treated you before. I regret my past behavior and I’m genuinely concerned for you now," Anna said, her sincerity shining through. "Even though I didn’t always like you, I would never support how my brother is treating you."
Isabel felt a pang of longing for the kind of kindness Anna was showing her, a kindness she wished Mason could offer. But she knew better than to expect that kind of change.
"I can't thank you enough for being so kind," Isabel started, but her words were cut off as Nina walked into the room.
The sudden appearance of Nina made Isabel's heart race. She feared Nina had overheard their conversation and discovered what had been happening.
"What’s going on here?" Nina asked, clearly puzzled by Anna’s presence, as it was unusual for her to be around Isabel.
Caught off guard, both Isabel and Anna scrambled for an explanation. Anna nearly spoke up about the situation, but Isabel quickly interjected, "Anna came looking for Mason. Since he’s not here, she was just asking about him."
Nina seemed to accept Isabel’s explanation and didn’t press further, although she briefly wondered if Anna had come with some harsh words. Instead, Nina told Anna she needed a moment alone with Isabel and Anna reluctantly left the room.
"What's going on, Mom?" Isabel asked, her curiosity piqued. She was eager to know what was so important.
Nina looked concerned as she spoke, "Mason’s grandmother and his uncle’s family are coming to visit for the holidays, as they do every year. I’m just wondering if you’ll be comfortable around them."
Isabel was momentarily puzzled by Nina’s concern. "I think I'll be fine, Mom. I’m actually looking forward to meeting them."
"No, dear, you’re not quite understanding me," Nina said, her voice filled with concern. "What if they try to hurt you in some way? Will you be okay?"
The gravity of Nina’s words was clear, and Isabel could see how much it pained her mother to say them. Despite this, Isabel’s heart sank at the thought of being hurt by the visiting family.
Understanding what Nina meant, Isabel tried to reassure her, though it wasn’t easy. "I’ll be fine, Mom. If they try to hurt me or point out my flaws, it’s not really anything new. I’m used to that kind of treatment by now. Honestly, I’m still looking forward to meeting Grandma and the rest of the family."
Isabel’s smile was genuine, though a flicker of nervousness lingered in her eyes. The thought of potentially facing more hurt was unsettling, but she tried to stay optimistic.