Chapter 37 Stay Away From Me
The house buzzed with festive activity in anticipation of Mason's grandmother’s arrival. The maids hurried about, following Nina’s instructions meticulously, knowing how much her mother-in-law despised imperfection.
Isabel had taken on the task of cooking for the grandmother, determined to make a good impression. Since morning, she’d been in the kitchen, pouring her heart into every dish. She knew that earning the grandmother’s approval was no easy feat, and she was determined to avoid any mistakes.
When Nina had described her mother-in-law’s exacting nature and her tendency to be critical, Isabel had realized just how challenging it would be to win her praise. Yet, despite her trepidation, Isabel longed to hear compliments about her cooking, even as she braced herself for potential criticism of her imperfections.
Though she tried to project a calm demeanor, Isabel couldn’t hide her nervousness about meeting the grandmother. The thought of facing her harsh judgments, as Nina had warned, loomed over her, leaving Isabel anxious and unprepared for the possible sting of insult.
In the evening, Mr. John and Mason went to the airport to greet the arriving guests. Back at the house, Mason’s grandmother was eager and impatient to meet Mason’s wife. Nina called for Isabel several times, urging her to come and make her introduction, but Isabel couldn’t muster the courage to do so.
Fearful of being harshly judged and humiliated by the grandmother, Isabel hesitated. Still, she knew she had to face her eventually. Gathering her resolve, she approached the grandmother with a tray of snacks.
At first, Mason’s grandmother barely glanced at Isabel, assuming she was just another maid. Despite Isabel’s polite greeting, the grandmother dismissed her completely.
"Nina, I’m getting frustrated," the grandmother said sharply. "Why isn’t your daughter-in-law here to meet me? Doesn’t she want to come and greet me?"
Isabel’s heart sank as she realized that Mason’s grandmother hadn’t even recognized her as a family member. The feeling of being overlooked and ignored stung deeply, leaving Isabel feeling utterly humiliated.
"What are you talking about, Mom? Here’s our lovely daughter-in-law," Nina said, gesturing towards Isabel. The grandmother looked bewildered.
"Please introduce yourself, Isabel," John prompted. Isabel opened her mouth to speak, but the grandmother cut her off.
"Are you trying to play a joke on me?" the grandmother demanded, her impatience evident. "I’m anxious to meet Mason’s wife. Why is she hiding and letting you all play tricks on me?"
Before Nina and John could respond, the grandmother turned to Mason, who had been quietly observing the scene.
"Don’t you want me to meet your wife, Mason?" she pressed, her eagerness palpable.
Mason, though initially reluctant and embarrassed, knew he had no choice but to comply with his parents’ expectations. "There she is," he said, his voice tinged with disappointment. "This is my wife, Grammy. Meet Isabel."
He glanced at Isabel, the weight of the moment heavy on both of them.
After Mason confirmed Isabel’s identity, his grandmother was left speechless, struggling to process the reality that her handsome grandson had married someone she deemed unattractive. The shock left her at a loss for words.
"Hello, Grammy. I’m Isabel. It’s nice to meet you," Isabel said, forcing a smile despite the sting of the grandmother’s reaction. The grandmother’s face froze, clearly distressed by the realization that Isabel was Mason’s wife.
The grandmother recoiled, taking a few steps back to put distance between herself and Isabel. The sight of Isabel as her grandson’s wife was unsettling to her on a profound level.
"Please stay away from me," the grandmother said, her voice filled with horror. "I can’t even look at you without feeling revulsion."
Nina, angered by her mother-in-law’s cruelty, quickly intervened. "Mom, please show some kindness. She’s Mason’s wife," she said, her voice sharp as she noticed the tears forming in Isabel’s eyes.
The grandmother’s reaction was even more brutal. "Are you out of your mind? How could you choose such an unattractive woman for our Mason?" she spat, her disgust palpable as she scrutinized Isabel with disdain.
Earlier, Isabel had resolved to remain strong in the face of any hostility, but now she felt utterly vulnerable. The way the grandmother looked at her, with such disdain and refusal to even be near her, made Isabel feel like she was worthless. The hurt was overwhelming, and she struggled to hold back her tears.
"Mom, you can’t speak so harshly about someone you don’t even know," John said, trying to soothe the situation. "Isabel is genuinely a sweet and kind-hearted person."
"Exactly," Nina chimed in, her voice firm. "How can you judge her so quickly? At least try to get to know her."
The grandmother was taken aback by Nina and John’s defense of Isabel. She also noticed Mason’s silence, which led her to believe that he had been coerced into marrying Isabel.
"You must have forced my grandson into this awful marriage," the grandmother accused Nina and John. "How could you do this to your son?"
Isabel tried to speak up, "No, Grammy, it—" but was abruptly cut off by the grandmother’s outburst.
"Don’t you dare call me Grammy," the grandmother screamed, her anger reaching a boiling point. "I don’t accept you as Mason’s wife, and I never will. Get out of my sight!"
"Grammy, please calm down," Mason said, his concern for her health masking his satisfaction at seeing Isabel being insulted. "You’re getting too worked up. Your blood pressure might rise."
"How can I calm down when they’ve done this to you?" the grandmother retorted, her voice seething with rage. "Why didn’t you call me when they forced you into marrying this woman? She’s going to ruin your life, Mason." Her words were a venomous attack on Isabel, and it was clear she would have relished the chance to remove her from the equation entirely.
Nina, who had been struggling to contain her emotions, could no longer hold back. The pain of seeing Isabel mistreated was too much to bear. "Enough of your hatred, Mom. Whether you accept it or not, Isabel is Mason’s wife. And I don’t want to hear any more of your insults toward her."
Nina’s outburst shocked everyone, including the grandmother, who decided, in the face of Nina’s unexpected defiance, to leave the house immediately.