Chapter 38 Arrange His Marriage
As the grandmother started to leave, Mason's frustration turned toward Isabel. He blamed her for the entire scene, leaving Isabel bewildered and unsure of what to do next. Nina and John desperately tried to convince the grandmother to stay, apologizing profusely and pleading with her, but she was too stubborn, feeling deeply humiliated by their defense of Isabel.
"Grammy, please don’t leave... I’ll..." Isabel began to plead, but her words only fueled the grandmother’s fury, who erupted into a torrent of curses.
"You’re enjoying this, aren’t you? This is exactly what you wanted— to tear our family apart!" Mason shouted, his anger piercing through Isabel and leaving her terrified and guilt-ridden.
Isabel tried to apologize, but the grandmother refused to hear a word from her. After relentless begging from Nina, John, and Mason, the grandmother finally agreed to stay, but only on the condition that Isabel be kept away from her completely during her visit. Nina and John, with no other choice, reluctantly accepted this harsh demand.
Isabel retreated to the storeroom, a place she usually avoided, and let her tears flow freely. The sting of every harsh word from the grandmother echoed in her mind, and the weight of the criticism she had received for faults that weren’t even hers grew unbearable. As her sobs deepened, she felt as though her entire life was cursed.
Nina, knowing how deeply hurt Isabel must be, came searching for her. Isabel quickly tried to compose herself, wiping away her tears in a futile attempt to hide her anguish. She felt a sharp pang of embarrassment at being caught in such a vulnerable state, despite having been warned about the grandmother’s behavior.
Nina embraced Isabel tightly, breaking the silence with her heartfelt words. "This is happening to us, Isabel. Please don’t ever forgive us."
Isabel understood Nina’s words, recognizing the deep regret and sorrow behind them, but she also felt that fate had dealt her a cruel hand, leading to her current suffering.
"I don’t even have the strength to face you or meet your gaze," Nina said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I’ve never felt so guilty in my life for ruining the life of someone as pure as you because of my son’s failings."
Seeing Nina so distraught and vulnerable was a shock for Isabel. She had never witnessed such raw emotion from Nina before, and it was almost impossible for her to reconcile this with the strong figure she had always known.
Isabel struggled to find the right words to comfort Nina, as she was equally hurt by the situation. "I’m okay, Mom. I didn’t take Grammy’s words too seriously, but it still stings, even though it’s not the first time I’ve faced such harshness."
Nina, overwhelmed by her own regret, found it hard to continue the conversation. "If you want, you can stay at your parents' house until my mother-in-law leaves. I’m worried she might insult you again."
For a moment, Isabel considered leaving, but then she resolutely changed her mind. She was determined to earn Grandmother’s approval, believing that staying close might be the only way to achieve it, even though she had no idea how to manage this when she wasn’t supposed to be near her.
"I’ll be fine, Mom. Besides, Grammy is family, and her hostility might even be a blessing in disguise. I can’t just run away because of some hurtful words. I still have responsibilities as Mason’s wife that I need to uphold."
Nina left with a look of astonishment, deeply moved by Isabel's resilience and positivity despite the harsh insults. To her, Isabel seemed like an angel living among devils, and she wished she could bring all the good things in the world to this pure soul standing before her.
Isabel was startled by the admiration in Nina's eyes—a look she had never seen before. It left her feeling uncertain. Was Nina genuinely admiring her, or was there something else behind that gaze?
As Isabel pondered Nina's expression, she wondered if Nina might think less of her for wanting to remain in the presence of her harsh grandmother. Before she could voice her concerns, Nina spoke.
"The more I see of you, the more you amaze me," Nina said, her voice filled with sincerity. "You are truly one of the most lovable people I’ve ever met. My son doesn’t deserve someone like you—you’re far too good for him."
Isabel felt her cheeks warm at Nina’s heartfelt words. Such a sincere compliment was new to her and made her feel valued in a way she had never experienced before.
Nina's voice then took on a tone of regret. "It’s our fault for pushing you into this marriage. Maybe one day, Mason will realize how lucky he is to have you. But for now, he’s too blind to see it."
With that, Nina left, leaving Isabel with a heavy heart. She was left alone with a whirlwind of emotions, feeling both touched and conflicted by the unexpected praise and the weight of her circumstances.
\~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three days had passed since Mason's grandmother arrived, and the tension in the house had become almost unbearable. Along with her, Mason's uncle and aunt had come for their annual Christmas visit. While they weren’t as harsh as Mason's grandmother, they made their displeasure clear about Isabel being Mason's wife. Their criticisms, though less severe, were still direct and unwelcome.
Nina had retreated to her room for the past three days, unable to cope with the constant insults directed at Isabel. Every negative comment provoked her, and to avoid further confrontation, she chose to isolate herself until the guests departed.
Isabel, determined not to let the negative atmosphere affect her, took on the responsibility of caring for the guests in Nina’s absence. She threw herself into making their stay enjoyable, even taking over Christmas preparations—a task Nina usually managed. Though she was restricted from being in Mason's grandmother’s presence, Isabel sent the maids to attend to the guests whenever needed.
One afternoon, as the family gathered in the hall for a festive moment, Isabel, who had been relegated to the kitchen, sent snacks out through the maids. She tried to mask her longing to join in the laughter and camaraderie, but her role was confined to the kitchen, where she sighed heavily while preparing dinner.
Suddenly, Martha, one of the maids, burst into the kitchen, her face pale with distress. "Do you know what they’re talking about?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Isabel, taken aback by Martha's reaction, pressed for details. "What happened?"
"They’re discussing Mason’s marriage," Martha blurted out. "They’re planning to arrange his marriage to someone else—a girl named Addison."