Chapter 40 Nice To Meet You
Isabel struggled to hold back her tears as she faced Grandmother’s scorn. She wanted to defend herself, to make Grandmother see that she wasn’t trying to manipulate anyone. Isabel longed to explain that, despite the insults and hostility, she had always approached others with compassion and respect.
But her upbringing had taught her to honor her elders, even when they were cruel. She knew that stooping to their level would only tarnish her own integrity. In her heart, she believed silence was often the best response to those who couldn’t appreciate kindness.
With a heavy heart, Isabel left the room and headed to the kitchen to prepare coffee for Nina. The thought of Nina’s stress over the news of Mason’s impending marriage weighed heavily on her. Isabel wanted to shield Nina from the painful truth until she was certain Nina had heard it from someone else. She knew that once Nina found out, she would likely blame herself and be overwhelmed with guilt.
When Isabel arrived at Nina’s room with the coffee, she found Anna already there. Both women looked deeply disheartened. Isabel quickly guessed that Anna had broken the news to Nina.
“You know, don’t you?” Anna asked, her eyes meeting Isabel’s with a mixture of sympathy and sadness.
Isabel remained silent, maintaining a composed exterior despite the turmoil inside her. Her heart was heavy with the news of Mason’s plans.
“Mom, do you want me to bring your dinner here or...?” Isabel began, trying to shift the focus away from the painful topic. But Nina cut her off before she could finish.
“You’re not just a maid to serve everyone but yourself,” Nina said, her voice tinged with frustration. “How can you stay so calm after everything?”
Anna, too, looked on with curiosity, wanting to understand Isabel’s composure.
“What else can I do, Mom?” Isabel replied, her voice hollow. “I can’t force my way into his heart. Besides, it’s bound to happen sooner or later. Maybe it’s better that it happens sooner.”
Isabel felt a profound emptiness, as if all hope had evaporated. She realized she was trapped in a situation she was never meant to be in, and the marriage with Mason had become a regrettable mistake.
“You know you have legal options,” Anna said, trying to offer a glimmer of hope. “What Grammy is planning is unjust, and you have every right to challenge their decision.” Anna understood the potential consequences for Mason if Isabel chose this route, but she couldn’t bear to see Isabel mistreated and displaced by another woman.
Isabel’s sad laughter echoed through the room. The suggestion of legal action was the last thing she could contemplate. Although she was gradually letting go of her feelings for Mason, she could never bring herself to cause him pain. She knew too well the sting of betrayal and the anguish of being mistreated by someone she loved.
She wasn't sure if Mason would find happiness in his second marriage, but she could never bring herself to make him suffer. Instead, she hoped he would find the joy that eluded him with her.
“Isabel? Why are you so quiet?” Nina’s voice cut through Isabel’s thoughts, filled with concern as she noticed Isabel's distant expression.
Nina’s heart ached every time she looked at Isabel, unable to fathom the depth of her pain. She wished she could undo the guilt of putting Isabel through such a situation.
“I have nothing to say, Mom,” Isabel replied, her voice cracking. “I’m just exhausted from this marriage because none of it was real. I don’t blame anyone; it feels like I was meant for this. An imperfect person like me doesn’t deserve love.” Her tears began to flow uncontrollably.
Desperate to hide her vulnerability from Nina and Anna, Isabel fled to the storage room. However, as she hurried down the hall, the sound of the doorbell rang through the house. With everyone else preoccupied and the maids busy in the kitchen, Isabel figured it must be her father-in-law. She made her way to answer it.
When she opened the door, she was taken aback by the sight of a strikingly beautiful woman, probably around her age. The woman’s elegance was undeniable, from her radiant appearance to her finely tailored attire. Isabel stood mesmerized, unable to look away from the vision of grace before her.
“Are you deaf or something?” the woman snapped, jolting Isabel from her daze.
“Wh-who are you looking for?” Isabel stammered, her fear evident under the woman’s intense gaze.
Suddenly, the woman’s expression softened, and a smile played on her lips.
“You must be Isabel, right?” she asked, still grinning with a touch of mischief.
Isabel nodded, perplexed. Though she had never met this woman before, there was something about her that seemed familiar.
“And you are?” Isabel asked, trying to mask her surprise.
“I’m Addison. Nice to meet you, Isabel,” the woman said with satisfaction, clearly reveling in Isabel’s shocked reaction.
Isabel was speechless, paralyzed by the weight of the moment. Addison seemed to take delight in Isabel’s visible distress, knowing that Isabel was witnessing the arrival of the woman her husband loved.
“Are you okay, Isabel?” Addison asked, her tone feigning concern.
Isabel nodded, her eyes dropping to the floor to conceal the tears threatening to spill.
“Am I going to stand out here all night, or are you going to let me in?” Addison’s words were laced with intent, knowing how painful it would be for any wife to welcome her husband's lover.
“I’m sorry. Please, come in,” Isabel said, stepping aside to let her in.
Addison surveyed the house with a look of triumph, savoring the moment she had been waiting for.
“Finally,” Addison murmured to herself, but Isabel couldn’t shake the feeling that Addison’s demeanor was deliberately intended to provoke her.
Isabel tried to slip away quietly, hoping to avoid further confrontation
But Addison’s voice halted her in her tracks. “You didn’t respond to me, Isabel.”
Isabel turned around, confusion etched on her face. “Respond to what?”
“Was it nice to meet me?” Addison asked, her lips curling into a playful smirk.