Chapter 12 Felt Like A Prisoner

Mason's sarcastic smile curled at the edges upon hearing Isabel's question. In his cynical perception, he believed she was attempting to play the fool—a misconception that failed to grasp the depth of Isabel's awareness about her own imperfections. She carried a quiet hope within, a hope that her life partner would not harbor disdain for her due to her external flaws. Little did she anticipate the rejection that now unfolded before her.

In response to Isabel's inquiry, Mason uttered no words; instead, he directed her attention with a pointed finger. Her eyes followed the trajectory of his accusation, landing on the oversized photograph of him she had admired the night before. Then, with calculated cruelty, Mason began his tirade.

"Stand beside my image, and you'll comprehend everything. Do not attempt to manipulate my parents or act against me, or you will face the darkest version of me. Always remember your pathetic existence. You will never be a match for me, let alone my wife."

His words struck Isabel like a thunderbolt, leaving her immobilized. The world seemed to spin around her, and the pain she now felt eclipsed the hurt she had known throughout her life. Marriage, a sanctuary she sought for acceptance and love, revealed itself as a new battleground.

The rejection from her husband felt unbearable, a unique pain that surpassed the familiar sting of insults from the outside world. Her heart, unaccustomed to such cruelty from her own, began to tear at the seams.

Doe-eyed, tears welled in Isabel's eyes as Mason's words echoed in her ears. The realization that he refused to accept her due to her imperfections cut through her like a knife. Mason, observing her tears, found amusement in what he believed to be her attempt at manipulation, a performance to weaken his resolve.

Touching a single tear on Isabel's cheek, Mason's laughter erupted, further igniting her anguish. Isabel comprehended the mockery inherent in his actions.

"Really? Do you think I'm buying your tears?" Mason questioned amidst his laughter.

His words were a slap to Isabel's soul, reducing her pain to a joke in his eyes. In the throes of her worst nightmare, Isabel, battered by his cruel behavior, chose silence, bowing her head to shield her tears from his derisive gaze.

Mason's laughter ceased, and in its place emerged a final warning, laced with disdain. "The sooner you leave my life, the better for you. Stay away from me as much as you can, because it disgusts me to see you," he declared, indifferent to the impact his words might have on Isabel. His intent was clear which was to inflict the deepest possible wounds, expediting her departure.

With those cutting words, Mason departed for the gym, leaving behind a weeping Isabel whose heart plunged into the depths of unspoken pain. She wallowed in humiliation, shouldering the blame for a situation that seemed to unravel beyond her control.

Recollections of her neighbor Martha's warnings resonated in Isabel's mind, now painfully accurate. The harsh reality dawned upon her, the fate of an imperfect girl was often marked by the cruel absence of selfless love.

Caught in a dilemma, Isabel grappled with the desire to leave as Mason wished, which would be an affront to her family. The specter of societal judgment loomed, threatening to point fingers once again at her failure to secure acceptance from her husband, a thought that cut deep into her love for her family. Feeling utterly helpless, she succumbed to a flood of tears, yearning for an escape from the torment of her cursed existence. Each painful thought birthed more tears, as she wished for a release, even contemplating the unimaginable.

Amidst her sorrowful cries, a sudden knock on the door jolted Isabel. Anticipating Mason's return with more verbal cruelty, she was met with relief when she discovered it was Nina on the other side.

"Isabel, did you wake up?" Nina inquired without stepping inside.

Wiping her tears hastily, Isabel forced composure into her voice. "Yeah, I woke up a few minutes ago, Mom," she replied, desperately hoping to shield Mason from any additional trouble.

"Okay, dear. Get fresh and come downstairs for breakfast," Nina instructed before retreating to prepare a meal for her newfound daughter-in-law.

Isabel breathed a sigh of relief that Nina had not ventured inside, sparing her the potential scrutiny of her tear-stained face. Rising from the bed, she made her way to the washroom, determined to erase any traces of her emotional turmoil. As water splashed against her face, Isabel tried to wash away not just the tears but the profound sense of despair that clung to her.

Exiting the washroom, her eyes inadvertently met the gaze of the sizable mirror in the room. Confronted with her own reflection, Isabel couldn't shake the feeling of utter pathos, the echoes of Mason's cutting words haunting her anew.

"Are these flaws truly as horrifying and ugly as people perceive them to be?" Isabel murmured to her reflection, the question hanging heavy in the air, accompanied by a sharp pain that seemed to echo through her.

In the midst of Isabel's silent contemplation, Mason entered the room. Catching her in the act of scrutinizing herself in the mirror, he considered delivering another insult but dismissed the idea as a futile endeavor. Instead, a contemptuous smile crept across his face, enough to cast a shadow on Isabel's sense of self.

Mason's original intention in entering the room was to retrieve his phone for an impending call. With the device in hand, he made his way to the balcony, leaving Isabel alone with her reflection. The fear Mason instilled in her paralyzed any attempts at movement.

As Mason lingered on the balcony, Isabel summoned the courage to approach the closet in search of her dresses. Nina had informed her the previous day that her outfits were neatly arranged in the closet, and Isabel couldn't help but note their opulent nature. Mason's clothing occupied one side, hers the other. Selecting a dress, she retreated to the sanctuary of the washroom, seeking solace in the act of a shower.

Upon Mason's return from the balcony, he was greeted by Anna, who seemed to be waiting for him.

"Where is she?" Mason inquired, scanning the room for Isabel's presence, somewhat relieved at her apparent absence.

"Your loving wife must be taking a shower," Anna replied, gesturing towards the washroom.

"Enough of your nonsense. Why are you here? Don't you have college today?" Mason retorted, irritated by Anna's unexpected presence.

"I do, but I came to inform you that Mom wants both of you together for breakfast," Anna responded, her words only adding to Mason's annoyance.

"Damn it. I feel irritated whenever I'm around her. Let me drop you off at college," Mason suggested, seeing an opportunity to escape the impending breakfast drama with Isabel.

"Hold on. You're not allowed to leave the house today, brother. Mom wants you to spend the entire day with your newly married wife," Anna declared, casting a shadow over Mason's hope of freedom, leaving him feeling akin to a reluctant prisoner in his own home.