Chapter 14 Nearly Killed Her

Mason stood there, equally stunned by the intensity of his own reaction. He quickly began concocting excuses to present to Liam, attempting to salvage the situation.

"It's practically impossible for me to attend the dinner. I have late office hours these days, tremendous work pressure. It's unlikely that I can make it," Mason explained, feigning innocence to make his words appear genuine.

However, he overlooked his dad's presence, who stood disappointed by Mason's dishonesty. Liam, though somewhat convinced by Mason's false excuse, regretted extending the invitation without consulting Mason. He contemplated apologizing and rescheduling, but Mason's dad intervened.

"I don't think it will be a problem, Mason. We have enough employees to manage our office works, and I believe your absence won't create any disturbance," Mason's dad declared in a cold tone. He then turned to Liam, accepting the invitation.

Mason was left speechless, feeling insulted by his dad's words. His body trembled with anger, and as usual, he directed his blame at Isabel for the predicament. Fuming, he was convinced that the dinner invitation was Isabel's scheme.

Despite his inner resistance, Mason lacked the courage to reject the invitation in front of his dad. Consequently, he reluctantly accepted and excused himself to leave the living room.

While going to his room, he encountered Isabel setting the dining table for dinner. His anger surged at the sight of the alleged mastermind behind his misfortunes.

In a fit of rage, Mason seized Isabel's wrist forcefully, surprising her with his sudden proximity. The next moment, she winced in pain as Mason applied pressure.

Ensuring no one observed them in the house, Mason dragged Isabel forcefully to their room and locked the door. Isabel, struggling to maintain her balance after the push, questioned him in surprise.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked, bewildered by his abrupt and harsh treatment.

"What's wrong with me? Do you think I'm as gullible as my parents? That you can manipulate me and control me like them?" Mason's voice reverberated with anger and disgust, sending shivers down Isabel's spine. She stared into his enraged eyes, utterly perplexed by the meaning behind his words.

"What are you talking about, Mason?" Isabel questioned curiously, her innocence infuriating him further in his eyes.

In a fit of blind rage, Mason sprinted towards her, seizing her throat with a grip so tight that Isabel's breath hitched instantly. Tears welled up in her eyes as the pain from his relentless hold intensified, and she desperately struggled to break free. Mason, consumed by his anger, paid no heed to her efforts. He only craved to rid himself of Isabel permanently.

"You've turned my life into a living hell. How dare you plot a new drama behind my back?" Mason shouted, escalating the force of his grip with each word.

Isabel, overwhelmed by the physical agony, couldn't process his accusations. Her sole focus was on surviving the ordeal and escaping his grasp. Mason's verbal onslaught continued, each word delivered with venom as he berated her.

"You ugly sh*t! Why did you come into my life? Why are you even alive with your ugliness? You don't deserve to live!" Mason's scream reverberated through the room, the intensity of his anger threatening to crush Isabel's spirit. Dizziness engulfed her, and she felt as if each breath could be her last.

The abrupt sound of a knock on the door shattered the chaos, jolting Mason back to reality. The realization of what he had just done hit him like a ton of bricks. He released Isabel's throat, pushing her onto the bed, his own horror mirroring the gravity of his actions.

"Mason, open the door," came Nina's voice from the other side, adding a layer of complexity to the already dire situation. Panic surged within Mason as he looked at the panting Isabel, who had momentarily lost consciousness. Meanwhile, Nina's persistent knocks demanded an explanation.

"Mo...Mom... Do...Do you want anything?" Mason stammered, his heart pounding with guilt and fear. He regretted treating Isabel in such a brutal manner, realizing that he had never intended to physically harm her. Blinded by rage, he was now confronted with the consequences of his unbridled fury. The fear of his parents discovering the truth sent shivers down his spine, knowing it could spell the end for him.

"Isabel... Isabel, open your eyes. For God's sake, please open your eyes," Mason pleaded in a hushed tone, desperation evident in his voice. Yet, there was no response from Isabel.

"Are you not listening to me, Mason? Open the door right now. We need to talk," Nina's voice interrupted, accompanied by persistent knocks on the door. Before Mason could formulate a reply, Nina bombarded him with another question.

"Where is Isabel? Is she with you inside the room?"

"Ye... Yeah... She is here. I mean, she's in the washroom. We will come downstairs together for the di...dinner," Mason replied, hoping his mom would leave them alone for the moment.

"Isabel, open your eyes," Mason whispered again, resorting to splashing water on her face. Still met with no response, he felt a surge of helplessness. A momentary fear gripped him as he considered the possibility that he might have harmed her irreparably.

"Okay. We are waiting for you guys at the dining table. Try to come fast," Nina announced before leaving. Her initial intention to address Mason's negligence towards his new wife was momentarily halted with Isabel's presence. Nina decided it was best to discuss the matter privately with Mason later.

Alone in the room, Mason resumed his attempts to wake Isabel. Calling out to her yielded no results. A sudden realization struck him—perhaps she wasn't waking up due to a lack of breath. Mason decided on a course of action without further contemplation. He leaned over Isabel and pressed his lips to hers, attempting to share his breath in a desperate bid to revive her.