Third Person's POV:
Isabel stood there wearing a bright yellow top and a flowing white skirt. Her skin disease was visible on her exposed hands, legs, and neck, yet she had no intention of hiding it. Her smile remained the prettiest in the world, even as her body showed signs of discoloration. Meanwhile, her dark brown eyes silently appreciated the handsome man standing before her, who would soon become her husband. If only she knew what he was truly thinking about her.
"Why on earth did my mom choose her for me? She looks even uglier in person. I can't even imagine her as my bride," Mason lamented in his mind, as his eyes traveled up and down Isabel's figure.
He wanted to say those hurtful words directly to her face, but he held back to spare his mom, Nina, from pain. Besides, after seeing Isabel's face, he had lost interest in engaging with her further. Her skin imperfections bothered him tremendously.
"Hey... You're Mason, right?" Isabel asked, breaking the silence between them.
Unbeknownst to Isabel, Mason let out a heavy sigh upon hearing her voice. He replied, "Yeah, you're definitely Isabel."
Isabel nodded with a genuine smile in response.
Although her smile was pleasant and heartwarming, Mason despised everything about her. Looking at Isabel was becoming unbearable for him; he felt like he had the worst luck in the world, ending up with her as his fiancée.
Mason managed to suppress his irritation and engaged in conversation with Isabel, hoping to get rid of her soon.
"Please, have a seat," he said, forcing a smile on his face.
He took his seat once again, and Isabel sat opposite him.
Before saying anything, Mason looked at her once more and grew furious with his mom all over again. He couldn't fathom why his mom had chosen a girl with a skin disease for a good-looking guy like him. He never thought his mom's taste would be so poor and disappointing.
Now more than ever, he was determined to stop this marriage by any means necessary. So he began, "Listen, Miss Isabel... I don't like beating around the bush. I want to make myself very clear. Honestly, this marriage..."
Mason was interrupted mid-sentence by an unexpected phone call. To his surprise, it was his mom calling.
He answered the call, and from the other end, his mom, Nina, asked, "Mason, where are you right now?"
"Are you with Isabel?" Nina asked without giving him a chance to respond.
Mason felt shocked and frightened by his mom's realization. Meanwhile, Isabel grew a bit curious about the change in his expression.
"Ummm... No... I mean, yeah..." Mason stumbled over his words, unprepared to answer his mom's inquiry.
"You don't have to lie. I already know you're with Isabel. I want both of you to spend time together, but don't even think about making her break this marriage. If you do, you'll have to face the consequences, my son," Nina declared in one breath, leaving Mason frozen in place.
"It would be better if you removed the negativity from your mind and had a positive outlook on your marriage with Isabel," Nina added calmly and seriously.
Hearing his mom's words, Mason felt like crying. He felt as if his mom was a detective in his life, aware of his every move. The realization left him feeling sad and furious.
"Okay," he responded in an emotionless tone.
Before ending the call, Nina added, "And when you're done spending time together, please drop Isabel off at the wedding dress shop. She needs to choose her gown and get her measurements. I'll be waiting there."
"Well... we're coming, Mom," Mason said, ending the call.
He looked at Isabel's curious face and said, "Mom is waiting for you at the wedding dress shop. I'll drop you off."
"But you haven't finished what you were saying. You were talking about the marriage," Isabel couldn't help but ask, which made Mason grin sadistically.
"Forget it. It was nothing. Let's go."
Burying his unspoken words in his heart, Mason set off to leave with Isabel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~After dropping Isabel off at the wedding dress shop, Mason returned home. He went to his room and locked himself inside.Mentally stressed, Mason couldn't bring himself to talk about breaking off the marriage with Isabel. He had never felt this restless before, and it was driving him crazy. He wanted to destroy everything in his path, but he controlled his frustration because he didn't want to disappoint his mom.
Hopeless, Mason sat on his bed, lost in thoughts of Addison, the one he truly wanted to marry. His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock on the door.
"Brother, it's me. Are you okay?" Anna's voice came from the other side, and he opened the door to let her in.
"What's the matter? Did it work? Did Isabel agree to cancel the marriage?" Anna asked hurriedly as she entered the room.
Mason remained silent for a moment, then sat back on his bed, motionless. Anna grew even more curious in response to his silence.
"Did you even meet with her? How does she look in person, Brother?" Anna asked again, filled with curiosity.
"Horrible," Mason breathed out angrily.
"So... Did she agree to cancel the marriage?" Anna asked softly, sensing Mason's anger.
"Did I even get the chance to talk to her?" Mason shouted, startling Anna, who had never seen him so furious before.
"Mom is messing up every single thing in my life. I went to talk to Isabel, but before I could say anything, Mom called me and threatened me," Mason continued, his voice filled with pain and anger.
He felt like his own mom was betraying him and deliberately causing him pain, which was too much for Mason to bear. Then he said, "Believe me, Anna, I can't stand this injustice. Why is Mom forcing me into this marriage?"
Anna felt sympathy for Mason, but she had no solution to offer. "I really don't know what you're supposed to do now. But you can talk to Dad about this. I believe he will listen to you, brother," Anna suggested, seeing their dad as the last hope to cancel the marriage.
"Do you think it will work?" Mason asked, his gaze fixed and full of doubt, as he didn't believe his dad would listen.
"Maybe... You should talk to Dad tomorrow at the office," Anna replied, knowing it was the final option left for Mason.
The next day, Mason went directly to his dad's office. His dad, John Williams, was the CEO of the Williams Company, and Mason worked alongside him as a company head.
Seeing Mason in the office so early in the morning, Mr. John was surprised and said, "Mason! Come in, my boy."
Mason entered the office and sat in the chair across from his dad's desk.
"Dad, I have something important to talk to you about," Mason said, his expression serious. Mr. John closed the file he was reviewing to give his full attention to his son.
"What is it?"
"It's... It's about the marriage, Dad."
Mr. John sensed Mason's hesitation and encouraged him, "Whatever it is, just tell me."
Mason took a deep breath and asked, "Did you see the bride?"
Mr. John chuckled unintentionally at the question and replied, "Of course, I did. Who do you think has been orchestrating everything for this marriage from the beginning?"
Third Person's POV:"D-Dad, do you really... like Isabel for me?" Mason's voice trembled with shock and surprise. He couldn't believe his dad was echoing his mom's sentiments. "Why not? Isabel is a really nice girl, Mason," Mr. John replied, but Mason sensed his dad was starting to sound like his mom too. "Remember when Mom had that accident two years ago?" Mr. John asked, leaving Mason too speechless to respond. Mason nodded slightly in reply to his father's question. "It was Isabel who saved your mom from the middle of the road and took her to the hospital. I met her there for the first time, and I was overwhelmed by her kindness," Mr. John reminisced, recalling the moment he first encountered Isabel. Before he could continue speaking, Mason's annoyed expression caught his attention. After hearing his dad's story, Mason finally understood why his parents liked Isabel so much. He couldn't help but think that Isabel had somehow influenced his parents with her exaggerated acts of
Third Person's POV: Though it wasn't the first time Martha criticized her, Isabel found it hard to endure those harsh words. "Maybe a blessing from elders like you came true," Isabel replied gently, knowing well that her aunt harbored no affection for her. "Yeah... Yeah... Whatever. I would be happier if Emma got such a prince as her husband," Martha remarked, referring to Isabel's younger sister. Unlike Isabel, Emma was considered flawless, the beauty of the family. Emma embraced the adoration, a sentiment that Isabel tried hard not to let affect her. Yet, the constant comparison still stung. Right now, Isabel sensed that her aunt was deliberately trying to insult and hurt her. Emma, engrossed in her phone, couldn't hold back when Martha continued to belittle Isabel. "I don't care whether my husband is a prince or not, because I don't judge based on looks like illiterate people. And I would be glad if you stop dragging me every time," Emma raised her voice, fed up with Martha's
Third Person's POV: Mason's parents paused mid-bite, fixing their curious gazes on him. Nina, Mason's mom, had a faint inkling that his words might be related to the impending wedding. She ventured a guess, "Go on. It must be related to the wedding, right?" "But let me make it very clear to you, Mason. You aren't going to stop this wedding by any means," Nina warned, her tone stern. "Let him speak, Nina. It's not necessary that all his words will be about the wedding. Please, son, go on and tell whatever you want," John, Mason's dad, interjected, softening the tone in the room. Taking a deep breath, Mason began to voice the inner turmoil, "You guys are making me marry a girl based on your liking, and I'm obeying that against my will. As the wedding is mine, I have the right to make a few decisions." Mason felt a profound sense of helplessness as he uttered those words, unsure if his parents would truly hear him this time. Hearing Mason's words, Nina furrowed her brows, questionin
Third Person's POV:Isabel and her family arrived at the church, greeted by the warm smiles of Mrs. Nina and Mr. John at the gate. Their happiness radiated as they exchanged pleasantries."Absolutely stunning, dear," Nina complimented Isabel, who blushed at the unexpected praise. Unaccustomed to such attention, Isabel couldn't help but feel a shy warmth."Shall we head inside? The priest awaits the arrival of the bride," suggested Mr. John, leading the way into the church.Isabel, flanked by her family, took hesitant steps inside, her brother Liam guiding her. Nervousness and shyness consumed her, causing her to cast her gaze downward as they approached the altar.Upon reaching the altar, Isabel lifted her eyes, glancing at their families, and finally fixing her gaze on Mason, who stood beside the priest. Mason, however, seemed emotionally distant, an almost lifeless demeanor as he fought against any feelings that threatened to surface.Liam released her arm, urging her to approach Mas
Third Person's POV:Isabel chose to remain optimistic, convincing herself that Mason's reticence might stem from shyness. Unwilling to exacerbate his discomfort, she maintained a thoughtful silence throughout the journey to the house.After a while, Anna halted the car in front of an opulent duplex mansion. Exiting the car, they discovered Mason's parents already awaiting them near the gate, eager to welcome their new daughter-in-law.The surroundings of the mansion captivated Isabel; its grandeur was impossible to ignore. This luxurious abode was an unfamiliar territory for her, and the realization that she was now a part of it left her in disbelief.The sprawling garden adjacent to the mansion seized Isabel's attention, especially as she had always harbored a love for flowers. The vibrant array of blooms mesmerized her, momentarily stealing her focus.However, her reverie was interrupted when Mason, seemingly disinterested, moved away and settled on a cradle in the garden, engrossed
Third Person's POV:The night stretched on, the clock ticking past ten, and Mason showed no signs of returning. Nina's persistent calls to her son went unanswered, leaving her increasingly anxious. Frustrated and unable to reach Mason, she decided to reach out to two of his closest friends, hoping for some insight.Mason's friends were just as clueless about his whereabouts, deepening Nina's restlessness and frustration. Disappointed with Mason's indifferent behavior and apparent carelessness towards his newlywed wife, Nina couldn't help but scold him silently in her thoughts.Mr. John shared Nina's concern, his worry etched across his face. He contacted Mason's office manager, learning that Mason had left work in the evening. Bewildered about where his son could be at such a late hour, Mr. John repeatedly tried to reach Mason, only to be met with silence.Dinner remained untouched, the family held captive by the uncertainty of Mason's whereabouts. Nina hesitated to call Isabel for din
Third Person's POV:Mason, seething with frustration, begrudgingly obeyed his mother's command to return home. The last thing he desired was to comply, yet he acknowledged that defying his mother's wishes would only invite her wrath. Reluctantly, he decided it was more prudent to return on his own terms.In stark contrast, Isabel eagerly awaited her husband's return, her anticipation bordering on anxiety. As the night wore on, exhaustion set in, and her efforts to stay awake gradually waned. The bed, however, proved irresistibly inviting, and despite her resolve, Isabel succumbed to slumber, oblivious to the passing hours.The clock struck 4:00 in the morning when Mason finally arrived home. Surprised to find his parents still awake in the living room, he sensed his father's disappointment and chose a hasty retreat to his room, avoiding any confrontation.Nina, however, fixated a furious gaze on Mason and, unwilling to let him off easily, called out to him. Mason, nervously turning to
Third Person's POV: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