Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 100: Friend Or What?

Chapter 100: Friend Or What?

Ellen’s heart sank further when she saw Aubrey step out of the restaurant a moment later, coming to stand beside Mason. Her posture was confident, with one hand resting casually on her hip as she glanced between Ellen and Edrick, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Ellen couldn’t shake the feeling that the atmosphere had suddenly become even more uncomfortable, like a string pulled too tight, ready to snap at any moment. Or was it just her? She glanced at Edrick, who still held her grocery bags, his expression shifting from curiosity to something more guarded. He seemed to sense the change in the air as well, though his calm demeanor remained unchanged.

Ellen knew she had to say something, anything, to break the awkward silence that had settled over them. Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile onto her face and spoke first. "Hi, Mason. Aubrey," she said, trying to keep her tone light and casual, though her voice wavered just a bit.

Mason gave her a nod, his expression still unreadable, but Aubrey’s eyes locked onto Ellen with a look that was anything but friendly. There was a glint of disdain in her gaze, a barely concealed hostility that made Ellen’s stomach twist with unease. It was clear that Aubrey didn’t want her there, but Ellen couldn’t bring herself to care about that right now. She had bigger concerns.

"Hi, Ellen," Aubrey replied, her voice sickeningly sweet. Her eyes flicked to Edrick, then back to Ellen. "What are you doing here? And... who’s this?" She tilted her head slightly, pretended look of intrigue on her face, but Ellen could see through it. Aubrey was fishing for something, and it wasn’t hard to guess what.

Ellen quickly jumped in before Aubrey could twist the situation any further. "This is Edrick," she said, her words coming out a bit too quickly. "He’s a friend of mine."

The corners of Aubrey’s lips curled up into a small, almost mocking smile as she looked between Edrick and Ellen, her eyes narrowing slightly. "A friend?" she repeated, her tone dripping with disbelief. "You two look awfully close for just friends." There was a hint of something malicious in her voice, as if she was trying to plant a seed of doubt in the minds of everyone present. Ellen could feel her cheeks burning with embarrassment, even though she knew Aubrey was just trying to stir up trouble.

Edrick’s expression remained calm, but there was a slight tightening of his jaw, a subtle sign that he wasn’t entirely comfortable with the direction the conversation was heading. Ellen’s frustration flared up in response to Aubrey’s suggestion, but she tried to keep her cool. She wasn’t going to give Aubrey the satisfaction of seeing her flustered.

"We just happened to run into each other," Ellen said, trying to keep her voice steady.

Aubrey’s smile widened slightly, but there was no warmth in it. "Really? It seems like you two were having a good time shopping together," she remarked, her tone light but with an edge that made Ellen’s skin prickle. It was clear that Aubrey was trying to imply something more, something that wasn’t true.

Before Ellen could respond, Edrick stepped in, his voice calm and measured. "I just passed by and saw Ellen," he explained, his tone polite but firm. "I offered to take her home, that’s all."

Mason, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke up. His voice was deep, almost a growl, as he looked directly at Ellen. "Are you still planning to go somewhere else?"

The question caught her off guard, and she hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. "No," she replied. She could feel the weight of everyone’s gaze on her, and it made her feel small, trapped in a situation she desperately wanted to escape.

Mason didn’t say anything for a moment, his eyes still locked on hers. Then, without another word, he turned to Edrick, his expression unreadable as he reached out and took the grocery bags from him. There was a quiet intensity in Mason’s movements, a silent claim that left no room for argument. Edrick handed over the bags without protest, his expression flickering with mixed emotions that Ellen couldn’t fully understand.

"I’ll take her home. Thank you for your offer, Edrick," Mason said, his tone final, as he turned and started walking toward his car, which was parked not far from where they stood.

Ellen’s heart lurched in panic. She wanted to go after Mason. But her feet felt rooted to the spot, her mind racing as she watched Mason walk away with her groceries in hand. It took her a few seconds to gather herself, and when she did, she quickly took a few steps toward him.

"Mason, wait!" she called out. But as she started to follow him, something made her stop. She turned back to Edrick, who was standing there with a calm smile on his face.

"Thank you," Ellen said, her voice soft but sincere. She didn’t want to leave without acknowledging his kindness, even if the situation had spiraled out of control. "And... goodbye."

Edrick’s smile widened just a bit, and there was something reassuring in the way he looked at her, a silent promise that everything would be okay. "Take care, Ellen," he said gently.

Ellen offered him a small, grateful smile before turning away. As she walked toward Mason’s car, she could feel Aubrey’s eyes on her. But Ellen didn’t look back. She kept her focus on Mason, who was already waiting for her by the car.

As she reached him, Ellen couldn’t help but glance back one last time. Edrick was still standing there, his calm smile remained there, while Aubrey’s face was twisted in a sour expression, clearly displeased with how things had played out. The sight gave Ellen a small sense of contentment, though it was short-lived.

Without another word, she climbed into Mason’s car, her heart continued to race as they drove away.