Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 118: A Distraction

Chapter 118: A Distraction

Later that day, after Ellen had spent too much time lost in thought over the photo albums, she heard a doorbell ring at her door. The sharp sound pulled her out of her daze. She stood from the couch, brushing her hands over her clothes to smooth them out, and headed to the door.

Opening it, Ellen found Helga standing on her doorstep, a bright smile on her face. "Hey, Ellen!" Helga greeted cheerfully, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. She was dressed casually, yet stylishly, in a floral blouse and jeans, looking like she was ready for a fun day out. "I thought I’d swing by and pick you up. I figured we could hit the mall and hang out for a bit."

Ellen blinked, surprised but pleasantly so. She hadn’t expected a visit from Helga today, but maybe this was exactly what she needed to take her mind off things. "That sounds great," Ellen said, her lips curving into a small smile. "But why the sudden invitation?"

Helga shrugged playfully. "I wanted to make it up to you. The other day, I totally bailed on you, remember? I felt so bad about leaving you hanging. So, today, it’s all about us. No interruptions, I promise."

Ellen chuckled softly. "You don’t have to apologize for that, but... a day out sounds perfect."

Within minutes, Ellen grabbed her bag, and they were off, chatting easily as Helga drove them to the mall. Helga always had a way of making things light and fun, and today was no different. The moment they stepped into the cool air of the mall, Ellen already felt a little lighter, her earlier worries fading into the background.

As they strolled through the bright, bustling corridors, Ellen glanced over at Helga, an amused smile playing on her lips. "So, are you going to leave me again today? Abandon me in the middle of a shopping spree?"

Helga gasped dramatically, clutching her hand to her chest. "Oh no, ma’am! Not today. Today, I made sure I cleared my entire schedule. I’ve got nothing on my plate but a date with you."

Ellen laughed, her earlier tension slowly melting away. Helga’s energy was infectious, exactly what she needed to push away the gloomy thoughts that had been haunting her all morning. They wandered from store to store, browsing through clothes, accessories, and everything else that caught Helga’s eye.

Helga, true to form, was the one doing most of the shopping. Her hands were already weighed down with several bags before long. Ellen, on the other hand, only picked out a few items, content to watch Helga’s excitement. It was clear that Helga was a shopaholic, and while it wasn’t Ellen’s usual style, it was nice to just be in the moment, enjoying the distraction.

"How do you have this much energy for shopping?" Ellen asked as they walked out of another store, Helga with yet another bag in hand.

Helga grinned, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh, come on! Shopping is therapeutic. You should try it more often. There’s nothing better than some retail therapy to clear the mind."

Ellen couldn’t help but smile. "I think you’ve done enough for both of us."

Eventually, they decided to take a break and grabbed some burritos from one of the food stands. The smell of freshly cooked food filled the air, making Ellen’s stomach growl as they sat down at a small table. As they unwrapped their burritos and took the first bites, the conversation turned to more personal matters.

Ellen, chewing thoughtfully, hesitated for a moment before asking, "Helga, does Jax have any exes?"

Helga paused mid-bite, raising an eyebrow at the unexpected question, then swallowed her food. "Oh, of course," she said, nonchalant. "Jax is a good-looking guy. It’s only natural he’d have dated people before me."

Ellen’s curiosity piqued. "How do you handle that? I mean... doesn’t it ever bother you?"

Helga laughed lightly, shaking her head as she took another bite of her burrito. "Nope, not at all. We’re happy now, and that’s what matters. He had his past, and I had mine, but that’s all it is—history."

Ellen nodded, understanding but still unsure. "But... what if one of them tried to get him back? Like, what if someone wanted to ’remind him’ of what they had before?"

Helga’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she leaned back in her chair, her confidence radiating through her relaxed posture. "Please," she said with a smirk. "Jax loves me. I don’t doubt that for a second. And if anyone tried to pull something like that, well, I’d be right there to remind them who’s the boss."

Ellen smiled at Helga’s certainty. There was something so reassuring about how sure Helga was in her relationship with Jax. There was no hesitation, no second-guessing. She knew where she stood, and that kind of confidence was something Ellen admired.

Helga’s eyes then suddenly widened, her hand flying up to point behind Ellen as she let out a playful scream. "Oh my god, look!"

Startled, Ellen whipped her head around, following Helga’s finger to a massive LCD screen hanging on the wall of the mall’s central plaza. The screen showcased an advertisement for a luxury perfume, the kind that screamed high fashion and glamour. And there, in the center of the ad, was the one face Ellen wished she hadn’t seen.

Aubrey.

Her radiant smile lit up the screen as she posed elegantly, giving her a seductive look. She was dressed in a sleek, black gown that hugged her perfect figure, the soft lighting emphasizing her flawless skin and expertly styled hair. Aubrey held a bottle of perfume delicately in one hand, tilting her head in just the right way to look effortlessly beautiful. The brand’s name, "Glamouré," glowed in bold letters beneath her, shimmering like gold dust.

Ellen’s stomach dropped. Out of all the places, out of all the moments, it had to be Aubrey’s face staring down at her now. She felt her heart sink, an unpleasant twist forming in her gut. The woman was now looming large in front of her, larger than life, glowing with perfection.

Helga leaned in closer to Ellen, still gazing up at the screen, completely oblivious to her neighbor’s discomfort. "Isn’t the model pretty?" Helga asked, awe in her voice. "She looks like she stepped right out of a fairy tale. That dress, that face... everything about her is just so... wow."

Ellen swallowed hard, her eyes darting from the screen back to Helga. She forced a small smile, but her lips barely moved. "Well... yeah," she mumbled, trying to sound neutral.

But in her heart, a different thought swirled bitterly. If only you knew, Helga...

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