Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 130: Call From Her

Chapter 130: Call From Her

Ellen felt a knot form in her stomach as soon as Mason said Aubrey’s name.

Aubrey?!

She couldn’t believe she had just let him answer the phone. Of all people, why did it have to be her? Her grip on her lunch wrap tightened, but she forced herself to keep calm. It’s fine, she thought. I’m fine. Pretending like it didn’t bother her was the only way to get through it.

She took a deep breath and took another bite of her food, trying to focus on the taste of the wrap instead of the conversation Mason was having. But no matter how hard she tried, her mind kept drifting back to the phone call. There’s no way this is just about work, she thought bitterly. Ellen couldn’t shake the feeling that she was taking advantage of this call to talk about something else. Ugh...

Mason’s voice remained calm and collected as he replied to whatever Aubrey was saying on the other end. His replies were brief and blunt, but Ellen could still sense the familiarity in his tone. She glanced up at him from the corner of her eye, watching as he leaned slightly back on the couch, his free hand resting on his knee, the phone pressed against his ear as if this was the most comfortable thing in the world.

Ellen’s curiosity burned inside her. She tried to block it out, but she couldn’t help but wonder what they were talking about. Is she asking about him? Is she flirting?

She could feel her frustration bubbling up the longer the call dragged on. Her mind raced, and before she knew it, she acted on impulse.

"Mason!" she said in a loud, cheery voice, cutting through the air and intending for Aubrey to hear. "Come eat your food, or it’ll get cold!" She put on the sweetest smile she could muster, even though she felt sick to her stomach.

Mason’s eyes darted toward her, clearly surprised by her sudden outburst. He raised an eyebrow, studying her for a moment. Ellen, still smiling, casually took another bite of her food as if nothing unusual had happened. She made sure not to meet his gaze too directly, keeping her expression light and innocent, but inside, she felt a small sense of victory.

Let Aubrey hear that.

Mason, clearly understanding her intent, returned to his phone. "Yeah, Ellen’s here," he said, and she noticed the slight emphasis he placed on her name, almost as if it was for Aubrey’s benefit. Ellen couldn’t help but feel a small, proud smile tug at her lips. That’s right, Aubrey, I’m here.

For the next few seconds, Mason listened quietly, nodding occasionally. His face didn’t give much away, but Ellen felt the tension in the room shift slightly. She knew Aubrey had probably asked about her. Ellen sat straighter, feeling that her little interruption had achieved exactly what she wanted.

Not long after, Mason ended the call. "Alright," he said, leaving no room for argument. He dropped the phone onto the couch beside him, leaning back with a sigh.

Ellen pretended not to notice the end of the call, still focusing on her lunch. She waited for him to say something, to address the tension that had briefly flared up between them, but he remained silent for a moment, watching her.

Finally, he broke the quiet. "Happy now?" he asked, a teasing smirk appearing on his lips as he picked up his food.

Ellen smiled sweetly at him. "Of course," she said, her voice light and playful, but there was a hint of something sharper beneath it. "It’s important for you to eat, after all."

Mason continued to eat, his eyes focused on his food, while Ellen quietly watched him, her thoughts swirling. She couldn’t chase away the curiosity gnawing at her, even though she tried. It’s probably nothing, she told herself, but that didn’t stop her from wondering. There were never nothing if it’s Aubrey—it didn’t sit well with her.

Mason may have said it was nothing, but it was better to ask than sit in silence, letting her thoughts run wild. She bit her lip, debating for a moment, then finally broke the silence.

"So... what did Aubrey want?" she asked, her voice light but laced with the curiosity she couldn’t hide.

Mason didn’t look up right away. He finished chewing his bite, taking his time as if the question hadn’t really surprised him. When he did glance at her, his expression remained calm, almost too calm. "She asked if I’m going to Gerald’s parents’ wedding anniversary party," he said casually, as if it was the most normal thing ever.

Ellen blinked, caught off guard. She hadn’t been expecting that. "Wedding anniversary party?" she repeated, a little slower this time, trying to process.

Mason nodded, picking up his drink and taking a sip before continuing. "Yeah, Gerald’s parents are throwing a big celebration, and apparently, we’re invited too." He didn’t seem overly excited about it, but he gave her a look like it was no big deal, just another event to attend.

Ellen nodded along, though her mind wandered to the thought of the party. Gerald’s parents. That meant Gerald and Aubrey would be there too. She couldn’t help but feel a wave of exhaustion wash over her at the thought. Great, she thought. Another event with them.

She rested her chin in her hand, her fork idly poking at her food as she let out a small sigh. The idea of going to a party where both Gerald and Aubrey would be present sounded less than thrilling.

Mason raised an eyebrow at her, noticing her change in demeanor. "You don’t have to go if you don’t want to," he offered.

Shaking her head, Ellen said, "No, I’ll go." She paused, fumbling with her words. "Of course, I have to go. I mean... of course, we should go."

Even if she stayed back, Mason would still go, and that would leave Aubrey with too much alone time with him.

No chance Ellen was going to allow that to happen.