Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 134: The Provocation

Chapter 134: The Provocation

The sounds of the party around them continued, but to Ellen, it all faded into a dull hum. Her focus was entirely on the man in front of her.

The longer she stood there, staring into his hard gaze, the more she realized she couldn’t do this. Without another word, Ellen decided to leave. She didn’t need to entertain this any longer. Turning sharply on her heel, she began walking away, her eyes set on the hallway leading to the restroom where she planned to wait for Mason.

She could hear the click of her heels on the polished floor as she moved quickly, determined not to look back. But, of course, Gerald wasn’t one to let things go so easily. She heard his footsteps behind her, the sound growing louder as he closed the distance between them.

"Ellen," Gerald called out, his voice laced with that same mocking tone that made her skin crawl. She ignored him, her pace quickening, but it didn’t take long before he caught up with her.

"You’re just going to walk away like that?" Gerald asked, his voice now closer, almost at her side. There was a hint of amusement in his words, as if this was some sort of game to him.

Ellen didn’t bother looking at him. "Yes," she said simply, her tone cold. "I’m done with this conversation."

"Oh, I don’t think we’re done yet," Gerald replied smoothly, keeping pace with her. His presence was impossible to ignore now, and his never-ending persistence was getting on her nerves.

Ellen let out a frustrated sigh, her eyes fixed on the path ahead. "What more do you want, Gerald?"

He chuckled softly, the sound irritatingly smug. "You know exactly what I want, Ellen. It seems to me like you’re trying very hard to hold onto something—or someone—that you never really had in the first place."

She stopped suddenly, turning her head slightly in his direction but not fully meeting his gaze. Ellen’s jaw tightened at his words, her patience wearing thinner with every second. She resumed walking, trying to distance herself from him, but he matched her pace effortlessly, refusing to let her have even a moment of peace.

"Just leave me alone, Gerald," she said, more of a warning than a request.

But Gerald wasn’t about to back down. He reached out, his hand lightly grazing her shoulder to stop her in her tracks. Ellen froze at the touch, her skin prickling with annoyance. Slowly, she turned to face him, her eyes narrowing in anger.

"What now?" she snapped. Gerald didn’t flinch. His expression was calm, though there was something unsettling about the way his lips curled into a small, knowing smile. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze drifting past her. "Tell me, don’t they look good together?"

Ellen’s brow furrowed in confusion at his words, but then she followed his gaze—and there, not too far from where they stood, were Mason and Aubrey. They were talking, standing closer than Ellen would have liked.

A sharp pang of jealousy shot through her, though she kept her face as neutral as possible. "Really, Gerald?" Ellen said, forcing a smile as she crossed her arms. "That’s your angle now? Pointing out two people standing together?"

Gerald shrugged, his smile widening. "I’m just saying what everyone else is thinking. They look... natural, don’t they?"

Ellen’s eyes flickered between Mason and Aubrey, her chest tightening. She knew what Gerald was doing. He was trying to provoke her, trying to make her doubt herself, doubt Mason. But she wouldn’t let him.

Ellen held Gerald’s gaze for a long moment, her cold, hard stare, refusing to let him get the upper hand. She could saw the smugness clearly, the way his eyebrow quirked up, as if he were daring her to challenge him further.

But Ellen wasn’t going to let him win. Never.

A slow, deliberate smile spread across her lips, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. She let out a soft, almost amused chuckle, her gaze never wavering from Gerald’s.

"You know, Gerald," she began, "don’t think for a second that I don’t know what’s going on here." Ellen tilted her head, her smile growing as she stepped closer to him. "I know this whole little setup is part of your plan. You and Aubrey, you think you’re so clever, don’t you? Keeping me distracted while she gets her moment alone with Mason."

For a split second, a flicker of something flashed in Gerald’s eyes—surprise, maybe even annoyance. But he quickly recovered, shrugging casually as if her words hadn’t struck a nerve. "You really think that’s what’s happening?"

Ellen’s smile widened as she nodded, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "Oh, I don’t just think it, Gerald. I know it." Her tone was almost sweet, but there was a hint of danger in her words. "I have to say, though, I do appreciate the effort you two put into it. Really, I do. It’s cute."

Before Gerald could respond, Ellen reached out and lightly patted his shoulder, her fingers brushing against the fabric of his suit jacket in a way that felt almost dismissive, as though she were brushing off dust. The gesture was subtle, but it was enough to convey exactly how little she thought of him and his little plan.

Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away. Her heart raced in her chest, adrenaline still coursing through her veins after the heated exchange. She didn’t look back at Gerald, not even once, but she could feel his eyes on her as she moved through the crowd. It didn’t matter. She had made her point.

But as Ellen continued walking, her feeling of victory started to slip away fast, replaced by a growing sense of unease. Where was Mason? She scanned the room, her eyes darting from guest to guest, but there was no sign of him. Or Aubrey.

"Shit," Ellen muttered under her breath. She knew Aubrey had likely taken him somewhere, likely using the excuse of needing to talk about something important. And now, Mason was nowhere to be found.