Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 149: Not Today

Chapter 149: Not Today

Ellen stretched her arms above her head, feeling the familiar pull of her muscles as she moved into a yoga pose. She had become more and more accustomed to these sessions, and with each passing day, she found herself growing closer to Clara.

Nice.

It had been a few days since that night with Mason, and surprisingly, Ellen felt good about where they were now. Their relationship, which once seemed so uncertain, seemed to be finding solid ground. Mason had opened up to her—drunk or not—and that vulnerability had shifted something between them. Ellen smiled to herself, feeling a soft warmth bloom in her chest. Things were going well, but she still had to be cautious around Aubrey and Gerald, of course, but for now, she wanted to savor this bit of peace.

As the session ended, Ellen rolled up her yoga mat and glanced over at Clara, who was already pulling her hair into a neat bun, her usual cheerful expression on her face.

"Another day, another stretch," Clara teased, nudging Ellen with her elbow as they made their way out of the studio.

Ellen laughed. "Yeah, though I still feel like a beginner compared to you."

"You’re doing great," Clara assured her, flashing a bright smile. "Besides, it’s not about how perfect your poses are—it’s about how you feel after."

And Ellen did feel good. Lighter, more at ease. The worries that usually plagued her seemed to drift away during yoga, even if just for a little while.

After packing their things, they decided to head to a nearby café, something they had made a bit of a tradition after their yoga sessions. Helga usually joined them, but today she had to leave early. It was just Ellen and Clara, and the thought of spending more time with her new friend felt nice.

Once they arrived at the café, Ellen settled into the cozy seat by the window with Clara sat across from her, she pretended to focus hard, her brow all wrinkled up.

Ellen chuckled. "You look like you’re about to solve a mystery."

Clara grinned, setting the menu down. "Well, choosing between pancakes and waffles is a serious decision, Ellen."

They both laughed, their ease around each other growing more natural with each passing day. After a few minutes of playful debate, they finally ordered, and soon the table was filled with plates of brunch delights.

As they ate, Clara wiped her mouth with a napkin and glanced at Ellen. "Hey, if you’re free later, you should come over to my place," she suggested casually. "No pressure, but I’d love to have you."

Ellen blinked in surprise, pausing mid-bite. "Really? You sure I wouldn’t be disturbing you?"

Clara rolled her eyes dramatically, waving a hand. "Of course not. I’d be more than happy to have you over. It’ll be fun."

Ellen smiled, feeling a flutter of warmth at the invitation. Though she was Gerald’s mother, Ellen knew she was different. Ellen felt like she could let her guard down around her.

"Okay, I’d love that," Ellen agreed, her smile growing. "It’ll be nice to hang out somewhere that’s not the yoga studio or a café for once."

Clara’s face brightened, clearly pleased with the response. "Great! It’s settled, then."

Once they were done, Ellen said she needed to use the restroom while Clara went to get the car and asked her to wait outside when she was finished.

Ellen nodded, watching as Clara disappeared around the corner to the parking lot. After she was done, Ellen went outside to wait.

The street was relatively quiet for this time of day, with only a few cars passing by and a few people walking by. Ellen glanced around absently, her eyes trailing over the nearby shops and parked cars.

But what she didn’t know was that there was a car sitting quietly a short distance away, parked in the shade of an old building.

Inside that car, a man sat in the driver’s seat, hidden beneath a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes and a dark mask that covered half of his face.

His hands, wrapped tightly around the steering wheel, were pale and tense. His knuckles turned white as his grip tightened. He stared intently at Ellen, who had no idea he was even there.

He shifted slightly, his eyes narrowing as he watched her from behind the tinted glass. Carefully, the man reached over to the passenger seat where a gun rested. He grabbed the grip with ease, lifting it like he’d done this many times before.

He moved without a second thought—this wasn’t his first time.

He lifted the gun, keeping his hand steady as he pointed it out through the slightly opened window, aiming directly at Ellen. His finger hovered over the trigger, but he didn’t pull it. Not yet. The man’s eyes flicked over her, calculating, watching the way she shifted her weight from foot to foot as she waited for her friend. His finger twitched for a moment, barely touching the trigger.

It would be so easy. One squeeze, one second, and it would all be over.

But then he paused, dropping the gun just a little. No,not now, he thought. His lips curled into a tight sneer beneath the mask. Not here. It would be too easy.

He set the gun down on the passenger seat and rolled the window up fully, cutting off the outside world again. The gun rested next to him, like a quiet companion—heavy and threatening, but for now, it wasn’t needed. He leaned back in his seat, his breath coming out in a slow, controlled exhale. Not yet.

He leaned back in his seat, letting out a slow, steady breath, as she remained by the café, unaware of the danger that had been so close. He continued to watch Ellen as her face brightened when she spotting Clara’s car pulling up.

"No," he growled quietly. "Not today, Ellen Coldwell."

She didn’t know. She had no idea that she had just been spared.