Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 153: Supporters

Chapter 153: Supporters

Aubrey opened the door to her apartment, blinking in surprise as she found Gerald standing there with a scowl on his face. She raised her eyebrows, her hand still resting on the doorknob.

"What’s wrong, G?"

Gerald didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he pushed past her, walking into the apartment without a word. Aubrey frowned, closing the door behind him as he made his way to the living room, then throwing himself onto the couch, his body sinking heavily into the cushions.

Aubrey watched him for a moment, her eyes studying his expression. She sighed softly, knowing this mood of his too well. She walked over to the kitchen, deciding that perhaps a drink would help ease his tension.

She filled a glass with water and returned to the living room, where Gerald was still sitting, his arms now draped along the back of the couch, his head resting against the cushions. He looked up as she approached, and she handed him the glass without a word.

He took it, mumbling a "thanks" before taking a long sip. Aubrey sat down beside him, her eyes not leaving his face as she tried to read his thoughts.

"Is it work?"

Gerald shook his head, lowering the glass. "No. It’s my parents," he muttered, his voice dripping with annoyance. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he stared at the floor. "They’re mad at me."

Aubrey’s eyes widened slightly, her interest piqued. "Really?" she asked. "What happened?"

Gerald let out a long, exasperated sigh, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "It’s because of Ellen," he said, his tone laced with resentment. He leaned back again, his gaze flickering to Aubrey as if to gauge her reaction.

Aubrey frowned, her confusion evident. "Ellen?" she repeated, her eyebrows knitting together. "What about her?"

Gerald’s eyes darkened, and he turned his head away, staring off to the side as if the memory itself irritated him. "I went over to my parents’ house," he began. "And guess who was there, just sitting in our living room? Ellen."

Aubrey stared, taken aback. She didn’t interrupt, though, letting him continue.

"I mean, can you believe it?" Gerald went on, his voice rising slightly in disbelief. "She was just sitting there, like she belonged there, chatting with my mom like they were old friends." He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "And then, when I confronted her—when I told her to leave—my mom lost it."

Aubrey’s eyes softened, and she nodded slowly, piecing together what he was saying. "So, your mom was upset with you for asking Ellen to leave?" she guessed.

Gerald sneered, his expression turning even more sour. "Upset is putting it lightly," he said, his lips curling in disdain. "She demanded that I apologize. She actually said I should go see Ellen and apologize for being rude to her." He shook his head and rolled his eyes.

Aubrey’s mouth parted slightly in surprise. "She did?" She could see why Gerald was so upset; the idea of him apologizing to Ellen seemed almost laughable, given how much he clearly despised her.

"Yes, and it didn’t stop there," Gerald continued, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Apparently, my dad heard about it too. He came in, telling me the same thing—how I need to be respectful, how Ellen is important to Mason, blah, blah, blah." He shook his head, the sneer on his lips growing. "It’s like they’ve both lost their minds."

Aubrey bit her bottom lip, her eyes never leaving Gerald’s face as she listened. "And the way they talked about her," Gerald went on, his voice lowering to almost a growl. "You should’ve heard them. Especially my mom. She kept praising Ellen, saying how wonderful she is, how good she is for Mason. It was sickening." He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the pressure.

Aubrey watched Gerald’s expression darken, the sneer still visible on his lips as he spoke about Ellen. His eyes had that intense look again—one of frustration, one of disbelief at his parents’ reaction. She could feel the tension radiating off him, see the way his fists were still clenched tight. Slowly, she reached out and touched his shoulder, her fingers gently pressing against his tense muscles.

"Gerald," she said softly, her eyes meeting his, "you didn’t have to defend me like that, you know. I appreciate it, but I don’t want you to get into trouble with your parents because of me."

Gerald’s eyes flickered to her, and he shook his head, a small frown forming on his lips. "Of course I have to," he reploed. He turned his body slightly, facing her more directly as he spoke. "I wasn’t just defending you, Aubrey. I genuinely can’t stand that woman. The way she acts, it’s like she’s trying to worm her way into everyone’s good graces—my parents included." He let out a humorless chuckle, his lips curling in disdain. "She’s trying to gain their sympathy for whatever reason. And I’m not going to let that slide."

Aubrey nodded, her gaze never leaving his face as she took in his words. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, the determination that burned there. He wasn’t just standing up for her—he truly believed in what he was doing. He believed that Ellen was trouble, that she was manipulating those around her, and he wasn’t about to let it happen without a fight.

Aubrey turned her head slightly, her gaze shifting to a distant point across the room as her thoughts began to swirl. Ellen... She couldn’t help but feel a spark of annoyance at the thought of that woman. Now Ellen was involving Gerald’s parents in their problem, trying to win them over, trying to gather supporters. A bitter taste filled her mouth at the realization.

Trying to gather a supporter, huh? Aubrey pondered, her eyes squinting. She sensed her will became stronger as she considered Ellen’s actions. If Ellen thought she could gain an advantage by turning Gerald’s parents against them, she was sorely mistaken. Aubrey wouldn’t be afraid, and she certainly wouldn’t back down.