Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 158: Visitor

Chapter 158: Visitor

The next day, Ellen decided to take a taxi back to their house. She needed to ask around, see if anyone else had seen something—anything—that could give her a clue as to who had sent that twisted "gift." She stepped out of the apartment and called for a taxi, waiting near the sidewalk as the morning air teasing her skin.

A taxi pulled up soon enough, and Ellen slid into the back seat, giving the driver her address. She settled in as the car began moving, her eyes wandering out the window as she watched the streets pass by. Her mind drifted back to her conversation with Colleen last night.

She had asked Colleen how she found the flower, hoping that maybe there was something—anything—that could lead her in the right direction. Colleen had been straightforward. "When I was about to go out, there was a man at the door," Colleen had said. "He told me he had a flower delivery for you, and I took it."

That was it. No name, no description beyond that he was "some guy." Ellen had checked the CCTV footage later, hoping that perhaps she’d be able to see the man’s face or find something unusual about him. But it was useless. The footage showed what Colleen had said: a man, wearing a baseball cap low enough, hiding most of his face, handing over the bouquet before leaving without a word. He could have been anyone, and there was nothing memorable about him as he just walked away.

Ellen let out a sigh, leaning her head back against the seat. Her mind replayed the rest of her conversation with Colleen.

Colleen had asked her, "Where did you put the flowers, anyway? They weren’t in the living room. Oh, in your room?"

Ellen had hesitated for only a moment before lying, her voice casual. "I threw them away," she had said. "A bee came in because of them, and I freaked out."

The look on Colleen’s face had been a mix of disbelief and annoyance. "You threw them away? Ellen, are you serious? Oh my poor brother-in-law! How could you be so heartless?"

Ellen had shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. It had been easier to come up with an excuse than to try to pretend the roses were still around. Besides, she knew Colleen would eventually notice if they were missing, and Ellen would rather not deal with a bunch of lies. The truth—about the blood, about the fear—was something she wasn’t ready to share. Not yet. Not until she knew more.

The taxi hit a small bump, jostling Ellen in her seat, and she blinked, her thoughts scattering. She focused on the present, watching as they turned onto her street.

The driver pulled up in front of the mansion, and Ellen paid him, murmuring a "thank you" as she climbed out.

Ellen took a deep breath and walked up the path to the gate. As she approached, the main gate opened, and the security guard stationed there—Jim—stood up from his small guard booth, waving in her direction.

"Good morning, Mrs. Coldwell," Jim greeted her. He straightened his posture, giving her a small, courteous smile.

Ellen paused near the gate, offering Jim a brief nod before her expression turned serious. "Morning, Jim. Listen," she began, her eyes locking onto his, "has anyone come by here recently? Asking for me or for Mason?"

Jim blinked, his brows knitting together in thought as he took a moment to think it over. His gaze drifted upward, as if mentally replaying the last few days. He shook his head eventually, his lips pressed into a thin line.

"No, ma’am. No one has come by since you and Mr. Coldwell left," he replied, his tone apologetic as he caught the look of frustration crossing Ellen’s face. "Are you sure everything’s alright, Mrs. Coldwell?"

Ellen felt her heart sink at his response. She was hoping—maybe just a sliver of hope—that there would be something, a clue, a hint. But there was nothing. The same answer again and again, and it led her nowhere. For a second, she just stood there, unable to hide the disappointment that flickered across her face.

She took a deep breath, her shoulders sagging slightly as she tried to collect herself. "I’m fine," she muttered, more to herself than to Jim. She forced a smile, though it was weak and barely reached her eyes. "Thank you, Jim. I appreciate it."

She turned to head toward the mansion, her eyes momentarily downcast. If nothing else, she might as well go inside and spend some time there. Even if she couldn’t find any answers, maybe she could at least distract herself, get her mind off everything that was worrying her.

Just as she took her first step toward the entrance, the sound of a car horn made her stop in her tracks. Ellen’s head whipped around, her gaze shifting toward the gate. She could see a sleek black car parked just beyond the entrance, and her heart skipped a beat when she recognized the car—it belonged to Edrick.

The driver’s side door opened, and Edrick climbed out, his gaze immediately finding Ellen as he stepped closer. He was dressed casually, in dark jeans and a simple shirt, his hair slightly disheveled as though he’d rushed over. He gave her a small wave, raising his voice a little so she could hear him from across the driveway.

"Ellen!" he called, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet of the morning. He took a few steps closer to the gate, his expression warm as he offered her a smile. "Hey, do you have a minute? I wanted to talk."

Ellen’s heart sank at what he said. What did he want with her again? She glanced back at Jim, who stood watching them from the guard booth, a curious look on his face. She gave him a quick nod, a clear sign that he could open the gate for him, and Jim complied, pressing the button to allow Edrick to step inside.

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