Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 196: Restless Hearts

Chapter 196: Restless Hearts

The night was here, and the TV hummed softly in the background as Ellen sat on the couch, lost in her thoughts. The day had felt like a blur. She hadn’t done much—hadn’t wanted to, really.

She recalled how she’d spent most of the day at home—well, technically, her in-laws’ place. She’d tried watching the news earlier, hoping to see some mention of what had happened at their home, but there was nothing. It didn’t surprise her, though. She knew Mason had probably found a way to keep it out of the news, to cover it up before it could spread.

"Of course he did," Ellen muttered to herself, shaking her head slightly. Mason was always one step ahead, always trying to protect his privacy.

Earlier in the day, she had called Helga, their neighbor, to check in. She found herself still thinking about what they talked about, especially when Helga had mentioned that there were still a lot of police at their house. But what had truly sent a chill down Ellen’s spine was when Helga told her that the security guards she hadn’t noticed last night had been found in the backyard. They’d all been out cold—left there unconcious. It was terrifying.

Ellen felt a shiver run through her, her fingers anxiously toying with the cushion’s edge in her lap. What kind of person—or people—could have done that? And why? The questions spun around in her mind, making it impossible to relax.

She glanced out the window and saw the new security team Mason had arranged patrolling around the house. It didn’t make her feel any safer, though. If someone could take down their last security team without anyone noticing, what good was this one?

Ellen sighed, her shoulders sagging as she sank deeper into the couch. Vivi was sitting beside her, keeping her company, but the maid was clearly exhausted. Every so often, Ellen could hear her stifling a yawn, and her eyelids would droop before she snapped back to attention.

"You should go to sleep, Vivi," Ellen said gently, glancing over at her with a tired smile.

Vivi shook her head. "No, it’s okay, Mrs. Coldwell. I’ll stay here with you. Don’t worry about me."

Ellen chuckled softly. "I appreciate it, but you really don’t have to. It’s late, and I’ll be fine. Mason will be back soon, and I can wait for him."

Vivi hesitated, her eyes flickering toward the clock on the wall. "Are you sure?"

It was 12:15 a.m., and Ellen wondered what was keeping Mason out so late.

"I’m sure," Ellen nodded, her smile growing a little. "Go get some rest. I’ll feel bad if you stay up just because of me."

There was a short pause before Vivi finally gave in. She nodded slowly, rising from the couch. "Alright, but if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call me."

Ellen gave her a reassuring nod, watching as Vivi made her way to her room. As the house fell into a deeper quiet, Ellen leaned back against the cushions, the silence pressing in on her. She tried to stay awake, to wait for Mason, but exhaustion was slowly catching up with her. Her eyes grew heavier with each passing moment, and before she knew it, she had dozed off on the couch.

The next thing she knew, there was a gentle shake on her shoulder. Ellen blinked, feeling hazy and confused, as she opened her eyes. For a moment, everything was fuzzy, but then Mason’s face came into view, just inches from hers.

"Ellen," Mason said softly, his voice pulling her fully awake. "Why are you sleeping here?"

Ellen blinked again, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she sat up. She glanced around, realizing she had fallen asleep waiting for him. "I was waiting for you," she mumbled, her voice still slurred from sleep.

Mason’s expression softened, and he crouched down beside the couch, his eyes searching hers. "You didn’t have to wait. You should have gone to bed."

Ellen shook her head, brushing her hair away from her face as she leaned forward slightly. "I wanted to wait. I didn’t want to go to sleep without knowing if... if everything’s okay."

Mason’s jaw tensed for a brief moment, and he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We’ll talk about it in the morning," he answered. "You need to get some rest."

Ellen frowned, sitting up straighter. She noticed Mason’s anxious look—the tension in his eyes and the furrow in his brow said it all. He was trying to reassure her, but it was clear that whatever had happened at the police station had left him uneasy.

"Mason," she began quietly. "Is everything... really okay?"

He hesitated for a second, his eyes meeting hers with a flicker of something she couldn’t quite place. "It’s fine," he replied after a moment, though it felt a little too forced. "Everything’s being handled."

Ellen bit her lip, not entirely convinced. She knew Mason well enough to recognize when he was holding back, when he was trying to shield her from something. But she also knew that pushing him right now wouldn’t help. He would tell her when he was ready.

She nodded slowly, though the knot in her stomach didn’t loosen at all. "Alright," she said quietly, her gaze dropping to her hands, which were resting in her lap.

Mason stood up, extending a hand toward her. "Come on, let’s get you to bed."

Ellen took his hand and let him pull her to her feet. As they walked together toward the stairs, Ellen couldn’t shake the feeling that things were far from fine. Mason moved slowly, as if he was carrying a load he hadn’t told her about. And as much as she wanted to believe him, a part of her couldn’t help but worry.

As they climbed the stairs together, the house quiet around them, Ellen glanced at Mason out of the corner of her eye.

What aren’t you telling me, Mason? Is everything really that bad?