Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 202: The Target

Chapter 202: The Target

Ellen stood outside, breathing in the fresh air for what felt like the first time in days. After the break-in, Mason made it clear she had to stay inside. He was protective—overly so, sometimes—but after everything that had happened, she understood. She was grateful he had finally agreed to let her step outside today, though not without a bodyguard at her side.

Two guys in dark suits stood by her, close enough to be seen but far enough to let her breathe. It made her feel a bit like some fragile object being escorted around, and she wasn’t sure if that comforted her or made her more anxious. It felt suffocating, but she knew it was necessary. Mason had insisted on the security detail, and Ellen couldn’t blame him. He was scared, just like she was.

She had just returned from visiting her father’s house, where she filled her dad and Colleen in about her short getaway that was awesome for both her and Mason, and everything was under control. Now, she decided to stop at a flower shop. The house could use some brightening, she thought. Some life.

The bell above the door jingled softly as she stepped out of the shop and onto the sidewalk, her eyes scanning the display of flowers outside the store. Ellen found herself drawn to a particular bunch of sunflowers. She smiled to herself, imagining how they would brighten up the living room. Maybe it would give Mason something to smile about too, even if just for a moment.

Her fingers brushed against the petals, and just as she was about to pick a few, a loud sound suddenly broke the silence of the street

BANG.

The sound was so sharp that it made her jump, her heart skipping a beat as a second noise followed—a loud crash, like breaking glass. Ellen’s eyes darted around in confusion, her pulse racing as she saw the front window of the flower shop had been destroyed, glass shards dropped like rain onto the pavement

Before she could fully process what was happening, she heard a voice shout her name. "Mrs. Coldwell, watch out!" It was one of the bodyguards, sounding urgent and panicked.

In a split second, the two men around her moved, their hands pushing her back, shielding her with their bodies. Ellen barely had time to register what was happening before she felt them close in, forming a tight circle around her. They pressed her against the wall of the shop, their eyes scanning the street, tense and alert.

BANG. Another gunshot echoed through the air, sharper this time, and closer.

Ellen felt her heart thumping in her chest, her breathing got quick and shaky as fear ran through her. She couldn’t think, couldn’t make sense of it. Who was shooting? And why? Did someone want to kill her?

The bodyguards remained silent, their faces set in stone as they listened for more shots, eyes darting around. Ellen was frozen in place, her hands shaking uncontrollably as she gripped the fabric of her coat, clinging to it like a lifeline. Her mind raced, but all she could focus on was the sharp sound of her own heartbeat pounding in her ears.

Minutes passed, though it felt like hours, before the tension eased. One of the guards spoke into a small earpiece, his voice low and urgent, communicating with someone Ellen couldn’t hear. Another guard crouched beside her, his expression softening as he looked into her eyes.

"Ma’am," he called out gently. "Are you alright? Did you get hurt?"

Ellen opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. Her throat felt tight, her voice stuck somewhere between shock and fear. She was totally thrown off, struggling to make sense of everything that just went down. Did someone really just try to shoot her? Her body felt cold, even though the sun was still shining warmly on her skin.

Ellen stood there, her feet rooted to the spot as the bodyguard’s voice floated over her. It sounded distant, as if it was coming from far away, muffled by the overwhelming rush of adrenaline coursing through her body. His words, were full of concern, but she couldn’t make sense of them. Her ears buzzed, her vision wavering. She tried to focus, to listen, but everything felt surreal, like she wasn’t really there.

"Ma’am, can you hear me?" Another voice now, more urgent. She felt hands gently touch her shoulders, but the warmth didn’t register. Instead, a cold wave of numbness washed over her, making her shiver despite the sun shining brightly above.

"Mrs. Coldwell?" The guard’s voice cracked through the haze, but still, Ellen couldn’t respond. She could hear the anxiety in their voices, the rapid footsteps as they moved around her, assessing the scene, making sure the area was secure. They were worried. They were panicked. Yet she couldn’t react. She stood there, her breaths coming in short, uneven gasps, her throat tight and dry as if she had swallowed dust.

"Get the car ready, now!" One of the bodyguards barked an order, and Ellen could hear more hurried footsteps, doors opening and closing in the distance. "We need to get her out of here!"

Suddenly, the world around her began to tilt. The ground seemed to shift beneath her feet, and her vision blurred further as black spots danced in front of her eyes. Her heart pounded erratically, her chest tightening with the pressure of it all. She couldn’t breathe. The air was heavy and suffocating, and the panic she’d been keeping at bay flooded over her.

The last thing Ellen felt was the sensation of her knees buckling, her body giving in to the overwhelming darkness that swallowed her whole. The ground rushed up to meet her, but she never felt the impact. Everything faded to black before she could process another thought, her mind shutting down as her body collapsed in the arms of one of the bodyguards, his voice calling her name as she slipped away into unconsciousness.