Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 204: Unwritten Futures

Chapter 204: Unwritten Futures

The days following the incident flew by, with both tense moments and quiet times to recover. Ellen couldn’t shake the memory of the gunshot, the shattered glass, and the bodyguards circling around her.

Mason, on the other hand, hadn’t left her side since that day. He canceled every meeting, every appointment, and worked from home. His office desk remained untouched; instead, his laptop and papers filled the dining room table. Every time Ellen looked at him, she noticed the serious focus on his face, a quiet commitment to protect her from harm.

She had already told him everything. The bloody roses, the near-miss with the car—every sickening detail. When they talked to the police, she had felt some relief in sharing the burden, hoping they could offer answers. But the police had only taken down the information, leaving her uncertain. Mason, however, seemed sure. "It’s the same person," he said to her later, sounding pretty sure about it. "It’s all connected."

She believed him. His intuition about these things was rarely wrong, but it just made her feel even more uneasy. It was terrifying, knowing someone was out there, lurking, obsessed with tormenting her. *Why? What did they want?* The questions kept her up at night, running through her mind, never giving her peace.

What Mason hadn’t told her, however, was about the photograph he received. A single image left on his desk, showing Ellen—vulnerable, unknowing, living her life while someone watched from the shadows. He hadn’t wanted to add to her fears, hadn’t wanted to make her even more worried than she already was. So, he kept it to himself, though the image burned in his mind every time he looked at her.

In response, Mason tightened up the security measures around the house, hiring more personnel to ensure there wasn’t a single weak spot. He wasn’t taking any chances. At times, it felt like too much with the bodyguards always keeping an eye on them, but Ellen understood why. She couldn’t complain. After all, she had never felt this level of fear before.

That night, they were in their bedroom, the quiet only interrupted by the faint hum of crickets outside. The curtains swayed gently with the breeze. Ellen sat up against the pillows, her eyes fixed on Mason as he sat at the foot of the bed, reviewing something on his phone. His brow furrowed as usual, his lips pressed into a thin line of concentration.

A sudden thought crossed Ellen’s mind, one that had been creeping in the back of her head for days. She hesitated, unsure if she should say it, but the words spilled out before she could stop herself.

"Mason," she said quietly, her voice soft but clear. "What if one day I leave you?"

Mason froze. His head snapped up from his phone, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. He didn’t like what she was saying. She could see it in the way his jaw tightened, in the way his gaze darkened.

"Doesn’t matter," he said firmly, standing up and walking over to her, his arms crossed over his chest. "Do you really think I’m going to let you leave me?"

Ellen’s breath caught in her throat. "Mason, I’m serious."

"So am I," he shot back. His eyes searched hers, almost challenging her to keep going. There was a tension in the room now, but behind Mason’s tough front, she noticed the fear in his eyes. The fear of losing her.

Ellen swallowed, her hands fidgeting with the edge of the blanket. "You don’t know what will happen. We can’t know. What if... what if something happens to me?"

Before she could finish her thought, Mason cut her off. "I know what’s going to happen." His voice was softer now, but still firm, like he was trying to convince both her and himself. He sat down beside her, his hand resting on her knee. "Once this mess is over—once we find this person—we’ll go back to normal."

Ellen’s lips parted, but she didn’t say anything. She just listened, her heart heavy as he continued.

"We’ll keep living our lives," Mason said. "We’ll argue about stupid little things like where to eat, or whose turn it is to clean the dishes. I’ll tease you, and you’ll give me that annoyed look that I love so much." He smiled slightly, the tension easing from his face for just a moment. "We’ll start a family—two kids. One boy, one girl."

Ellen’s breath hitched in her throat, her eyes growing wide. She hadn’t expected this. Mason kept going, his voice full of quiet hope.

"I’ll be the quiet dad," he continued. "The one who spoils them rotten, while you’ll be the mom who worries about every little thing. We’ll argue about that too, probably." He chuckled softly, but his eyes never left hers. "We’ll make it through this, Ellen. And we’ll build a life together. I promise."

The more he mentioned it, the more he realized he genuinely wanted it, and it was only with Ellen that he wanted to make it happen.

Ellen didn’t even realize the tears were spilling down her cheeks until Mason stopped talking and looked at her, concern flickering in his eyes. "What? You don’t want that?" he asked softly, his hand reaching up to wipe away her tears.

Ellen shook her head quickly, biting her lip as she tried to hold back the sobs threatening to escape. "Of course I want that," she whispered.

Mason pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against him. "So stay with me," he murmured as he tucked her hair behind her ear. "Don’t leave me. I can’t lose you, Ellen."

Ellen buried her face in his chest, her hands clutching his shirt as she let out a small sob. "I’m not going anywhere," she whispered back. "I promise."

Mason tightened his grip on her, his own eyes closing as he held her. Don’t leave me like my family did.

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