Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 32: New Face

Chapter 32: New Face

Ignoring the intense gaze, Ellen still felt guilty and responsible for the little incident. Ellen quickly grabbed a napkin from a nearby table and began dabbing at his shirt, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"I’m truly sorry," she said, her voice earnest. "I should have been more careful."

The man let out a soft laugh that seemed to hang in the air between them. "It’s okay, no harm done."

Ellen looked up, and at this distance, she could clearly see his face. He was undeniably handsome, with chiseled features that rivaled Mason’s.

He took the napkin from her hand gently, his fingers brushing against hers. "I know you didn’t do it on purpose," he said, his voice calm and reassuring.

Ellen stepped back, still feeling shy. "I’m really sorry," she repeated, her eyes dropping to the floor.

The man just smiled, keeping that intense gaze that made Ellen really want to get out of there. She could feel her pulse quickening, a mix of embarrassment and something she couldn’t quite identify.

"I have to go," she said quickly, the words tumbling out. "Enjoy the party."

She walked away in a hurry, her steps almost frantic. She was so focused on getting away that she almost bumped into Jax, who was standing nearby.

"Careful there," Jax said, steadying her with a hand on her arm.

Ellen chuckled nervously, still flustered from her encounter. "Sorry," she said, taking a deep breath to calm herself. She glanced at Jax, noting the ease with which he carried himself. "It seems like you finished your conversation with my husband."

"Not quite," Jax replied with a grin. "I managed to drag Mason away with some of our high school friends to the backyard."

Ellen’s curiosity was piqued. She saw this as the perfect opportunity to dig a bit more into Mason’s past. "So, what I heard from Helga is true? You and Mason are high school friends?"

"Yeah, pretty much," Jax said, nodding. "We were classmates and on the same basketball team."

Ellen’s eyes widened slightly. "Basketball? I didn’t know Mason played."

Jax laughed, a deep, hearty sound. "Oh, he did. And he was good at it, too. A real team player."

Ellen tried to imagine Mason in a high school gym, shooting hoops and hanging out with his friends. It was a stark contrast to the reserved, enigmatic man she knew. "That’s really interesting," she said, genuinely intrigued. "He doesn’t talk much about his past."

Jax grinned, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. "Yeah, he’s always been a bit of a mystery."

Ellen seized the opportunity, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Can you tell me more about him? Like, how many exes did he have?"

Jax raised an eyebrow, looking at Ellen with a mixture of surprise and amusement. "You sure you want to know?"

Ellen nodded, trying to appear casual. "Yeah, I’m cool with it."

Jax hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Well, you don’t need to worry too much. In high school, Mason only dated one girl, Aubrey Jones. They were the perfect couple. Everyone thought Mason was going to marry her. It was a big surprise to see him with someone else."

Jax looked at Ellen with a guilty expression, clearly regretting his words. "I didn’t mean to offend you," he said quickly, his voice filled with sincerity.

"No offense taken," she said, waving her hand dismissively.

Jax seemed relieved. "Good to hear. I didn’t mean to stir anything up. Anyway, I need to excuse myself and get some drinks for the boys."

Ellen nodded, watching as Jax walked away. She took a deep breath, reminding herself to enjoy the party. She wandered through the crowded living room, chatting with various guests.

Time seemed to pass quickly, and after about half an hour, Ellen began to wonder if Mason was done with his friends. She decided to look for him, hoping to catch a glimpse of him in the crowd of people.

As she wandered through the house, she suddenly heard someone call her name. She turned around to see the man she had bumped into earlier walking towards her. Her heart skipped a beat.

"Oh, you again," she said, chuckling nervously, trying to cover her unease. She felt a sudden panic rise within her. She didn’t know this man, but he seemed to know her. The way he looked at her, it was as if he knew her intimately, deeply.

"I’ve been looking for you," the man said, his intense gaze fixed on her. "Long time no see, Ellen. How are you?"

Ellen’s mind raced. Oh, shit. This man knew Ellen Winters, but she didn’t have any clue who he was.

She forced another chuckle and tried to steady her voice. "Who are you again?" she asked, deciding to be direct since she had no other option. She hoped her voice didn’t betray her growing panic.

The man’s expression changed, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "You don’t remember me?" he asked, his tone a mix of disbelief and hurt. "I know it’s been a while, but it’s not that long ago."

Ellen could only chuckle nervously. Her thoughts were spinning. Oh my god, what to do, what to do? Should she just run out of here? But what about Mason? Argh, their house is literally only ten steps away; he can go home by himself.

She could feel her breath quickening, her mind desperately trying to piece together any fragment of memory that might explain who this man was. But nothing came.

Just as she felt like she might bolt, she heard a familiar voice. "Let’s go home."

She turned and saw Mason standing there. Ellen nodded with relief, feeling like it was the best idea. "Yes, let’s go," she said with a ton of excitement.

But then the man in front of them called out, "Mason."

Mason looked at him for a moment before saying, "Edrick."

Hearing that name, Ellen felt like her jaw could drop to the floor. She knew who he was now.

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