Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 60: Stalk?

Chapter 60: Stalk?

Ellen’s heart skipped a beat as she recognized the familiar face in front of her. She took a step back, putting some distance between them. She let out an awkward chuckle, trying to mask her unease. "We meet again," she added, her smile strained as she glanced at him, hoping her sudden nerves weren’t too obvious.

Edrick’s eyes lit up with amusement, a playful smirk forming on his lips. "What a coincidence," he teased, tilting his head slightly. "I hope you’re not stalking me, Ellen."

Ellen let out another awkward laugh, this time forcing herself to relax, though her thoughts were racing. If anyone should be suspicious, it was her. Edrick’s unexpected appearances were starting to feel a bit too convenient, almost like he was the one keeping tabs on her. But she brushed the thought aside, reminding herself that it was just a coincidence—or so she hoped.

"Me? Stalking you?" Ellen replied, trying to sound light-hearted, though her voice wavered slightly. She raised an eyebrow playfully, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "I think it’s the other way around, don’t you think?"

Edrick chuckled, a deep, rich sound that seemed to resonate in the space between them. "Touché," he said, his smile widening. But there was something in his eyes, a glint of mischief that made Ellen’s skin prickle. "Although, if I had known you’d be here, I would have made sure to be on my best behavior."

Ellen forced another laugh, her fingers nervously tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Well, I didn’t know I’d be here either," she admitted, trying to keep the conversation casual despite the tension she felt simmering just beneath the surface. "It was all a bit last-minute, really."

"Last-minute, huh?" Edrick echoed, his tone carrying a hint of skepticism. He leaned slightly closer, his voice lowering just enough to make the moment feel more intimate. "You could’ve mentioned it, you know."

Ellen’s breath caught in her throat as Edrick leaned in slightly, his voice carrying a weight that made her uneasy. The way he spoke, the way his eyes seemed to search hers, it was as if he was trying to pull something from her that she wasn’t prepared to give. She opened her mouth to respond, to brush off his words with a light-hearted comment, but before she could, she heard the distinct sound of someone clearing their throat.

The noise cut through the moment like a knife, and Ellen’s head snapped to the side, her heart skipping a beat. Standing just a few feet away, with a calm but unreadable expression, was Mason. His eyes were fixed on her and Edrick, and for a brief second, Ellen felt the world around her tilt. She’d been so caught up in the unexpected exchange with Edrick that she had completely forgotten about Mason.

Her mind raced, trying to piece together what he might have seen or heard. The way Mason was looking at them, at her, made her stomach twist into knots. It wasn’t anger or disappointment in his gaze, but rather a quiet intensity that she couldn’t quite decipher. Did he think something was going on between her and Edrick? Had he sensed the unusual tension in their conversation?

Edrick, seemingly unfazed by the sudden presence of Mason, straightened up and turned to greet him. "Mason," he said with a casual smile, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. "We meet again."

Mason returned the smile, though there was a slight tightness to it that Ellen couldn’t ignore. "Yeah," he replied simply, his voice steady but with a coolness that sent a shiver down Ellen’s spine.

The air between the three of them was thick with unspoken tension, and Ellen could feel it pressing down on her. She knew she had to do something, anything, to break the awkwardness that was quickly building. Her mind raced for a solution, and she latched onto the first thought that came to her.

"Mason," she said quickly, her voice a bit too bright as she tried to regain control of the situation. "I, uh, I know where we’re sitting. How about we head over there now?"

Without waiting for a response, Ellen reached out and looped her arm through Mason’s, pulling herself close to him in what she hoped was a casual, natural movement. The feel of his solid, reassuring presence next to her helped to ground her, even as her heart continued to pound in her chest. She offered Edrick a strained smile as she began to guide Mason away, hoping he wouldn’t notice the slight tremble in her hands.

"It was nice seeing you, Edrick," Ellen added, her tone courteous yet tinged with a firmness that she hoped would make it clear that the conversation was over. "We’ll catch up later, maybe."

Edrick’s smile didn’t falter, though there was a flicker of something in his eyes—amusement, perhaps—as he watched her practically cling to Mason. "Of course," he said smoothly, his voice light and easy. "Enjoy the rest of your evening."

Ellen forced another smile before turning her attention fully to Mason, steering him toward the ballroom where their seats awaited. As they walked, she kept her grip on his arm firm, as if afraid that if she let go, she would fall apart.

Mason didn’t say anything as they moved through the crowd, his expression unreadable as he allowed Ellen to lead the way.

When they finally reached their table, Ellen released her hold on Mason’s arm, her fingers brushing against the smooth surface of the tablecloth as she tried to steady herself. She forced herself to smile up at him, though her heart was still racing. "I’m sorry about that," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn’t mean to—"

But Mason shook his head, cutting her off. "It’s fine, Ellen," he said, his tone even and calm, though there was a depth to his eyes that made her feel as if he was seeing right through her. "You don’t need to explain."

Obviously, why would she bother when he showed no interest whatsoever?

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