Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 66: Why?

Chapter 66: Why?

She found herself staring at Mason, searching his face for answers that weren’t there. He looked so composed, his features set in that familiar, unreadable expression that both comforted and frustrated her. She wanted to ask him what he was thinking, to dig beneath that calm exterior and find out what was really going on in his head.

But she was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t even notice the misstep she made until she heard Mason hiss in pain.

"Ellen," Mason’s voice was tense, and she blinked in surprise, suddenly realizing that she had stepped on his foot.

"Oh my God, I’m so sorry!" Ellen exclaimed, her voice tinged with panic as she quickly looked down, mortified by her mistake. She turned red with embarrassment and could feel her heart thumping like crazy.

Mason winced slightly, his lips tightening into a thin line, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he adjusted their position, taking a deep breath before guiding her back into the rhythm of the dance. "It’s alright," he said, his tone more controlled now. "But maybe you should look where you’re stepping."

Ellen nodded quickly, trying to regain her composure, but she could still feel the heat rising in her cheeks. "I’m sorry," she repeated, her voice softer now, full of genuine regret. "I didn’t mean to..."

"It’s fine, Ellen," Mason interrupted, his voice a bit gentler this time, though there was still a hint of tension underneath. "Just focus on the dance."

They continued to move together in silence, the music filling the space between them. Ellen tried to calm her racing thoughts, to concentrate on the steps and follow Mason’s lead, but it was difficult.

Finally, unable to hold it in any longer, she looked up at him and asked, "Why?"

Mason raised an eyebrow, glancing down at her with a hint of confusion. "Why what?"

"Why did you come up here?" Ellen clarified, her voice a mix of curiosity and something deeper, something more vulnerable. "You don’t like dancing, right?"

Mason’s expression remained unreadable for a moment, his eyes studying her as if he were deciding how much to say. Then, with a slight shrug, he replied, "You looked like you needed a better partner."

Ellen blinked, taken aback by his response. "A better partner?"

Mason nodded, a small, a tiny smile barely showing at the edges of his mouth. "You were dancing like a robot, completely out of sync. I couldn’t just sit there and let you drag down the Coldwell name."

Ellen’s eyes widened, a mix of disbelief and annoyance bubbling up inside her. "Drag down... what?" she repeated, incredulity lacing her words. "That’s nonsense. So what if I’m not good at dancing? That has nothing to do with the Coldwell name!"

Mason’s expression didn’t change, but his grip on her waist tightened just slightly. "If you know you’re not good at dancing, then why didn’t you just let him take you to the dance floor?" he asked, his tone cool and measured.

Ellen frowned, feeling a spark of frustration ignite within her. "Because," she began, her voice firm, "that’s still better than just sitting there, knowing that my husband won’t do it."

Mason’s eyes narrowed slightly at her words, but before he respond, he suddenly twirled her, spinning her out of his grasp for a brief moment before pulling her back into his arms. The motion was smooth and seamless, almost elegant, but it left Ellen feeling slightly dizzy. When she landed back in his embrace, she was closer than before, her face just inches from his.

Mason leaned in, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered, "Are you blaming me for this?"

Ellen’s heart skipped a beat at how close his voice was, and she shook her head quickly, her thoughts still spinning from the twirl. "No, I’m not," she replied, her voice softer now, almost a murmur.

Ellen’s mind began to wander again as she swayed in Mason’s arms. Her thoughts drifted back to Edrick, wondering where he had gone after the sudden switch. She glanced around the dance floor, scanning the room until she finally spotted him. Edrick had returned to their table, sitting back down with a drink in his hand, his posture relaxed as if nothing unusual had happened.

Before she could dwell on it further, Mason’s voice broke through her thoughts. "He must be a very good friend of yours," he remarked, his tone even, yet with a hint of something she couldn’t quite place.

Ellen let out a small chuckle, a sound that carried a mix of amusement and irony. "Not as good as Aubrey is to you," she replied, her voice light, though the words held a sharper edge. It was a subtle jab, one that she hoped would slip by without much notice, but she couldn’t help herself. The comparison was too tempting to resist.

Mason’s expression didn’t change. He remained silent, his eyes fixed on her, offering no response to her remark. The silence that followed was thick with stuff neither of them wanted to say. Ellen felt a pang of regret for bringing up Aubrey, but she quickly brushed it aside, determined to keep the conversation moving.

"I didn’t think you would bring me to this party," Ellen said after a moment, her voice softer now, tinged with a genuine curiosity. She searched Mason’s face for any hint of his reasoning, but, as always, his expression remained unreadable.

Mason tilted his head slightly, his gaze steady on her. "Why wouldn’t I bring you?" he asked, his tone calm, as if the question puzzled him.

Ellen bit her lip, struggling to find the right words. "I don’t know," she admitted, her voice almost a whisper. "It’s just... I didn’t expect it."

Mason’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze intensifying as if he were trying to see past her words, to uncover the truth behind them. After a brief pause, he asked, "Did you want me to bring someone else instead? Like Aubrey?"

The question caught Ellen off guard, her heart skipping a beat at the implication. She reacted instinctively, her voice louder than she intended as she quickly responded, "No!"

Her sharp tone drew the attention of the couple dancing beside them, who glanced over with curious eyes. Ellen’s face flushed with embarrassment as she realized she had spoken too loudly. Flustered, she mumbled an apology, "I’m sorry," lowering her gaze to avoid the couple’s prying stares.

She felt Mason’s hand tighten slightly on her waist, pulling her closer as they continued to move to the rhythm of the music. Her heart was still racing from the outburst, and she forced herself to look up at him, searching his face for any sign of reaction.

The ballroom was pretty dim, so it was hard to tell... but was it just her, or did she see a tiny smirk on his lips?

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