Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 69: Little Moment

Chapter 69: Little Moment

Mason still watched her, his gaze unwavering. "You don’t have to worry," he said finally. "Aubrey has to go back soon. She can’t take too many days off, so she won’t be able to follow me to London."

Ellen stared at him, her mind was spinning. She wanted to say something, to tell him that she wasn’t worried about Aubrey, that she didn’t care where that woman went. But the truth was, she did care. She cared too much. And Mason knew it. He had always known it.

Ellen was saved by the sight of Philip walking toward them. His usual composed demeanor was intact, but there was an underlying urgency in his steps. "Mason," Philip called out as he approached, his voice breaking the silence that had settled between her and Mason. "The car is waiting for you. Anytime you’re ready."

Mason tore his gaze away from Ellen, his expression shifting back to his usual unreadable mask. He nodded at Philip, acknowledging the reminder. Ellen found herself grasping for something to say, something that might ease the tension between them, even if just a little. She forced a small smile, her mind scrambling for the right words. "Don’t forget to bring me souvenirs," she said, her tone trying to strike a balance between lighthearted and serious.

Mason raised an eyebrow at her, clearly caught off guard by the request. Ellen felt her heart skip a beat, but she pressed on, her smile growing slightly. "Well, think of it as a payment," she added with a playful tone, "for coming all the way to Paris to accompany you."

"I never asked you to come," he replied, his voice calm but firm.

For a split second, she wanted to argue, to tell him that he didn’t have to ask—that she was his wife, and it was only natural for her to want to be by his side. But she held back, instead, she let out a soft, almost defeated sigh and lightly punched Mason on the shoulder, her knuckles barely brushing against his suit jacket. "You’re impossible," she muttered, more to herself than to him.

Mason’s reaction surprised her. He smiled—a real, genuine smile that softened his features, making him look younger. The sight of his smile made Ellen’s heart skip again.

But then, before she could fully process the change in his demeanor, Mason did something that completely caught her off guard. He reached up, his hand moving with a tenderness she had never experienced from him. His fingers brushed against her forehead as he gently tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. The simple, intimate gesture sent a jolt of confusion and warmth through Ellen, and she found herself freezing in place, her breath catching in her throat.

His touch lingered for a moment, just long enough for Ellen to feel the warmth of his fingers against her skin. The gesture was so unexpected, so out of character for the Mason she had come to know, that it left her momentarily stunned.

As Mason’s hand slowly moved away from her hair, his fingers lightly brushed against her cheek. The touch was gentle, as if he feared causing any discomfort, and it sent a shiver down Ellen’s spine. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty. What was he doing? Why was he being so gentle, so tender? Was this his way of apologizing, or was it just another way to confuse her?

"I’ll go now," Mason said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ellen could only nod, still too stunned to offer a meaningful reply. She watched as he turned away, the warmth of his touch lingered on her skin. It left her feeling more confused than ever, as if she was standing on the edge of something she didn’t fully understand.

A sudden memory flashed in her mind—an image of the last time they had parted ways. Mason was leaving for Paris, and she had given him a hug, a simple gesture of goodbye. It hadn’t been a grand moment, just a brief embrace before he walked out the door. But now, as she watched him walk away again, Ellen felt a sudden, desperate need to recreate that moment, to hold onto something familiar between them.

She hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest. Then, before she could talk herself out of it, she called out, her voice trembling slightly, "Mason!"

Mason stopped in his tracks. He turned around slowly, his expression unreadable as he looked at her. The light from outside cast a soft glow around him, highlighting the sharp angles of his face. For a moment, they just stared at each other. She couldn’t back down now. Summoning all the courage she had left, Ellen took a deep breath and walked toward him, her footsteps echoing in the now-quiet lobby. When she reached him, she paused for a second, her eyes searching his face for any sign of what he might be thinking.

Without giving herself time to second-guess, she reached out and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a hug. The embrace was a little more forceful than she intended. She felt his firm embrace and the warmth of his closeness, and for an instant, the rest of the world seemed to vanish.

Mason didn’t respond immediately, his body stiffening slightly in surprise. Ellen’s heart pounded in her chest, the fear that he might push her away gnawing at her. But then, slowly, she felt him relax, his arms moving to gently encircle her. It wasn’t a tight embrace, more of a hesitant response, but it was enough to make Ellen’s heart ache with something she couldn’t name.

After what felt like both an eternity and an instant, Ellen let go, stepping back to put some space between them. Her hands dropped to her sides, and she found herself looking down at the floor, suddenly unsure of what to say.

"I’ll miss you," Ellen said, her voice barely above a whisper. The words slipped out before she could stop them, and she immediately felt a flush of embarrassment rise in her cheeks. It felt too bold, too vulnerable, to admit something like that to him now, especially when she wasn’t sure where they stood.

Mason’s eyes softened, a flicker of something—maybe surprise, maybe something more—passing through them. For a moment, his usual guarded expression faltered.

Then, to her surprise, Mason spoke, his voice soft but steady. "I’ll be back home soon."