Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 77: Like Him?

Chapter 77: Like Him?

Ellen sat cross-legged on the plush carpet of the living room, surrounded by her recently unpacked suitcase. Colleen was chilling on the couch, her eyes wide with excitement as she pulled item after item from the suitcase.

"Oh my gosh, Ellen! This is gorgeous!" Colleen squealed, holding up a chic black dress with delicate lace detailing. She practically jumped off the couch, hugging the dress to her chest. "You got this in Paris? I’m so jealous!"

Ellen laughed softly, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she watched Colleen’s enthusiasm. "Yes, I thought of you the moment I saw it," she said, a hint of pride in her voice. "I knew you’d love it."

Colleen placed the dress carefully on the back of the couch before diving back into the suitcase. She let out a small gasp of delight when she found a pair of designer heels nestled among the clothes. "And these? Ellen, you’re spoiling me!" she said, slipping one foot into the shoe and admiring it.

"You deserve it," Ellen replied, her smile widening. "You’re my little sister, after all. I wanted to get you something special."

Colleen’s eyes softened as she looked at Ellen, momentarily setting aside the shoe. "Aw, you’re so sweet."

Ellen felt a warmth spread through her chest at Colleen’s words. "I know," she said with grin.

Colleen returned the smile before something else in the suitcase caught her attention. She let out a small shriek of excitement as she pulled out a sleek, tailored jacket. "No way! This is for me too?" she asked, hugging the jacket tightly.

Ellen nodded, amused by her sister’s reaction. "Yep, all yours. I thought it would look perfect on you."

Colleen stood up and slipped the jacket on, striking a pose as she admired herself in the mirror across the room. "Parisian fashion suits me, don’t you think?" she teased, twirling around.

"You look amazing," Ellen agreed, laughing at Colleen’s antics. She began folding some of the other clothes in the suitcase, trying to bring some order to the mess they were making.

Colleen flopped back down on the couch, still clutching the jacket as if it were the most precious thing in the world. "You know, Ellen," she said, her tone becoming a bit wistful, "I’ve always wanted to go to Paris. Just imagine—shopping, sightseeing, eating all that amazing food... It must have been incredible."

Ellen paused, looking over at Colleen with a thoughtful expression. "It was," she admitted, her voice softening. "Maybe we can go together next time?"

Colleen’s eyes lit up with excitement. "Are you serious? That would be a dream come true!" She hugged the jacket tighter and sighed dramatically. "Shopping in Paris with my big sister—now that’s something I could get used to."

Ellen smiled, she opened her mouth to say something more, but Colleen’s next words caught her off guard.

"So... accompanying him on a business trip, huh?" Colleen’s voice was laced with playful teasing, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "What an improvement, Mrs. Winters."

Ellen’s heart skipped a beat, and she forced herself to swallow the lump that had formed in her throat. The truth was far more complicated than Colleen could imagine. She had followed Mason to Paris, driven by a need to keep an eye on him, to be near him. But Colleen didn’t need to know that. Ellen forced a smile, hoping it looked more natural than it felt.

"Yeah, I guess so," Ellen replied, her voice deliberately light. She glanced away, pretending to busy herself with refolding a scarf that didn’t need refolding. She could feel Colleen’s gaze on her, curious and a bit too perceptive for comfort.

Colleen leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand as she studied Ellen. "So, why didn’t you go with him to London then?" she asked, her tone still teasing but with a hint of genuine curiosity.

Ellen hesitated, her mind racing to come up with a plausible explanation. She couldn’t very well tell Colleen the real reason—that she hadn’t gone to London because she didn’t need to worry about Aubrey anymore. The last thing she wanted was for Colleen to see how deeply her jealousy and insecurity ran.

"Uh, well..." Ellen started, searching for the right words. "Mason’s schedule in London was pretty packed, and I figured I’d just be in the way. Plus, I had some things to take care of here. It just seemed easier for me to stay behind this time."

Colleen nodded slowly, seeming to accept the explanation.

"Makes sense, I guess," she said, though there was a hint of something unreadable in her eyes. She reached down and rubbed her stomach, a gesture that made Ellen’s brow furrow with concern.

"You hungry?" Ellen asked, her voice filled with warmth. "I can make you something to eat."

Colleen raised an eyebrow in mock disbelief, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Wait, you’re going to cook for me? Since when does Ellen Winters know how to cook? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you near a stove in my life."

Ellen felt a jolt of panic, her mind scrambling as she realized Colleen was right. Seemed like Ellen Winters didn’t know how to cook herself judging by Colleen’s reaction. She bit her lip, quickly masking her unease with a determined smile.

"Well, I kind of have to learn now," she replied with a sheepish grin. "I’m a wife, after all."

"Really?" Colleen asked, her voice lilting with curiosity and a hint of playful skepticism. "Is this whole cooking thing really because you’re a wife now, or is it because you like Mason so much and want to impress him?"

"I mean, of course, I care about him," she said, choosing her words carefully. "He’s my husband, after all."

"But that’s not what I asked," Colleen pressed, her voice gentle but insistent. "I asked if you like him. Like, really like him, Ellen."

Ellen felt her heart begin to race, the question digging deeper into her thoughts, stirring up emotions she hadn’t fully acknowledged before. Did she like Mason?