Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 83: Not Important

Chapter 83: Not Important

As the car approached her home, Ellen felt a slight tension building in her chest. The day had been unexpectedly pleasant, even comforting, but now that they were nearing the end of it, she couldn’t shake a growing unease. When Edrick pulled up in front of her house, he slowed the car, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

"Oh, you’re neighbors with Jax?" Edrick said, glancing at the familiar house next door.

Ellen blinked, momentarily surprised. "Yeah, I guess I forgot to mention that," she replied, her voice light, though her mind was already elsewhere.

As the car came to a stop, Ellen’s thoughts began to spiral. Was it really okay to let Edrick know where she lived? Not that she distrusted him—she knew Edrick wasn’t the type to do anything inappropriate. But the knowledge that he now knew the precise location of her home, the place where she was supposed to feel secure, left her feeling strangely exposed. The unease gnawed at her, subtle yet persistent, and she couldn’t quite put her finger on why it mattered so much.

Pushing the thought aside, Ellen forced a smile and began to unbuckle her seatbelt. "Thanks for the ride, Edrick," she said, her voice warm but slightly distant as she prepared to exit the car.

Edrick glanced over at Ellen as she unbuckled her seatbelt, his eyes crinkling with a friendly smile. "Hey, just think of this as my way of paying you back for lunch. I know I owe you for that."

Ellen’s smile softened, though her gaze remained fixed on the car door. "Oh, it was nothing, really. I’m sure you’ll get me back somehow."

Edrick chuckled, shaking his head. "It’s just nice to be able to return the favor."

Ellen smiled, and just as she was about to reach for the door handle, Edrick’s voice stopped her. "Ellen, wait," he said, his tone gentle yet serious, causing her to pause and turn back toward him.

"Yes?" Ellen asked, her eyes meeting his, curiosity tinged with a hint of apprehension. "What is it?"

Edrick hesitated for a moment, his gaze lingering on her as if he were searching for the right words. Finally, he spoke, his voice careful, almost hesitant. "Can I ask you something? It’s been on my mind for a while."

Ellen felt her heart skip a beat, uncertainty prickling at the edges of her thoughts. "Sure, what’s that?" she replied, doing her best to keep her tone light.

Edrick’s eyes locked onto hers, and for a brief moment, the playful demeanor he usually wore faded, replaced by something more serious. "Did you ever tell Mason about... us? About our relationship?" His words were soft, almost fragile, as if he were stepping onto thin ice.

Ellen’s breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t expected this. The question lingered between them, and she was surprised that Edrick had asked it. Her mind raced, but she quickly nodded. "Never," she said firmly, shaking her head to stress her point. "I never told him about you or about us."

"Why?" Edrick asked, his tone gentle, yet there was something in his eyes that hinted at a deeper hurt.

Ellen hesitated, her mind grappling for an answer that made sense, even to herself. "I just... I didn’t think it was important," she admitted, her voice quieter now. "It’s all in the past, you know? It didn’t seem relevant to bring it up."

Edrick nodded slowly, absorbing her words. "Yeah, you’re right," he murmured, his gaze dropping slightly as a faint sadness flickered in his eyes. "I guess it’s not important."

But Ellen could see it. The brief flash of hurt was there. It tugged at her heart, a subtle ache that she couldn’t quite ignore. For a moment, she wanted to say more, to explain herself better, but the words didn’t come.

Instead, she forced a smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Anyway, I don’t want to keep you any longer," she said, her tone shifting as she reached for the door again. "You probably have work to get back to."

Edrick looked up, his smile returning, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, you’re right," he said, his voice a touch softer. "But thank you, Ellen. For today."

Ellen nodded, her hand on the door handle. "No, thank you, Edrick," she replied sincerely. "It was... nice, catching up. Drive safely, okay?" With that, she stepped out of the car, closing the door gently behind her.

As she walked toward her front door, she waited, listening to the sound of Edrick’s car engine. She didn’t turn around until she heard the car start to move, and when she finally looked back, Edrick was waving at her, a final gesture of goodbye before he drove off from there.

Ellen stood there for a moment longer, watching until the car’s taillights disappeared around the corner. As she walked up to the front door, she couldn’t shake the conversation that had just taken place.

Edrick’s question lingered in her mind. Why hadn’t she ever told Mason about her past with Edrick? What was she so afraid of? There was nothing wrong with it—just a relationship that ended years ago. Mason would probably dismiss it as not important.

But as she entered the quiet house, closing the door behind her, a new thought began to form. Maybe if Mason knew about Edrick, it would change things between them. Maybe it would stir something within him, ignite a spark of jealousy, or at the very least, make him realize that he wasn’t the only man in her life. Maybe it would make him see that his closeness with Aubrey wasn’t as harmless as he seemed to think.

What if telling Mason about Edrick was the key to shifting the balance between them? What if it made Mason realize how much he had to lose?

But even as she considered it, a pang of doubt crept in. Would it really change anything? Or would it only complicate things further?

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