Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 90: See Her

Chapter 90: See Her

Ellen stood in front of the mirror, carefully brushing out her hair. Her eyes traced over her reflection, but her thoughts were far from focused on her appearance. As much as she didn’t want to see Aubrey, there was no way in hell she was going to let Mason visit Aubrey’s place by himself. She had a feeling that there was more to this sudden illness than met the eye, and Ellen was determined to find out what Aubrey was really up to.

She glanced down at the shirt she was wearing, the one Mason had brought back from London. It was a simple shirt, white with bold red letters that read "I Love London" across the front. Ellen ran her fingers over the fabric, a small smile tugging at her lips. It wasn’t much, but it was a reminder that Mason had thought of her while he was away. And that meant something.

With a deep breath, she stepped away from the mirror and made her way out of the bedroom. As she reached the living room, she found Mason already waiting for her. He was seated on the couch, his phone in hand, but he looked up as soon as she entered the room.

"I’m ready," Ellen said, trying to keep her voice steady.

Mason’s eyes swept over her, and for a moment, his expression was unreadable. But then a questioning look crossed his face, his brow furrowing slightly as he studied her.

Ellen frowned, glancing down at herself. "What?" she asked, trying to figure out what had caught his attention. "Did I wear my shirt backward? Is there a stain or something?"

Mason shook his head, a small smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "No," he said, though there was a hint of amusement in his tone. "It’s just...are you sure you want to go out wearing that?"

Ellen blinked, confused. She looked down at her shirt, then back up at Mason. "What’s wrong with it?" she asked, a bit defensively. "It’s a nice shirt."

Mason opened his mouth as if to say something, but then he seemed to think better of it. "Never mind," he said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

Ellen narrowed her eyes at him, then looked back at her reflection in the hallway mirror. The "I Love London" shirt fit her perfectly, and the red letters popped against the white fabric. She couldn’t see anything wrong with it. In fact, she thought it looked great on her.

And beyond that, there was a deeper reason she wanted to wear it today. The shirt wasn’t just a souvenir; it was a statement. A subtle way of letting Aubrey know that Mason had brought something back for her, and only her. Aubrey might have Mason’s attention for the moment, but Ellen had something tangible that showed Mason was thinking of her too.

She turned back to Mason, a determined look in her eyes. "I think it looks fine," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Mason just shrugged, though his expression softened as he looked at her. "Alright then," he said, standing up from the couch. "If you’re ready, let’s go."

Ellen nodded, feeling a surge of confidence as she followed him out the door and headed toward the car. The drive was relatively quiet, with only the hum of the engine and the occasional sound of passing cars breaking the silence. Ellen found herself glancing out the window, her mind racing with thoughts of what was to come.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally arrived at Aubrey’s apartment complex. They walked toward the entrance of the building, their footsteps echoing in the quiet of the morning. Ellen couldn’t help but notice how familiar Mason seemed with the place. There was no hesitation in his stride as they approached the elevator, and as they stepped inside, he pressed the button for the correct floor without even thinking about it.

"You seem to know your way around here," Ellen remarked, her tone light but with an edge of curiosity.

Mason glanced at her, his expression neutral. "I’ve been here before," he replied simply.

Ellen felt a pang in her chest at his words, though she tried not to let it show. She forced a small smile, but inside, her thoughts were spinning. Oh God, Mason really doesn’t care about my feeling, she thought to herself, a mix of frustration and sadness washing over her. He said it so casually, as if it were nothing. But to her, it was everything.

The elevator dinged softly as they reached their destination, and the doors slid open. Mason stepped out first, with Ellen following close behind.

As they approached Aubrey’s door, Ellen felt a growing sense of dread. She watched as Mason reached out and rang the doorbell, the sound echoing faintly in the hallway. They waited in silence, the seconds stretching out as Ellen’s mind raced with all the possible scenarios that could unfold.

Without thinking, Ellen’s hand shot out, fingers trembling slightly as she reached for Mason’s. Her fingers found his, and she quickly intertwined them with his own, her grip gentle but firm. Mason froze at the unexpected contact, his hand instinctively closing around hers as he turned to look at her, his eyes wide with surprise.

Ellen’s heart skipped a beat as their gazes locked. She could see the questions in his eyes, the silent question about what she was doing, what she was thinking. But before he could say anything, before he could pull away or dismiss the gesture as insignificant, Ellen offered him a soft, reassuring smile.

It didn’t take long for the door to open, revealing Aubrey standing on the other side. The moment she saw Mason, her face lit up with a bright, welcoming smile. Her eyes sparkled with delight, and there was a warmth in her expression that was impossible to miss.

"Mason," Aubrey breathed, her voice soft and filled with what could only be described as relief. "I’m so glad you came. I’ve been feeling terrible, and—"

But before Aubrey could finish her sentence, Ellen stepped forward, her voice bright and cheerful. "Hi, Aubrey! It’s so good to see you."

Aubrey’s smile faltered instantly, the light in her eyes dimming as she turned her gaze to Ellen. The surprise and thinly veiled disappointment were there on her face, and for a moment, she looked as though she had been caught off guard. She hadn’t expected Ellen to be there.