Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 91: Completely Fine

Chapter 91: Completely Fine

As soon as Aubrey stepped aside, gesturing for them to come in, Ellen and Mason entered the apartment. The space was neat and modern, decorated with soft, neutral tones that created a sense of calm. The walls were a pale gray, adorned with a few carefully chosen pieces of abstract art. The air smelled faintly of lavender, almost too perfect, as if Aubrey had gone out of her way to make the place look and smell perfect for their visit.

As she continued to survey the room, Ellen’s gaze landed on a small table against the wall, decorated with several framed photographs. She moved closer, unable to resist the urge to examine them more closely. The first frame she noticed held a picture of Aubrey with Gerald. Next to that was another photo, this time of Aubrey with Gerald and Mason. The three of them looked so happy together, like a perfectly balanced trio.

It was the last photo that really made her heart sink. It was a close-up of just Aubrey and Mason, their heads leaning in toward each other as they smiled for the camera. Mason’s arm was around Aubrey’s waist, pulling her close, and there was a softness in his eyes that Ellen didn’t often see. Aubrey, on the other hand, looked absolutely radiant, her smile wide and full of happiness, as if being next to Mason was exactly where she belonged.

Ellen felt a lump in her throat as she stared at the photo. Ugh... It didn’t sit well with her.

"Please, have a seat," Aubrey said, her voice slightly strained despite the attempt at politeness. She motioned to the couch, and Mason moved forward, taking the first position on it. Ellen followed, making a deliberate choice to sit right next to him, even though the couch was spacious enough to comfortably seat three people with room to spare.

As Ellen sank into the cushions, she caught a glimpse of Aubrey’s expression, who was seated across from them, a fleeting look of irritation that she quickly tried to mask. It was there, though—a slight tightening of her lips, the slight narrowing of her eyes. Ellen didn’t miss it. It was the kind of look that spoke volumes about how unwelcome she was here, how much Aubrey would have preferred this visit to be just her and Mason.

The thought gave Ellen a small surge of satisfaction. She could feel Aubrey’s discomfort, the way her presence was disrupting whatever plans Aubrey might have had in mind. Ellen made sure to lean just a bit closer to Mason, letting their arms brush.

"So, how are you feeling, Aubrey?" Ellen asked, keeping her tone light and polite, though the underlying tension in the room made it difficult to sound entirely genuine.

Aubrey turned her attention to Ellen, and for a brief moment, her expression softened, only to quickly harden again. "Thank you for asking, Ellen. I’m doing better," Aubrey replied, her voice smooth but with a faint edge. Her eyes flicked between Ellen and Mason, and the annoyance lurking just beneath her words was clear. Aubrey was clearly frustrated that Ellen had come along and even more so that Ellen was sitting so close to Mason.

Ellen nodded, offering a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "That’s good to hear." But inside, she was brimming with annoyance. Better? Aubrey looked perfectly fine, more than fine, really.

The urge to roll her eyes was strong, but Ellen managed to suppress it. Instead, she focused on maintaining her composure, knowing that showing any hint of irritation would only give Aubrey more satisfaction.

The woman was now looking at Mason with a softness that made Ellen’s skin crawl. Aubrey’s eyes flicked to Ellen, a quick glimpse of frustration crossing her face before she smoothed her features into a bland smile. "Yes, it’s been a rough couple of days, but I’m feeling much better now."

Ellen mentally rolled her eyes. Rough couple of days, my foot, she thought. Aubrey didn’t look like she’d been sick at all. Her makeup was flawless, her hair perfectly styled, and there wasn’t a single sign of fatigue or illness in her face. Or was this the typical way the wealthy dealt with illness? Please... The whole act was just so transparent to Ellen, and she couldn’t believe that Mason might actually be falling for it.

The air was heavy with tension, but it was Aubrey who made the first move to break it. With a small, forced smile, she excused herself. "I’ll go make us something to drink," she said.

Ellen watched as Aubrey stood up and walked towards the kitchen, her movements elegant and measured, as if she were performing for an invisible audience. The sight of Aubrey retreating so quickly was almost amusing to Ellen, but she kept her expression neutral. She wasn’t about to let Aubrey think she was winning this little game.

Without a second thought, Ellen got up from the couch, smoothing her hands over her jeans as she did so. She turned to Mason, who looked slightly puzzled by her sudden movement. "I’ll go help Aubrey," she said with a sweet smile, not waiting for him to respond before following Aubrey into the kitchen.

As she entered the kitchen, Ellen saw Aubrey already at work, her back turned as she reached for a few glasses from a cabinet. "Aubrey," Ellen called out softly, keeping her tone light as she approached. "Let me help you with that."

Aubrey paused for a moment, her back still to Ellen, before turning around. Her expression was carefully neutral, but Ellen could see a flicker of something—annoyance, perhaps?—in her eyes. Aubrey simply nodded, not bothering with a verbal response as she handed Ellen a glass.

They worked in silence for a few moments, the only sound in the room being the soft clink of glass against the countertop. Aubrey’s movements were precise and controlled, but Ellen could sense the tension in her, the way her shoulders were slightly hunched, as if she were bracing herself for something. Ellen’s curiosity and irritation grew with each passing second. She couldn’t stand the silence any longer.

"So, how are you feeling?" Ellen asked casually, her voice soft but carrying an edge that she couldn’t quite hide.

Aubrey didn’t look at her. Instead, she kept her focus on the task at hand, pouring juice into the glasses with an almost mechanical precision. "I told you," Aubrey replied, her tone colder now, lacking the feigned friendliness she had shown earlier. "I’m..."

But before she could finish her sentence, Ellen cut her off, her voice calm but carrying a weight of accusation. "How are you feeling now that I ruined your plan?"

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