Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 98: Keep An Eye

Chapter 98: Keep An Eye

She took a step closer, squinting slightly to get a better look. Yes, it was definitely Mason, sitting at a table in the middle. And he wasn’t alone. Sitting across from him, leaning in as if they were in deep conversation, was Aubrey.

Ellen’s heart pounded in her chest, a mixture of shock and confusion washing over her. What the hell were they doing together? Her mind raced, trying to come up with an explanation that made sense, but nothing seemed to fit. Why would Mason be here with Aubrey, looking so... comfortable?

Instead of walking away, Ellen found herself lingering by the window, her feet rooted to the spot. She couldn’t just leave, not now, not when every instinct screamed at her to find out what was going on. She shifted slightly, ducking into the shadow of the wall corner where she could observe without being seen. Her grocery bags, now forgotten, lay on the ground beside her, the contents shifting slightly as they settled.

Ellen’s breath quickened as she peered around the edge of the wall. They were having lunch together. And during working hours, no less. She pressed her palms against the cool glass, trying to steady herself. The glass was fogging slightly from her breath, and she wiped it with the back of her hand.

What kind of excuse could Mason possibly have for meeting Aubrey at this time? Something about this situation felt completely off, and the nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach only grew stronger the longer she watched. Geez, she had been so careless, her mind spinning with questions. Why didn’t she see this coming?

She wished she could hear what they were talking about. Ellen bit her lip, frustration gnawing at her as she strained to pick up any hint of their conversation through the glass, but the distance and the hum of the surrounding street made it impossible.

Just as she was debating whether or not to get closer, a young woman approached her, a polite smile on her face. Ellen’s heart skipped a beat as the woman got nearer, and she quickly forced a smile onto her own face.

"Excuse me, ma’am," the young woman said kindly, "would you like a seat inside the restaurant?"

Ellen blinked, caught off guard. Oh, no, this is the last thing I need right now, she thought, scrambling to come up with a response. She let out a nervous laugh, her smile awkward as she shook her head. "Thank you, but no," she said, trying to keep her tone light. "I actually prefer standing out here."

The young woman’s expression shifted from polite to mildly confused, clearly unsure what to make of Ellen’s odd behavior. "Alright then," she said slowly, giving Ellen one last curious glance before turning and heading back inside.

As soon as the woman was gone, Ellen let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, her shoulders drooped slightly with relief. That was close—too close. She couldn’t afford to draw attention to herself, not when she was so desperate to figure out what was happening between Mason and Aubrey.

She knew what she was doing was suspicious, almost ridiculous, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave. The idea of walking away and pretending she hadn’t seen them together felt impossible.

As much as she wanted to storm inside and confront them, she knew she couldn’t risk being seen. What would Mason say if he caught her spying like this? And Aubrey—what would she think? Ellen couldn’t bear the thought of giving them that satisfaction. But the urge to barge in and demand answers simmered just beneath the surface. If something happened—if she saw something she didn’t like—she was ready to burst inside and throw her groceries at Aubrey. And maybe Mason too.

She was so focused on the scene in the restaurant that she didn’t notice someone approaching her from behind. "Hi, Ellen," a voice said, startling Ellen out of her thoughts.

She responded automatically, without even looking, her eyes still fixed on the window. "Hi," she replied, her voice distant and distracted. She wished everyone would just leave her alone. Couldn’t they see she was in the middle of something important?

Ellen was so engrossed in her thoughts, so intent on the scene unfolding inside the restaurant, that she barely registered the world around her. She wished she could blend into the background, become invisible, so she could just stand there without being disturbed. This was a critical moment, wasn’t it? She needed to see what was going on, needed to understand why Mason was here with Aubrey, of all people.

But then, she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder, pulling her attention away again from the window. Ellen blinked, her mind struggling to process the interruption.

Irritation flared up inside her chest. This was the last thing she needed. Whoever it was, they couldn’t possibly understand how crucial this moment was. Didn’t they notice she was busy keeping an eye on her husband? The husband who, as she knew all too well, was sitting in that restaurant with the woman who had openly admitted she wanted him? She needed to see how they interacted, how Mason behaved around Aubrey. Was he more relaxed, more open with her? Was he happier?

Ellen’s breath hitched slightly as her mind raced with questions. She wished she could just tell whoever this was to go away, to let her be. But the tap on her shoulder had already broken her concentration, and now she couldn’t get that focus back.

She turned her head slightly, still not fully registering who was standing behind her. "Hey, Edrick," she said, her tone casual, almost dismissive, as she glanced at him briefly. But as she turned back to the window, her eyes widened in sudden realization. Edrick? She quickly spun around, fully facing the man standing in front of her.

Edrick stood there with a small smile on his face, looking at her with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. His presence was so unexpected, so out of the blue, that it took Ellen a moment to fully grasp that he was actually there.