Ellen found herself sitting in a quiet corner of a small café, her eyes fixed on the dark wooden table in front of her as she absently traced the pattern with her fingertips. Gerald was getting comfortable in his chair across from her. She had sent Vivi home with the groceries, insisting that she’d take care of things from here, but now she couldn’t quite figure out why she had agreed to come with Gerald in the first place.
She could have easily walked away, refused to engage in whatever it was he wanted to discuss. Yet, something had compelled her to stay. Maybe it was the feeling that it was bound to happen, the knowledge that Gerald would have shown up at her doorstep anyway if she hadn’t agreed to meet him here. Or maybe, deep down, she wanted to know what he had to say.
The café was all warm and super cozy. But despite the inviting atmosphere, Ellen felt a tension settle over her, a weight that had nothing to do with the surroundings and everything to do with the man sitting in front of her.
Gerald signaled the waiter and ordered himself a cup of black coffee. When the waiter turned to Ellen, she shook her head slightly. "Nothing for me, thank you," she said, her voice calm, but with a firmness that said she wasn’t here for pleasantries.
Gerald raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Are you sure you don’t want anything? My treat," he offered, his tone light, almost teasing.
Ellen’s eyes narrowed slightly, a tiny bit of annoyance showed on her face. "I’m sure," she answered sharply. She wasn’t here for casual conversation or to enjoy a leisurely coffee. She wanted to get straight to the point.
The waiter nodded and disappeared into the café, leaving the two of them alone in the corner. The moment the waiter was far enough away, Ellen leaned forward slightly, her gaze locked on Gerald. "So, what is it you wanted to talk about?" she asked, not bothering to hide the impatience in her voice. She had no interest in dragging this out.
Gerald chuckled softly, a low, almost mocking sound that made Ellen’s irritation flare. "Straight to the point, eh?" he said, his tone amused as he regarded her with that same infuriating smirk.
Ellen’s eyes narrowed slightly as she leaned back in her chair. "I really don’t have much time for this, Gerald. So either tell me what you want or let’s call it a day."
Gerald’s smirk widened as he tapped his fingers rhythmically against the side of the table. "Come on, Ellen. We both know how free you are. You wouldn’t be here if you had somewhere else to be."
Ellen didn’t respond to his remark. She simply waited, her expression cool and composed, though her eyes were sharp and unyielding. She wasn’t here to play games, and Gerald could see that.
The smirk slowly faded from Gerald’s face, replaced by a more serious expression as he leaned back in his chair, studying her intently. For a moment, there was a silence between them, filled only by the distant chatter of other patrons and the clinking of coffee cups. Finally, Gerald spoke, his voice steady, his voice calm but with a hint of tension that Ellen noticed.
"Ellen," he began, his eyes never leaving hers, "can’t you just let Mason go?"
The question hung in the air, and for a brief second, Ellen simply stared at him, as if trying to process what he had just asked. Then, almost involuntarily, she let out a soft laugh, though there was no humor in it. "Let Mason go?" she echoed, shaking her head slightly as if the very idea was absurd. "Why on earth would I do that, Gerald?"
Gerald didn’t flinch at her response, though his jaw tightened ever so slightly. He was clearly expecting resistance, but he pressed on. "Because you don’t love each other," he said, his voice firm, though there was a note of urgency in it now. "You’re both miserable, Ellen. This marriage... it’s a mistake."
Ellen’s amusement faded, replaced by a steely resolve as she leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "So what?" she retorted, her voice sharp as she met his gaze head-on. "And who exactly do you think you are, Gerald, to come here and tell me what to do in my marriage?"
Gerald’s expression darkened slightly, but he didn’t back down. "I’m someone who never supported this relationship," he said bluntly, his voice low and intense. "You and Mason... it was never right. You know that as well as I do."
Ellen’s lips curled into a cold smile, though her eyes remained hard. "Your support was never important, Gerald," she replied, her tone laced with disdain. "Mason and I are married now. We have a life together, whether you like it or not."
Gerald’s gaze didn’t waver, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—frustration, perhaps, or even regret. "And what kind of life is that, Ellen?" he asked, his voice dropping to a near-whisper, though the intensity remained. "One where you’re both just... existing? Where neither of you is truly happy?"
Ellen felt a pang of anger surge through her, but she kept her composure, her expression unchanging. "You think you know everything, don’t you?" she said softly, but her words had a bite that cut through the room. "But you don’t. You know nothing about what Mason and I have."
Gerald’s eyes narrowed slightly, his jaw clenching as he fought to keep his own emotions in check. "I know enough," he shot back, his voice steady but with an underlying bitterness. "I know that you’re only holding on to him out of stubbornness, not love."
Ellen’s smile didn’t falter, but it grew more chilling as she leaned back comfortably. "And I know you’ve been supporting Aubrey with her plan to win Mason back," she said coldly. "Am I right, Gerald?"