Mason didn’t immediately respond to Ellen’s words. Instead, he remained quiet, his gaze fixed on her, The silence stretched between them, thick and heavy. His eyes, usually so sharp and calculating, softened slightly as they locked onto hers. Ellen could see the flicker of something in them—curiosity, maybe? Or was it something else? Whatever it was, Mason wasn’t offering any clues.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke, his voice low and steady. "What about her?"
Ellen’s heart thudded against her chest. She hadn’t expected this conversation to go in this direction, but now that they were here, there was no turning back. She swallowed hard, forcing the words out even though her throat felt tight. "Do you still love Aubrey?"
The question just sat there between them. Ellen held her breath, watching Mason closely, searching his face for any sign of how he might react. She half-expected him to be shocked, maybe even angry that she had brought it up. But Mason didn’t look surprised at all. In fact, his expression remained as calm and impassive as ever. He simply looked at her, his dark eyes steady, as though he had anticipated this moment long before she ever voiced the question.
Ellen’s stomach twisted. Of course, he knew. He must have known she would eventually find out about his past with Aubrey. It wasn’t exactly a secret.
After a brief pause, Mason leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. "Why are you asking me that?"
It wasn’t an attack, but there was a weight to it. His voice held a quiet intensity, his eyes never leaving hers. Ellen took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her next words pressing down on her.
"Because Aubrey still loves you," she said, her voice trembling just slightly. "Do you even know that?"
Mason’s gaze didn’t waver, but there was a flicker of recognition in his eyes—an acknowledgment. His expression didn’t change, but Ellen could tell by the way he shifted ever so slightly in his seat that her words had hit their mark.
"Yeah," he said, his tone so casual it almost made Ellen’s skin prickle. "I know."
His answer caught her off guard, and for a moment, she stared at him in disbelief. She couldn’t believe her ears. He knew? He knew Aubrey still loved him, and he was acting like it was nothing? Like it didn’t matter?
"And what about it?" Mason added after a beat, his voice steady, as if he were discussing the weather.
Ellen blinked, completely stunned by his indifference. How could he be so... unaffected by it all? She had expected some kind of reaction—anything to show that he understood the gravity of the situation. But Mason? He just sat there, cool as ever, like it was no big deal.
"You can’t be serious," Ellen muttered under her breath, her frustration bubbling to the surface. She felt a sudden wave of heat rush through her, a mix of anger and disbelief. How could he be so calm about this? How could he act like none of it mattered?
Ellen shifted in her seat, her heart racing as she stared at Mason, searching his face for any trace of emotion. But there was none—just the same calm, collected expression. She couldn’t take it anymore. With a sharp inhale, she sat at the edge, her legs stretched out in front of her now, no longer hugging her knees. Her feet rested flat on the ground as she leaned forward slightly, arms draped loosely over her thighs. Her posture was tense, her eyes blazing with frustration as she looked directly at him.
"If you know Aubrey still loves you," Ellen began, her voice rising slightly, "then you should’ve done something about it. You should’ve chased her away the moment you realized she was still hanging on to the past!"
Mason remained seated, his gaze steady as he watched her, his expression still unreadable. He didn’t move, didn’t flinch. But Ellen wasn’t backing down now. She was on edge, her emotions swirling inside her like a storm she couldn’t control.
"You didn’t do anything, Mason," she continued, her words spilling out rapidly now, driven by the frustration building in her chest. "And because of that, Aubrey thinks she still has a chance with you. She thinks she can take you away from me."
Mason finally leaned back slightly, his posture relaxing as he let out a slow breath. His gaze shifted from Ellen’s face to the darkened pool, and for a moment, the silence between them felt suffocating. Ellen could feel the pressure growing inside her, waiting for his response.
"Why should I care what Aubrey thinks?" Mason said at last, his voice calm and even. He turned his head to look at her, his dark eyes sparkled faintly in the low light. "She’s free to think whatever she wants. That doesn’t change anything for me."
Ellen’s eyes widened slightly, and she stared at him in disbelief. "You can’t just ignore it like that," she said, her voice shaking slightly with frustration. "If you let her think she still has a chance, she’s never going to leave you alone. And I’m not going to sit around and watch that happen."
Mason’s gaze softened just a fraction as he watched her, and for a moment, Ellen thought she saw a flicker of something—understanding, maybe? It was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by the calm, collected mask he always wore.
"You think I care what Aubrey wants?" Mason asked quietly, his voice low and deliberate. "What matters is what I want. And I don’t want her. Not now or ever."
Ellen blinked, momentarily taken aback by the bluntness of his words. She wasn’t sure what to say, wasn’t sure if she should even believe him. But there was something in the way Mason looked at her, paired with the confidence in his voice, that made her pause.
Mason shifted in his seat again, leaning forward slightly as he met her gaze. "Aubrey can love me all she wants," he said, his voice steady, "but that doesn’t mean I’m going to give her what she wants."