Richard and Clara then excused themselves from the group, turning to greet other guests who had just arrived. "We’ll catch up later," Clara said with a warm smile before walking away with Richard by her side.
The moment they left, Ellen felt the air grow thicker, the tension between her, Gerald, and Aubrey nearly suffocating. It was too much.
"I think we should grab a drink," Ellen said suddenly, turning to Mason with a smile that was more forced than she intended. Without waiting for a response, she looped her arm through his and gently tugged him away. "Excuse us," she added, sounding as nice as she could manage.
Gerald and Aubrey exchanged quick, awkward glances but said nothing as Ellen and Mason walked off. Ellen didn’t look back, hoping that this would be the last time she had to deal with them for the rest of the night, though she knew deep down that it was impossible to avoid them entirely. Still, she really liked the little escape.
The two made their way to the drink station. Ellen exhaled slowly as they arrived, her grip on Mason’s arm loosening slightly.
She picked up two glasses of champagne from the table, turning to hand one to Mason. "Here," she said with a small smile, the cool glass brushing against his fingers as he took it.
Mason accepted the drink with a grateful nod, raising the glass slightly before taking a sip. "Thanks," he murmured, his gaze scanning the room for a moment before his expression shifted slightly.
"I need to use the restroom for a bit," Mason said, his voice casual but low.
Ellen’s eyebrows shot up in mock surprise, her smile playful as she teased, "Oh really? Well, go ahead. But don’t wander around and leave me here again," she commented. "Or I might just go home by myself."
Mason let out a small chuckle at her playful threat, the corners of his mouth twitching upward into a smile. "I’ll be back," he promised. He gave her a lingering glance before turning and walking away, disappearing into the crowd.
Left alone, Ellen sighed softly, feeling a momentary sense of peace now that she was away from Gerald and Aubrey. She took a slow sip of her champagne, the bubbles fizzing pleasantly on her tongue as she tried to lose herself in the flow of the party.
But that peace was short-lived.
Out of the corner of her eye, Ellen saw someone approaching, and her heart sank when she realized it was Gerald. Ellen quickly looked away, pretending to be engrossed in the view of the party, hoping that if she ignored him long enough, he’d get the message and leave her alone.
No such luck.
"Ellen," Gerald’s voice came from beside her. She could feel his eyes on her, waiting for a response.
Reluctantly, Ellen turned her head, forcing a tight smile onto her face. "Gerald," she acknowledged him coolly, her voice lacking any warmth.
Gerald didn’t seem bothered by her tone. Instead, he took a step closer, his hands slipping casually into the pockets of his tailored pants. "What do you think of the party so far?" he asked.
"It’s great," Ellen answered sharply, her gaze drifting away from him as she took another sip of her champagne, hoping the conversation would end there.
Gerald, however, didn’t let it drop. He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Of course it is," he said, sounding pretty pleased with himself. "I was the one who made it all happen."
Ellen’s lips curled into a smirk, her gaze returning to Gerald. She looked him in the eye and answered, "Good. You should be doing a lot of good deeds after helping someone ruin a marriage."
Gerald’s expression faltered, the easy confidence draining from his face. His jaw tightened slightly, and though he tried to maintain his composure, Ellen could see the flicker of irritation in his eyes.
But Ellen wasn’t done. "Though," she continued, "I think you’ll need to do a lot more to really atone for that mistake."
With that, she raised her glass to her lips, taking a long, slow sip as if what she had just said was nothing more than casual conversation. Gerald, however, didn’t share that feeling. His eyes darkened, and his lips pressed into a thin line. For a moment, he didn’t say anything, clearly taken aback by Ellen’s words. He shifted slightly, his posture stiffening as if he was bracing himself. But the cold look in his eyes told Ellen that he wasn’t about to back down.
"You haven’t given up yet, have you?" Gerald finally said.
Ellen raised an eyebrow at his words, her face calm and collected as she tilted her head slightly to the side. "Given up?" she asked, her voice even, almost amused. "And what exactly should I be giving up on? Mason?" She let out a soft, humorless laugh and shook her head. "You really think I should give up Mason? For Aubrey?" Her eyes flashed as she said the name, her voice mocking.
Gerald’s jaw clenched, but he said nothing, his expression growing darker. Ellen took a step closer to him, held her head high. "Please, Gerald. Don’t make me laugh. I wouldn’t recommend dreaming about it. You might just end up disappointed."
The two stood there, staring each other down in silence. Gerald’s eyes bored into hers, there was a mix of annoyance and something else in his eyes. His hands were still in his pockets, but Ellen could tell from the way his shoulders tensed and his posture grew rigid that he was fighting to keep his composure. She, on the other hand, remained outwardly calm, her face an impassive mask.
But behind that cool facade, Ellen felt the familiar rise of anger bubbling up, threatening to break through. Her grip on her champagne glass tightened ever so slightly, though her face betrayed none of the tension.
Everything else at the party seemed to fade away as they stayed locked in their intense silent moment. Meanwhile, people around them were chatting and laughing, completely unaware of the tension happening on the side.