Ellen and Mason arrived home in silence. The huge, fancy mansion was right in front of them, but she was a total mess inside. Ellen walked slowly, her steps heavy with exhaustion and frustration, while Mason followed a few paces behind, his presence both a comfort and a source of irritation.
Inside, Ellen sank onto the plush couch in the living room, releasing a hard sigh that echoed through the spacious room. Mason remained standing, no expression whatsoever. He was totally zoned out, like nothing had even happened.
"I’m going back to the office," Mason announced bluntly.
Ellen looked up at him in disbelief. "You’re really just going to leave me here alone?"
Mason shrugged. "Vivi is here. She can stay longer if you want her to."
Ellen felt a surge of frustration. How could he not get it? "I just had an accident, Mason."
"So what? You can walk just fine. What more do you want?" His tone was dismissive, almost condescending.
Ellen opened her mouth to argue but was cut off by Mason. "Do you wish me to carry you everywhere?" His words dripped with sarcasm.
Ellen blushed, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. "That’s nonsense."
"I have to go," Mason said, his eyes already on the door. "Don’t wait up for me." Before Ellen could respond, he turned around and left, slamming the door behind him.
Ellen shook her head in frustration, her hands balling into fists at her sides. Mason was annoying. No, he was super, super annoying. How could he choose work over her when she had just had an accident? Not that she was needy or anything—being an orphan, she was used to being alone. But still, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness for herself.
She looked around the lavish room, all the fancy stuff doing little to comfort her. The heavy drapes, the furniture, the silent ticking of the grand clock on the wall—all seemed to mock her loneliness. She felt totally trapped in that huge mansion. It was like a prison with fancy furniture
Her thoughts drifted to the Winters. They would have taken care of her well, fussing over her and making sure she was comfortable. Or better yet, going back to her real world, where she had a normal life, where she wasn’t married to an emotionally unavailable man.
But she couldn’t afford to let her feelings get the best of her. She had to compose herself, to stay strong. At least she had managed to ruin Aubrey’s plan. Mason wouldn’t start getting close to her again. The pain and frustration she had endured today would pay off, she told herself. She had to believe that.
***
Aubrey sat on the edge of her bed, her bare feet dangling over the side. In her hands was a small, worn photo album, its cover decorated with intricate floral patterns. She opened it slowly, her fingers brushing over the pages until she found what she was looking for: a photo of her and Mason. They were both smiling widely, their faces glowing with happiness. The picture had been taken when they were still dating, during a summer picnic in the park. Mason had his arm around her, pulling her close, and she was laughing at something he had said.
Every time Aubrey felt sad or down, she would look at this photo to remind herself of the Mason she once knew. The Mason who was always smiling, who loved her deeply. She traced the outline of his face with her finger, her heart aching with longing.
"Where did we go wrong?" she whispered to herself.
She remembered the first time she met Mason. It was during a friend’s birthday party, and she had been immediately drawn to his warmth and charm. He was perfect in every way—handsome, kind, ambitious. They quickly became inseparable, and soon after, they started dating. Mason had been everything she could have ever wanted in a partner. He was attentive, caring, and always made her feel special. They had even talked about their future together, making plans to travel the world, buy a house, and start a family. Everything had been perfect.
But then, tragedy struck. Mason lost his family in a house robbery. The man who had once been full of life and laughter became a shadow of his former self. He was consumed by grief and anger, and nothing Aubrey did seemed to help. Mason changed completely, becoming cold and distant. And then, the final blow came. Mason broke up with her.
Aubrey’s eyes filled with tears as she recalled those painful memories. She had tried to move on, but her heart had always belonged to Mason. She knew that the old Mason, the one who loved her deeply, still existed somewhere deep down. She just had to find a way to reach him again.
"I won’t let you go, Mason," she said softly, her voice firm. "I know there’s still hope. I just need to be more patient and try harder."
That’s why she had decided to go to Mason’s office today. She wanted to remind him of the happy times they shared, to make him realize that he still loved her. She had suggested going to their favorite ice cream place, the one near their old high school. It was a place filled with memories of their time together, and she hoped it would help him remember the good times.
But her plan had failed miserably. Ellen had shown up out of nowhere and ruined everything. Aubrey’s frustration and anger bubbled to the surface. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.
"If only she hadn’t come," she muttered bitterly. "Everything would have been perfect."
Aubrey stood up, her resolve stronger than ever. She walked to her vanity and looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were red from crying, but there was a determination in them that hadn’t been there before. She would find a way to get through to Mason, to make him remember the love they once shared.
As she looked at her reflection, she whispered, "I’ll bring you back, Maze. I promise."