It had been a few days since the break-in, and Ellen had gotten used to people stopping by the house pretty regularly. It wasn’t overwhelming, but it felt like just enough to keep her mind from fully relaxing.
Her father had come by with Colleen first, both of them looking worried. Her father had insisted that she come back home until everything was sorted out, but Ellen had only smiled and told him she’d think about it. She hadn’t been sure what to say; going home didn’t feel right.
Then there was Helga and Jax, dropping by with some warm homemade food that had made Ellen feel a little better. Even Clara had swung by, her sharp eyes taking in every detail of Ellen’s living room while they made small talk over tea. It was nice, though. Everyone’s concern felt genuine, even if it left Ellen feeling a bit overwhelmed at times.
The biggest shock, though, had been when Edrick had shown up. She hadn’t expected to see him at all, but he had come to check on her, though the visit had been brief. They exchanged a few words, and then he was gone as quickly as he had come.
Now, though, Ellen found herself sitting across from someone she really hadn’t been prepared for: Aubrey.
If Ellen had known it was Aubrey, she would’ve had Vivi make her leave, to tell her that she couldn’t come to see her right now. But now that Aubrey was sitting in front of her, legs crossed, Looking as put-together as always, Ellen knew there was no way around it. Aubrey had come, and whatever she was here for, Ellen had no choice but to face it.
Ellen forced a polite smile as she sat up straighter, her fingers nervously playing with the edge of the cushion beside her. "I’m sorry if I made you worry, but everything’s fine now," she said, trying to keep her voice light.
Aubrey’s lips curled into a slight smile, but there was no warmth behind it. "I didn’t come here because I was worried about you, Ellen," she said. "I’m worried about Mason."
Ellen’s smile faltered for a moment before she regained her composure. She tilted her head slightly, her tone soft but with a hint of sarcasm. "Oh, well, if it’s Mason you’re worried about, you should know he’s not home right now." She folded her hands neatly in her lap. "I’d think you would have known that."
Aubrey’s gaze sharpened. There was an intensity in her look that Ellen wasn’t sure she liked. "I don’t know what got into Mason was thinking, picking you over me," Aubrey said bluntly, clearly frustrated.
Ellen kept her face calm, even as her heart gave a nervous flutter. She had known this was coming, but it still felt strange hearing it from Aubrey directly. "Did you come here because you don’t accept his decision?" Ellen asked quietly. "Because if that’s the case, I’m afraid I can’t help you change Mason’s mind."
I can’t, and I won’t. There was no way she’d let anyone disrupt what she had with Mason.
Aubrey leaned forward, crossing her arms over her chest. "I’m not here to change his mind," she said sharply. "I came here to tell you that you’ve won, Ellen. I’m backing off."
Ellen’s mouth dropped open in shock. Her heart skipped a beat, and she had to quickly regain her composure, closing her mouth as her mind raced to catch up. "What?" she asked, her voice coming out more breathless than she intended. She stared at Aubrey, not quite believing what she had just heard. Was this some kind of trick? It didn’t make sense. Aubrey wouldn’t just give up that easily.
Aubrey’s expression remained firm, her gaze unyielding. "You heard me. Mason chose you. No matter how hard I tried to make him remember what we had, it didn’t matter. He chose you over me." Her voice softened slightly, but the bitterness remained. "It’s not fair."
Ellen blinked, her heart beating faster. She wasn’t sure what to say, but she knew better than to trust Aubrey’s words completely. "It wouldn’t have been fair if Mason had left me for you either," Ellen replied.
Aubrey’s eyes flickered with something darker—resentment, maybe even hatred—but then, unexpectedly, she leaned forward even more, her arms still crossed tightly over her chest. "Do you know how much I hate you for taking Mason away from me?" She kept her voice low, but the spite was clear as day. "But at the same time, I can’t hate you."
Ellen frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"
Aubrey looked away for a moment, her eyes narrowing as if she was trying to sort through her own thoughts. "Besides the fact that you’re with Mason," she said slowly, almost reluctantly, "there’s really nothing else to hate about you. You’re simple, kind, caring... and pretty, too." The last part was said with a hint of reluctance, as if admitting Ellen’s good qualities was something Aubrey found painful.
Ellen was taken aback. She sat there, staring at Aubrey, completely awed by what she had just heard. "Oh, Aubrey..." She didn’t know what to say. It was the last thing she had expected to come out of Aubrey’s mouth.
Before Ellen could respond, Aubrey raised a hand, as if to stop her. "I don’t need your pity," Aubrey said quicklyl, standing up with a cold look on her face. "I’m just telling you to make Mason happy. You better, because if you don’t, I’ll make sure he comes back to me."
Ellen sat there, watching Aubrey walk away, her mind spinning. She had no idea what to make of the conversation they had just had. Aubrey had admitted defeat, but not entirely. There was still a threat lingering in her words, a promise that if things didn’t work out, she’d be back.
As the door closed behind Aubrey, Ellen leaned back on the couch, letting out a long, shaky breath. She hadn’t expected this at all. Aubrey had been blunt, almost brutally honest, and Ellen couldn’t help but wonder if this really was the end of it. Could she trust Aubrey to keep her word? Or was this just another part of her plan, another way to get into her head?
Sure, she won, but after everything that’s happened, it’s not like she could actually celebrate it.