Gerald frowned when he saw the dinner table. His parents had come over for dinner, and though the table was set with care, the mood was super awkward. Gerald had already braced himself for the inevitable conversation about Ellen and Mason. It had been the main topic of discussion in the family for a while. Tonight was no different.
His father sat at the head of the table, a glass of wine in hand, while his mother carefully picked at her salad, her brows furrowed in concern. Gerald could sense the unease radiating from them, though they tried to mask it behind casual conversation about work and daily life. He knew better. His parents were still a little on edge from what had been happening, but Gerald had managed to calm them down somewhat, convincing them that everything was being handled.
As they ate through the courses, the conversation naturally drifted back to what Gerald had been expecting all along.
"Have you spoken to Mason recently?" his father asked suddenly, breaking the brief silence. His deep voice carried an undercurrent of worry, though he tried to keep it neutral.
Gerald nodded, setting down his fork. "Yeah, we talked a couple of days ago. He everything’s still being looked into."
His mother, seated beside his father, pursed her lips. She had that look of a concerned mom with a hint of frustration. "I still can’t believe this is really happening. What a weirdo whoever did this."
"I spoke with Mason earlier today," his father said suddenly, his tone shifting to something more serious, more grave.
Gerald’s attention sharpened instantly. He hadn’t heard from Mason today. The idea of what new development might have occurred made his stomach twist slightly. He exchanged a glance with his mother, whose eyes were now fixed on her husband, clearly sensing something serious.
"What did Mason say?" Gerald asked, trying to sound casual, though his heart beat a little faster.
His father set his wine glass down and rubbed his temples, as if bracing himself for what he was about to reveal. "There was an attempt on Ellen’s life. A gunshot."
The room fell into stunned silence. Gerald’s mother gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. Her wide eyes locked onto her husband, searching for confirmation. "A gunshot?" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
Gerald sat frozen in his chair, his mind momentarily blank. The words echoed in his head like a dull drumbeat. *A gunshot. Someone actually tried to shoot Ellen.*
His chest tightened with disbelief, then a slow, creeping anger. This was no longer just about creepy stalkers. This had escalated to something far more dangerous, far more real. His mind raced as he tried to wrap his head around how serious it was.
"Yes," his father confirmed. "Mason told me earlier today. He didn’t go into much detail, but apparently, she was out somewhere, and there was an attempt to shoot Ellen. Luckily, the bodyguards acted fast, and no one was hurt. But still..."
His father trailed off, his expression dark and full of concern.
Gerald could feel his pulse quickening, his hands gripping the edge of the table tightly. A gunshot? He had known things were bad, but he hadn’t realized just how serious it had gotten. He should’ve been there for Mason, should’ve checked in sooner. Guilt gnawed at him, even though he knew there was little he could’ve done from the sidelines. Still, hearing it now made everything feel way more real and way scarier.
"Dear God," his mother finally managed to say. "I can’t believe someone would go that far. That poor girl..."
Gerald nodded slowly, still trying to wrap his head around it. He admitted he wasn’t her biggest fan, but he didn’t want something this bad to happen to her. I mean, it’d hurt Mason too, right?
His spoke again, and Gerald could tell he was way more serious this time. "Mason told me he’s handling it. The police are involved, and he’s tightened security even more. But Gerald, I think you should reach out to him. He needs support right now."
Gerald didn’t need to be told twice. His mind was already made up. He was going to see Mason, as soon as possible. Mason might try to act tough, like he had everything under control, but Gerald knew him better than that. This had to be eating him up inside, and Gerald wasn’t about to let his friend go through it alone.
"Yeah," Gerald finally said. "I’ll go see him tomorrow. He shouldn’t be dealing with this by himself."
His mother nodded approvingly, though her eyes were still filled with worry. "Please do, Gerald. Mason’s always been so strong, but this... this isn’t something he should carry alone."
Gerald agreed silently. He knew Mason had always been the type to shoulder the burdens of those he loved without asking for help. But this was different.
The rest of the dinner conversation was pretty serious, the mood dampened by the heavy news. Gerald’s parents tried to move on to lighter topics, but their hearts weren’t in it. Gerald, meanwhile, found it hard to focus on anything other than the image of Mason and Ellen, trapped in a nightmare they never asked for.
As the night wore on and his parents prepared to leave, Gerald found himself standing by the door, watching them leave his house. His mind was already elsewhere, his thoughts consumed by what he would say to Mason when they met. There was no doubt in his mind that things were spiraling, and if they didn’t get a handle on this soon, it could end in disaster.
As he closed the door behind him and turned back to the empty, quiet house, he made a silent promise to himself. He was going to stand by Mason’s side, no matter what it took. This had gone too far, and they couldn’t afford to take any more chances.
He tried to forget his anger at Ellen because it seemed so childish now. He just hoped it wasn’t too late to say sorry.