Aubrey sat on her couch, her fingers drumming restlessly against the armrest as she stared blankly ahead. Golden rays from the setting sun filled the living room, but it did nothing to ease her anxious mind.
The shadows stretched and twisted across the floor, as if intent on engulfing her. But it wasn’t the darkness that bothered her; it was the image burned into her mind—the image of Mason and Ellen sitting so close together on her couch just a few hours earlier.
She could still see them in her mind’s eye, side by side, their bodies almost touching, Ellen’s hand casually resting on Mason’s arm as if she had every right to be there. And the worst part? Mason hadn’t pushed her away. He hadn’t even flinched. He had just sat there, allowing Ellen to do whatever she pleased, as if Aubrey wasn’t even in the room.
The memory of it made Aubrey’s stomach twist in frustration. She groaned, grabbing the nearest pillow and throwing it across the room with a force that surprised even her. It hit the opposite couch and fell to the floor, a poor substitute for the real target of her anger.
"Damn it!" she muttered under her breath, running a hand through her hair, tugging at the strands in frustration. Her plan had been perfect—at least, it had seemed that way when she first came up with it. Aubrey thought that if Gerald told Mason she was sick, Mason would rush over to see her, worry etched across his handsome face. He would care for her, dote on her, just like old times. And in that vulnerable, tender moment, she could remind him of what they once had.
But of course, things hadn’t gone according to plan. Instead of arriving alone, as she had expected, Mason had shown up with Ellen by his side. Ellen, with her bright eyes and smug smile, acting like she belonged there—as if she had any right to be in Aubrey’s space, interrupting her time with Mason. The very thought made Aubrey’s blood boil.
How dare she?
Aubrey could feel the anger simmering just below the surface, like a storm waiting to break. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she tried to push the irritation away, but it was no use. The image of Mason and Ellen together was burned into her memory, and it wouldn’t leave her alone.
"Why didn’t he come alone?" she whispered to herself, her voice tinged with disbelief. She had imagined Mason rushing over the moment he heard she was unwell, imagining the concern in his eyes as he asked her how she was feeling, as he stayed by her side. But instead, she got this—Mason bringing along his new companion, as if he needed backup to visit her. It was insulting. More than that, it was heartbreaking.
She slumped back against the couch, staring at the ceiling as she tried to make sense of it all. Just as she was lost in her thoughts, the doorbell rang, startling her from her reverie. Aubrey didn’t move at first, half-tempted to ignore whoever was at the door. But then the bell rang again, more insistently this time, and she reluctantly pushed herself off the couch.
With a heavy sigh, she made her way to the door, dragging her feet as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders. The moment she opened it, she was greeted by the sight of Gerald standing there, a wide, cheerful smile plastered on his face. But Aubrey could only manage a sigh, her shoulders slumping as she turned on her heels without a word, heading back toward the living room.
Gerald’s smile faltered, a look of confusion crossing his face as he watched her retreat. "Well, hello to you too," he muttered sarcastically under his breath, before stepping inside and closing the door behind him. He quickly followed Aubrey into the living room, concern replacing his earlier cheerfulness as he watched her plop down onto the couch, her usual charm nowhere to be seen.
"What’s going on?" Gerald asked, his voice gentle as he sat down on the couch beside her. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he studied her with a worried expression.
Aubrey just shook her head, staring down at her hands, which were twisted together in her lap. "Nothing," she muttered, her voice barely audible.
"Doesn’t seem like nothing," Gerald pressed, refusing to let her brush him off so easily. He leaned closer, trying to catch her gaze, but Aubrey focused intently on her hands, her mind still reeling from the events of the afternoon.
Finally, she let out a long, frustrated breath, her fingers tugging at the hem of her shirt as she spoke. "It’s just... Mason came over earlier."
Gerald’s brow furrowed in confusion. "That’s a good thing, right? You wanted to see him."
"Yeah, but he brought that woman with him," Aubrey said, her voice laced with bitterness. The mention of Ellen’s name brought back all the frustration she had been trying to push down, and she could feel the anger bubbling up inside her again.
Gerald’s eyes widened slightly, realization dawning on him. "Oh... I see."
Aubrey finally looked up at him, her eyes flashing with anger. "I had this whole plan, Gerald. I thought if Mason saw how sick I was, he’d remember how much he cares about me. But instead, he brought her along like some kind of chaperone!"
Gerald didn’t say anything at first, just watching as Aubrey’s emotions spilled over. He knew how much Mason meant to her, knew how much she had been hoping that this little scheme of hers would work. But seeing her like this, so hurt and angry, made him realize just how deep her feelings for Mason really ran.
"I’m sorry, Aubrey," he finally said, his voice soft and sincere. "I know you had your heart set on this."
Aubrey just sighed again, leaning back against the couch, feeling utterly defeated. "It doesn’t matter," she said quietly, though the words felt hollow. "It’s over. I just need to figure out what to do next."