Ellen sat across from Mason at the dinner table, her fork poking at her food without much thought. She glanced up at him, watching as he ate quietly, seemingly at peace. But no matter how calm he appeared, Ellen couldn't shake the image of Mason's face from earlier—the way his expression had darkened when she'd mentioned his family. It was totally different from how he usually acts, and it gnawed at her, filling her with regret.
She scolded herself silently, scolding herself for not being more thoughtful. How could she have been so careless? Bringing up his family had clearly stirred something painful within him, something she should've been more mindful of.
After dinner, Ellen joined Mason in the living room, settling onto the couch beside him. She fidgeted in her seat, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap as she struggled to find the right words. Mason, who had been scrolling through his phone, noticed her restless movements and looked up, raising an eyebrow.
