Wedding Gift

Ellen woke up the next morning with the early sunlight filtering through the curtains and casting a warm glow over the room. She blinked a few times, letting her eyes adjust to the light, and looked around.

She took a deep breath and thought to herself, "I really married Mason Coldwell. I'm Mrs. Coldwell now." The title felt foreign to her, almost surreal. She still couldn't quite believe it. Most of her time, aside from reading online novels, was spent trying to survive, paying rent, paying bills, putting food on the table. Marriage had never crossed her mind, but here she was, given a second chance at life and sent straight into marriage.

She sat up, stretching her arms and then tidying the bed. After a quick trip to the bathroom to clean herself up and change into casual clothes, she stepped out of her room. The hallway was quiet as she walked past Mason's room. She wondered if he had spent the night there or if he had stayed at the office. Pushing the thought aside, she made her way to the kitchen.

Ellen opened the refrigerator, pulling out some eggs and vegetables. She decided to make herself an omelette. As she chopped the vegetables, she considered whether she should make breakfast for Mason too. She was deep in thought, whisking the eggs, when she heard footsteps behind her.

Mason walked into the kitchen, his expression neutral. He was already dressed in a sharp suit, ready for another day at work. Ellen quickly greeted him with a big smile. "Good morning, Mason!" she said, trying to sound cheerful.

Her smile faltered for a moment. Internally, she winced. What the hell was that? 

She silently slapping a hand over her mouth. It wasn't like a forced display of sunshine would magically change the tense atmosphere that had hung between them.

"Morning," Mason replied, his tone flat, not bothering to smile. Ellen watched as he opened a cabinet, took out a cup, and started making his own coffee. His movements were precise and efficient, as if he'd done this a thousand times before.

Ellen cleared her throat, feeling a bit nervous. "I hope you don't mind me using the kitchen," she said, hoping to make some small talk.

Mason didn't look up from his coffee. "Not a problem," he replied simply.

Ellen bit her lip, hesitating. She wanted to offer to make him breakfast, to maybe bridge the gap between them. "I was just about to make some breakfast. Would you like—"

"No need. I only need coffee," Mason cut her off, his tone dismissive.

Ellen's words died in her throat. She nodded, her smile fading. "Okay," she said softly, turning back to her omelette. She scraped the idea of making breakfast for him and focused on her own food instead.

The kitchen was filled with the sound of sizzling eggs and the occasional clink of Mason's spoon against his coffee cup. Ellen glanced over at him from time to time, but Mason was engrossed in his coffee, not paying her any attention. The silence between them was thick and uncomfortable.

Ellen plated her omelette and sat down at the small kitchen table. She took a bite, trying to focus on her breakfast and not the awkward tension in the room. Mason remained standing, leaning against the counter as he sipped his coffee. His face was unreadable, his eyes distant.

The silence stretched on, each second feeling like an eternity. Ellen finished her omelette and got up to wash her plate. She moved around the kitchen quietly, not wanting to disturb Mason. As she placed her clean plate back in the cupboard, she mustered up the courage to speak again.

"So, what's your plan for today?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

Mason glanced at her, his expression still impassive. "Work," he said curtly, as if it were obvious.

Ellen nodded, feeling a bit foolish for asking. "Right. Of course," she murmured, drying her hands on a towel.

Of course Mason needs to work, Ellen thought to herself. What else was he going to do, take her on a honeymoon? She chuckled inwardly at the absurdity of the idea. They didn't even have a wedding night like a normal couple, not that she wanted that to happen.

But wait a minute... honeymoon?

The silence was broken by the ringing of Mason's phone. He pulled it out of his pocket and answered the call. "Hello," he said, his voice as impassive as ever. Ellen watched as he walked a little further away, his expression unchanged.

After a good five minutes, Ellen, still in the kitchen, saw Mason walking back toward her, his face serious. "It was your father," he said, looking directly at her.

"Really?" Ellen replied, curiosity piqued. "What did he say?"

Mason sighed. "Your father gave us a wedding gift. It's a honeymoon to Bali."

Ellen's eyes widened in surprise. That's it, she thought. The next thing that happened after Ellen and Mason's wedding was the honeymoon. But the scariest part was that she didn't really know what happened during the honeymoon because the author of the story hadn't written it in detail.

"Do we really have to go?" Ellen asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

"It's your father's gift," Mason replied. "He will be disappointed if we don't go."

Ellen could see the irritation flicker across Mason's face. If it had been a gift from anyone else, Mason would have rejected it without a second thought. But because it was from her father, Mason would respect it, even though he hated it. 

As far as she remembered, nothing significant happened during the honeymoon in the story. It was mostly a formality, a gesture to appease her father. Ellen decided that she would follow the storyline as it was, as long as it didn't put her at a disadvantage.

"When?" Ellen asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Today, at noon," Mason said, checking his watch. "Get ready."

With that, Mason turned and walked away, his phone back to his ear. Ellen could hear him mentioning Philip before his voice faded out of earshot.

Ellen bit her lip, feeling a mixture of nerves and fear. This was happening so fast. She was about to go on a honeymoon with Mason Coldwell. The thought made her stomach churn, but then she realized something. This meant she could travel for the first time!

Ellen had never traveled before. The idea of riding a plane was both thrilling and terrifying. She had always dreamed of exploring new places, seeing the world beyond the confines of her small apartment and her demanding job. But in her old life, she barely had enough money to cover rent and bills, let alone save up for a vacation.

She could treat this whole honeymoon thing as a holiday. Sure, the circumstances were far from ideal but maybe, it wouldn't be so bad after all.