Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife

Ellen, wearing worn-out sneakers, cautiously shuffled through the hallway. The linoleum floor muffled her steps, seemingly conspiring to conceal her movements. She despised the need for such sneakiness, but each step highlighted how necessary it was.

The door swung open abruptly, exposing Mrs. Johnson's disapproving glare. Ellen's eyes darted around nervously, hoping to avoid any confrontation.

However, Mrs. Johnson's piercing gaze locked onto Ellen, and a scowl deepened on her face. "Ellen, where do you think you're sneaking off to?" Mrs. Johnson's tone accused her, making it clear she was aware of Ellen's attempt to avoid her.

Caught off guard, Ellen stammered, "Oh, Mrs. Johnson, I was just heading to work. Didn't want to disturb you."

Mrs. Johnson crossed her arms, her expression unyielding. "Work, you say? Well, when are you planning on paying your rent? I won't tolerate this much longer."

Ellen's eyes dropped to the floor, her hands nervously fidgeting with the edge of her sling bag. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Johnson. I've been having a tough month. But I promise, as soon as I get my salary, I'll pay you everything."

Mrs. Johnson's eyes narrowed in disgust, her lips pursed in irritation. "You millennials and your excuses. Irresponsible—that's what you are. I don't know why I bother renting to people like you."

With an annoyed huff, Mrs. Johnson turned on her heel and slammed the door shut, leaving Ellen alone in the dimly lit hallway. The weight of Mrs. Johnson's disapproval clung to Ellen as she walked to the bus stop, shoulders slouched and eyes cast downward.

The bus rumbled to a stop, and Ellen climbed aboard, her mood sinking even lower. She kept replaying Mrs. Johnson's scolding in her mind, feeling the sting of unjustified embarrassment.

The familiar ding signaled Ellen's arrival at the café where she worked as a waitress. She squared her shoulders, trying to shake off the remnants of Mrs. Johnson's anger. As she stepped through the door, her co-worker, Sarah, approached with a sympathetic smile.

"Ellen, the boss wants to see you in his office," Sarah whispered.

Ellen's heart skipped a beat. She forced a smile, attempting to shake off the knot forming in her stomach. The walk to the boss's office felt like a march to her own execution.

The door creaked open, unveiling Mr. Thompson's stern face, the café owner. Ellen hesitated in the doorway, waiting for him to speak.

"Ellen," Mr. Thompson's voice was cold and detached. "Come in and have a seat."

She walked in and lowered herself into the chair, uncertainty written across her face. "Is something wrong, Mr. Thompson?"

He sighed, a weariness in his eyes. "Ellen, I have to let you go. I'm afraid you can't work here anymore."

A mix of confusion and disbelief crossed Ellen's face, her brows furrowing as she struggled to comprehend Mr. Thompson's words. "But I've been working hard, Mr. Thompson. What did I do wrong?"

"The café is overstaffed, Ellen. It's a business decision," he said, his eyes avoiding hers.

"But what about my salary? I haven't been paid yet," Ellen pleaded.

Mr. Thompson rolled his eyes as he handed her an envelope. Eagerly, she opened it, only to find a small amount of money inside. Her brow furrowed, and she counted the bills, her heart sinking with each one.

"Mr. Thompson, this is barely half of my salary," Ellen protested, her voice laced with frustration.

Mr. Thompson sighed, his gaze fixed on some distant point beyond her. "Ellen, we're facing budget cuts. Consider yourself lucky to get anything at all."

Exiting the office, Ellen's gaze lingered on the bustling café activity. A sigh escaped her lips as she walked away, her steps heavier than usual, weighed down by the sudden change in her life.

Her gaze lingered on the café for a moment, absorbing the scene that had been a significant part of her daily life. With a wistful sigh, Ellen turned away, the weight of disappointment settling into the lines of her furrowed brow.

As she walked back to the bus stop, Ellen's mind whirred with thoughts about what had just happened. The bus arrived with its familiar hiss, and she climbed aboard, her mind seeking solace in her favorite pastime—reading.

Ellen retrieved her phone, her fingers navigating to the app that had often provided an escape from reality: "NovelEscape." She chose the latest story she had been engrossed in—a romance tale about two people trying to rebuild their love. The last chapter awaited, and she couldn't wait to finish it. It was also a good distraction for her, too.

As she immersed herself in the concluding chapter, the world outside the bus seemed to fade away. However, just as the narrative unfolded its ending, Ellen was abruptly jolted back to reality. A gasp rippled through the bus as she looked up from her screen, sensing something bad was about to happen.

A truck, barreling toward them with alarming speed, became the focal point of panic. Ellen's heart raced as the bus driver desperately swerved, tires screeching in protest. The moment stretched into eternity, and in that suspended reality, her life flashed before her eyes.

As the bus careened in a chaotic dance of metal and glass, the world outside became a blur of twisted wreckage and shattered windows. The noise of metal tearing and glass breaking was a cacophony of destruction, drowning out everyone's shocked gasps and screams.

Then, a sudden jolt. The bus rolled, the world spinning in disorienting chaos. It felt like gravity gave up as people tumbled around the bus, a wild mess of bodies and terror.

When the bus finally came to a shuddering stop, Ellen felt a disorienting stillness. The scent of smoke lingered in the air, and the groans of injured passengers echoed in the wreckage. Dazed and battered, Ellen struggled to comprehend the reality of the scene around her.

Her eyes, drawn to her phone clutched in her hand, revealed the final word on the screen—the conclusion of the story she had been reading just moments before. As her consciousness started to fade, the letters blurred into an indistinct haze. With the last ounce of strength, she glimpsed the word "End" before finally letting go and closing her eyes.