127. An Uninvited Guest (4)

“Stop it!” Ashley shouted again much louder.

And then the silence in the dining room fractured like glass under pressure.

Josh turned to Ashley. His voice cracked the air, slicing through the tension like a blade. "You brought a man into our home, Ashley. While I was gone. What the hell were you thinking?!"

Mark stood his ground, shoulders squared, but his voice was calm. "You’re really getting it all wrong. I’ve told you. I was here because Ashley needed help. There’s no lies. That’s all."

Josh let out a disbelieving laugh—bitter, scornful. 

"Help? You call sitting across from my wife, eating dinner like some family reunion, help? Who even are you to her?"

"Someone who truly cares about her—maybe even more than you ever have." Mark shot back, unable to keep the bite from his words.

Ashley flinched. Her hands trembled on her lap, but she kept her gaze down, trying to steady her breath.

Josh took a menacing step forward, eyes blazing. "You don’t get to barge into a married woman’s home and act like the knight in shining armor. She’s not your responsibility."

Mark’s fists clenched at his sides. "And yet, she was left alone when something terrible happened. You weren’t here. But I was. So yeah, maybe I took responsibility because someone had to."

Josh snarled. "You really think that gives you some kind of moral ground? You're just a stranger. Who the hell do you think you are, thinking you care more about her than I—her own husband—ever could?!"

Ashley tried to speak, her voice barely audible. "Please, please… Please stop—both of you—"

But the words were drowned by Mark’s anger. "You talk a lot about who belongs. But do you even know what Ashley’s been through? What she’s hiding from you just because she doesn't want to make you worry? Or are you too busy playing the perfect husband to notice she’s breaking inside?"

Josh’s jaw tightened. "Don’t pretend you know her better than I do. I’m her husband. No one knows her more than I do."

Mark’s mouth twisted. "Then maybe you should start acting like it. And, yes, now that I think about it I think I know her better than you do. Seeing your attitude of being easily provoked and childish because you don't want to listen to other people's words like this, makes me regret ever letting her go. I should have kept him by my side."

Ashley’s breath caught. The air felt thick with fire.

Josh turned slowly, his voice deadly quiet. "What did you say?" Then his face slowly flushed with rage. "What? What exactly are you trying to say?!” 

He was shocked because he understood what Mark meant even though that man didn't really explain it directly.

Mark hesitated. His gaze flicked to Ashley—and then he froze. Realization struck too late, the weight of what had slipped from his mouth sinking in. He saw the way Ashley's eyes widened, stunned.

“Looks like Ashley hasn’t told you about our past…” Mark began, "I said—" 

“Please, stop, Mark.” But Ashley cut in sharply, her voice cracking like thunder against a storm.

Mark didn't say anything more about his relationship with Ashley. He knew it would only make things worse. Instead, he tried to reassure Josh that he hadn't done anything bad or immoral.

"Listen, I didn’t come here to fight. I came because I was worried and cared for Ashley. Because I thought someone should."

Josh laughed, sharp and venomous. "I don’t care what you two had in the past. Ashley has me now. She doesn’t need anyone else—not you, not anyone. Just me. And clearly she even doesn’t need your sympathy, or your help. She’s an independent woman. She doesn’t need anyone saving her, especially not you."

Mark’s expression faltered. For a moment, something flickered across his face—hurt, disbelief, or perhaps regret. "You really don’t know her well, do you?"

Josh moved closer, his voice low and threatening. "And what’s that supposed to mean?"

"It means you’re blind," Mark said, his voice rising. "Blind to the fact that she’s scared, lost, and trying so hard to hold herself together while you strut around pretending everything’s fine."

"Stop. Both of you."

She stood, shaky but firm. Her eyes pleaded—not just to Mark, but to the chaos unraveling in the room. "Please. Don’t. Mark, I… I’ll talk to him myself. Thank you for coming, but I need to handle this. Alone."

Mark’s face was carved with conflict. He didn’t want to leave. Not like this. Not with Josh looking at Ashley like she was some kind of criminal.

"Ashley, he doesn’t even know—"

"Exactly. He doesn’t know," she whispered. "And he needs to hear it from me. Not from anyone else."

There was a long pause. A breathless gap of silence. Then Mark relented. "Alright," he said, voice rough. "I’ll go. But if you need anything—anything—call me."

She nodded, unable to meet his eyes.

As Mark walked to the door, Josh scoffed, muttering under his breath, "Unbelievable."

Mark stopped, turned briefly. "Treat her better, man. Or one day, you’ll wake up and she won’t be here anymore."

And with that, Mark left.

The door clicked shut, and the silence that followed was deafening.

Ashley hadn’t moved. Her hands were clenched into fists, her chest rising and falling with silent panic.

Josh turned to her slowly, venom still curling on his tongue.

"Yesterday, you couldn’t follow a simple request from me to not work in that man company. Today, you dare to bring him into my home? While I’m away?!"

Ashley’s voice was a whisper. "It’s not really like what you think."

Josh scoffed. "Oh, isn’t it? Because what I think is that you’re hiding something. And now I find out you used to be in a relationship with him? Of course you were. It all makes sense now. I should’ve known earlier—just from the way the two of you looked at each other, and the reason why you insist on working at his company."

"Stop it. Please."

"Tell me the truth, Ashley. Did you sleep with him? Is that what this is?"

Josh's question landed like a slap across her face.