56. The Mothers

Once they had finished eating all the lunch dishes with some small talk, Ashley's mother finally brought up Josh's departure. She wanted to set up a scenario where Josh could leave while also taking his mother out of the house. So that she could have a little time to talk about private matters that neither Josh nor his mother could hear.

"Why didn't you go? Ashley said that you had some very important office business."

"That's right. What business is it that you have to go anyway? They should know that you're on leave, right?" Josh's mother was quite anxious due to yesterday's incident which worried her quite a bit.

Josh knew his mom was worried about him acting up and going back to Sharon. But he tried to answer as nicely and calmly as possible, "It's about the project that's going to be launched next month. The office is quite busy so I had to step in. After all, they need my approval and some opinions. But I can postpone it. There's no way I'm leaving while knowing my mother-in-law will be here visiting."

Josh's mother looked at her youngest son with pride. It turned out that he could also take Ashley's mother's heart well.

"You shouldn't have gone to such lengths. Since we've met, you can go and take care of your office business."

Josh hesitated for a moment. "It's okay. I can take care of it tonight or tomorrow."

“Right,” Josh's mother supported her youngest son, “There's nothing more important than family gatherings.”

Ashley's mother nodded. "You raised your son well Mrs. Lim. He knows how to respect the elders."

Josh's mother smiled. Flattered by Ashley's mother's praise.

“Josh,” Ashley tried to mediate the tension between them that only Ashley could feel. "How about you just leave now? Although family is the most important thing, I think your office problems also need to be solved. After all, the four of us met and had a nice meal together.

That way, Ashley could fulfill Josh's wish to go to see Sharon, and his mother's intention to talk to her.

"Ah, that's right! After all the things that happened, I forgot something really important!" Josh's mother suddenly spoke out loud.

“What’s that, Mom?” Ashley asked Josh's mother.

"I came here because I wanted to tell you in person. But seeing your condition... I think it's not possible for you to go. I told Josh that I would give you a honeymoon present."

“A honeymoon present?” Ashley's mother snorted faintly, "Sounds very considerate. But anyway, you should ask the two of them. Whether they have plans to go on a honeymoon or not. Because as I recall, you two aren't planning one because Josh is too busy with his work."

"Of course they do. Right?"

Ashley was quite surprised by this information. Josh didn't even tell her that his mother had such plans.

"I... don't have anything to do at the moment. But, Josh is very busy, Mom. I think we should postpone it for now."

"You mean office matters? Don't worry. I've already taken care of it. There will be someone competent to take your husband's place while you're on vacation. Do you know the location of your honeymoon that I have prepared? Paris. Aren't you interested in going there, Ashley? You'll love it. It's Paris!" Josh's mother seemed the most excited of the four.

“We'll think about it,” Josh finally opened his voice, “But not anytime soon.”

"Think about it? You should have just agreed to it right away. What's so hard about saying yes? Josh's office matters are already taken care of by you. So what's stopping you?" Josh's mother was getting annoyed.

“Just accept the gift,” Ashley's mother chimed in.

Ashley blinked, finding it much harder to say no if her mother had started to interfere, let alone support Josh's mother’s wishes.

Josh and Ashley were finally forced to agree.

"Then I'll rearrange your departure date. Is it a week or two before Ashley is well enough to go? What do you think about your family doctor’s opinion, Mrs. Song?“

”I think it's more than enough. She must have managed to get Ashley's skin back to normal. Maybe even better than before."

After that, Josh agreed to go and take his mother home along.

Ashley's mother, on the other hand, gave the excuse of wanting to stay for lunch and have a longer conversation with her daughter.

The excuse that they had only been together for a few months and had to separate immediately because Ashley was getting married, was strong enough to make Josh's mother agree to go home first.

“How's your relationship with that man?” Ashley's mother asked with the suspicion that the two of them were just putting on an act.

“Fine,” Ashley answered briefly and as needed. She couldn't tell the full story of the problems between her and Josh. It would only pour gasoline on an already raging fire.

"Are you for real? You have nothing to cover up?" Ashley's mother pressed, still skeptical.

“Yes, Mom,” Ashley tried to reassure her mother once again, “We're really fine.”

Ashley's mother sighed, "That's good then. Remember what you agreed to. Don't do anything wrong because this is very important for the continuity of the big project that your father is making. No matter how bad things get, just endure it. You can't divorce that man."

“Yes.”

“Have you seen that woman again?”

Her mother's question this time made Ashley blink uncomfortably. Her heart ached more than her hands and feet. "Not yet. Haven't had a chance yet."

"Be careful when you visit her. No one should know, especially your husband's family," Ashley's mother warned her sternly. "I'm tired of reminding you, but your father insists on making sure you know what you're doing. The eyes and ears of the media here are very sharp. So you really have to be very careful. You can imagine the consequences if you're careless."

“Yes, Mom,” Ashley could only agree without adding any more words. Because really, that's all she needed to hear—a statement that Ashley obeyed all her orders.

“As for your honeymoon...” Ashley's mother snorted in annoyance, "That woman seems to have too much free time to bother with such things. Establish a good relationship with your husband while you’re in Paris. But there's no need to rush into having children. In fact, you should postpone it for a few years longer. Having children will be troublesome for you. Trouble me and your father too. That Lim woman will easily use your children to take advantage of our family. Do you know what I mean?"

Ashley nodded. With her and Josh's current situation, she didn't think she would be able to have a child with that man either. "Take it easy, Mom. You don't have to worry about this matter. I'll be very careful."

“Just use contraception to be sure.”

“Yes.”

“And as for your job,” Ashley's mother paused for a moment, "I'll think about it with your father. Do it after you get back from Paris. The most important thing is that it's not a flashy job."

“Yes.”

After a long list of her mother's warnings, Ashley let the woman go home.

But when he came back into the house, she squinted because she saw a plastic bag on top of the littered kitchen cabinet. Realizing that it was not the same as the container from the restaurant her mother had ordered, Ashley walked slowly into the kitchen.

She picked up the plastic and looked at the logo printed on the front. A rather famous porridge restaurant that everyone must have heard of at least once in their lifetime. She snorted realizing that Josh's words earlier were just a hoax. Of course there was no way that man would go to the trouble of making her porridge even if someone put her between life and death. She crumpled up the plastic and opened the trash can near her feet to throw it away.