71. Anger and Jealousy (1)

After a heated argument and Josh's yelling which turned out to be quite traumatizing for Ashley, they didn't speak to each other at all. The short drive to the hospital felt like an uncomfortably long one. The air in their car was cold, but what Josh and Ashley felt was stuffy and claustrophobic.

But after all, they were two adults who needed to take responsibility and control their behavior. They both knew they had to calm their hearts and cool their heads in front of Ashley's mother and her business partner later. Because if they were to clearly show the atmosphere of their quarrel in front of others, it would only invite more problems—Ashley's mother would become even more suspicious of Josh, and what if she found out what Josh had done?

He, and his family, would be finished right then and there.

And it all happened just because of his carelessness.

This, for Josh, was like a vicious circle that was increasingly entangling him. He had to cover up his relationship with Sharon by telling a lot of successive and intertwined lies. Then when he was in crisis because he was almost caught by someone else, he had to lie even more. The tangle of lies would strangle him tighter and restrict his movement more narrowly. Making him more prone to making mistakes. Making him more and more confused to justify when he really made a mistake. And make him even more frustrated because there is no one to blame but himself.

The worst thing is, as Josh gets more frustrated, he will lose his mind and find it difficult to think clearly. It would lead him to make faux pas that would put him in situations that would force him to make up more lies that would put him in even more danger.

Right now, Josh seemed to be making a hell for himself with no way out. He can only continue to cover up by pretending everything is fine.

When they arrived at their destination and again had to face Ashley's mother and people they didn't know, Josh and Ashley had managed to control themselves and behave as naturally as possible. A small but friendly smile was often on Ashley's lips as they chatted with Ashley's mother's coworkers. Josh also throws a lot of laughter and jokes to warm up the atmosphere.

Ashley realized that Josh was good at carrying himself and controlling his expression in important situations. Even though it has not been an hour since the man exploded his emotions very frighteningly.

But that again opened her eyes even wider. That Josh's good attitude that had been shown to her, was most likely just a fake.

Ashley really shouldn't let her guard down and let her feelings get caught up in that man again.

After they returned from there, along the way to the house, Josh and Ashley again silenced each other. Josh felt like he needed to control himself more so that he wouldn't explode like before. Because for some reason, deep down in his heart, he felt sorry that he had spoken harshly to Ashley. Meanwhile, the impact of their previous quarrel was still unresolved.

When Ashley got out of the car that was already parked in the basement, Josh was still silent with a very cold gesture. Ashley just gave him a quick glance and left without saying a word. When she got in and waited for the elevator doors to open, she turned her head without intention towards Josh's car that could be seen through the glass doors there. She saw that he was still in the car and was busy with his cell phone.

Ashley guessed that he was probably trying to make up with his girlfriend over the incident and would have gone straight to that girl’s place. For the umpteenth time, Josh probably wouldn't be home again tonight. 

Ashley knows she should ignore it, not care about it, and should not have any sentimental reaction to the reality she was witnessing. But her heart did ache. There was a pain that she still couldn't control from stinging her all the time.

As the elevator doors opened, Ashley tried to push her thoughts and feelings away. Then got into the elevator and went up alone to their apartment.

Meanwhile, Josh, who was still in the car, prepared to get off and go out of the basement to the front lobby of the apartment building. He had already put on his jacket, hat, sunglasses, mask—his disguise attributes that so far worked well, only if he kept them on all the time. Since today he was in a situation on the edge of a cliff, he couldn't act as inconspicuous as before. So Josh went by taxi, just to have his cover blown.

Earlier, after he let Ashley go, Josh immediately called Sharon. He tried for quite some time to get an answer from that girl.

But Sharon didn't pick up her phone at all, nor did she read any of his messages. Still, Josh left after send her a text that he would go to her apartment, to show that he was truly sorry and willing to make up for anything for her. Even if it turned out that the girl hadn't returned home, Josh would think later what he had to do to find Sharon.

But what he found was a surprise that had never even crossed his wildest dreams.

When he walked into Sharon's apartment, there was no one in the living room. The kitchen was also as empty and untouched as it was when he came here this afternoon to pick up the girl. Then when he swept his gaze across the place, he found that the door to Sharon’s room was open. 

So Josh walked over there because he wanted to see if Sharon was resting in the room. But when he arrived at the door, the scene that caught his eye felt unreal and instantly raised a very, very, very big question mark in his mind.