76. Where are You? (1)

That afternoon, Ashley couldn't even look her parents in the face.

The atmosphere between them became even more tense after Ashley went back inside, when she told them that Josh suddenly couldn't make it.

“So, he's not coming anymore?” Ashley’s mother asked while stirring the soup that was already halfway in her small bowl.

"Yes. But it's not just because of his will. Suddenly there are a lot of urgent things he needs to get done for the launch of his project."

Even when Ashley tried to convince her parents that Josh sounded really sorry for not being able to come and that what was preventing him was really office business that couldn't be left unattended, her mother's face just looked even more disgusted.

Ashley was terrified that her lie would be caught, so she continued to earnestly try to tell all sorts of other lies, whatever came to mind, just to convince and lessen her parents' annoyance.

"That's twice already. How many more times do I have to tolerate his disrespectful behavior? Yesterday he underestimated my invitation, now he makes promises but doesn't keep them," Ashley’s mother continued, her voice rising slightly. “And you still defend him?”

Ashley looked down. She knew that whatever she said now would only trigger more anger.

"You said he had some urgent business yesterday. But it turned out to be—something with her cousin, huh?" This time, Ashley's mother's tone sounded more sarcastic. The woman’s breath was harshly sniffed. “I was so upset yesterday that I forgot to ask what was so urgent that he had to do with his cousin to refuse my request.”

Ashley's father grumbled as he put down his spoon roughly. "The Lim family is strange. On the outside it looks clean, polite, and full of prestige. But for some reason, there are always bad rumors about them spread internally."

Her father took a sip of the warm tea in his cup. Then he continued talking.

"If it was just a rumor or two, it might be true. But this has been going on for a long time. So there are two possibilities—either it's really just a rumor... or, they have strong connections with the media to always clear their name," Ashley’s father replied sharply. “And we all know, the second possibility makes more sense.”

“No matter how powerful they are, they're still far below us.” Ashley's mother replied with sarcasm.

Ashley sighed. She knew it wouldn't be that easy to put out the fire that was already burning in her parents' heads.

Ashley’s mother pulled the napkin from her lap, and threw it irritably on the table. Indicating that she was not going to continue with her lunch.

“I'll talk to Josh's mother directly,” she said firmly. "I want to know what his cousin's interests are. At the same time, I'm going to shame her for her son's lack of respect for our family."

Ashley jumped. Her eyes rounded in panic. If her mother asked Josh's mother, then the scandal that she had tried to help cover up would be immediately exposed by both parties—her mother, as well as Josh's mother.

"No, Mom! There's no need to bother like that. I'll ask Josh directly."

Her mother gave her a sharp, probing look.

"We shouldn't provoke my mother-in-law like that. I'll try to talk to Josh again to arrange another meeting to apologize to you both," Ashley replied quickly. "Besides, he couldn't make it this afternoon because he had an important meeting. He's been talking to me a lot about the launch of his new project. And I know today is the peak. He's been trying to make time, but there's still so much to do at the office."

His mother nodded slowly. Not entirely trusting, but wise enough not to argue about work.

“I'm not talking about the office,” she said finally. "I'm talking about the girl from yesterday. Mrs. Go says you don't even know who she is, do you?"

Ashley bit her lower lip. She nodded slowly. "Josh explained it to me last night. Suddenly his cousin needed help."

“Are you sure that girl is his cousin?”

Ashley's throat dried up instantly. She swallowed with difficulty. "Yes, Mom. Josh also showed me pictures of the girl with her extended family when they were kids and teenagers when I asked him to. So there's nothing to suspect. That cousin of hers is indeed part of their extended family. I believe it."

“Then how come he didn't tell you beforehand that he was meeting his cousin?”

Ashley was silent for a moment. Preparing another lie.

"Josh was too busy. And yesterday's business was too sudden. So he didn't have time to tell me, and everything just happened. Yesterday's incident might have looked bad, but it actually happened because of the wrong coincidences. It just so happened that Josh hadn't told me that he was going to help his cousin. It also happened that we all met them when they were taking a break for lunch. That's all."

"Coincidence, coincidence. Everything is always a coincidence," Ashley’s father sneered. "And you just believe it? This whole thing sounds odd to my ears."

Ashley nodded again. But this time with a noticeable bitterness.

Her mother shook her head, disappointed. "Don't you know what business Josh had to help you with yesterday? Didn't you ask?"

Ashley was getting confused. She wasn't prepared to answer that.

"I... I was too tired yesterday. So I fell asleep before I thought to ask further. I had already forgotten about it this morning," she said softly. Her voice was barely audible.

“Are you stupid or just ignorant?” Ashley’s mother snapped. "You're a wife, but you don't even pay attention to your own husband. Do you think you can live in this household ignorantly? Look at it now. We were lied to. You were lied to. And you're doing nothing about it."

“He's not lying, Mom.”

“You're just like that woman,” the words came out like a whip. "Fool, destroyer, troublemaker. Blood is thicker than water. You can't hide where you were born." Her mother quipped sarcastically.

Ashley tried to hold back her tears. But her mother didn't stop.

But his father immediately pounding the table with his hands. The man was sometimes a strong alliance with his mother to mentally torture her, but somehow there was an ego flinch whenever that woman brought up blood and heredity.

Maybe, just maybe. Because there was actually the same blood flowing in her and her father.

Ashley gripped her hand tightly. Too tightly, until her nails dug into her own palms. Her face was bright red. But she couldn't cry in front of them.

She wanted to defend herself. She wanted to shout that none of this was her fault. That she herself was also a victim who was sacrificed by everyone. But she was tongue-tied. There was no strength left in her to speak anymore.

"That's enough. I can't eat under these circumstances," her father said coldly. He stood up and straightened his suit. “I'm sick of everything I hear.”

Ashley's mother also stood up following her husband's actions.

Ashley also stood up. She wanted to escort them to the door. But her father held up a hand, refusing her.

"No need. We can go out on our own."

They left. The door closed with a loud bang. Leaving Ashley alone in the dining room.

Ashley stood still for a while before her body faltered. She sat back in her chair, holding her face with both hands. The tears she had been holding back finally broke out. Her chest also hurt and felt very tight.

She didn't know who to blame for everything that had happened to her so far. 

The greed of his mother and father? Josh's madness? Or was she herself that willingly caught up in all these people's games and unable to help herself?

She was so tired of living in a household filled with secrets. Tired of defending someone who didn't even care about her in the slightest. Tired of being a useless shield in the middle of two families that both had no conscience.

Ashley hugged her own body. Crying like a child who only has herself as a protector.