81. A Man from Her Past (2)

Ashley was stunned for a long time. And when Josh moved to move the chair back so she could sit down, that's when she returned to her senses.

Her legs automatically moved closer to sit on the chair.

She quietly inhaled and exhaled very slowly and carefully.

Behind her confusion and nervousness that suddenly attacked her, there was a very odd feeling that somehow also sneaked into her heart at that moment.

How could someone she once liked, who had never seen her as a girl, who she wanted to forget... was now sitting in front of her as her future husband.

Josh returned to his seat across from Ashley, still with his thin smile that was hard to translate. 

“I've ordered food,” he raised his hand as he turned to one of the waiters standing not far from them for a signal. The waiter who caught Josh's instruction responded with a small nod and disappeared into a doorway.

“Your favorite signature set,” Josh continued.

Ashley, who had been following Josh's gaze, turned her head and looked at him.

"Your mom said you used to love that menu every time you came here. So I ordered it first. I thought it would be great for you to be able to eat it after all this time."

The man threw out explanations without Ashley asking. It was as if he could read the questioning expression on Ashley's face and answer it.

Ashley's forehead frowned. “My mom told you?”

“Hm-hm,” Josh nodded, "Not directly, actually. Your family arranged our meeting. They suggested this restaurant, and my mom seemed to have a lot of conversations with your mom about you. That's why my mom shared some information with me."

Ashley was silent. Her eyes were still fixed on Josh with a puzzled look.

“Are you uncomfortable with that? Do you want to change the menu?”

“Ah—no,” her eyes flickered, then her gaze was thrown in a random direction, “I'm just surprised my mom remembered it.”

Josh smiled, without knowing the true meaning of Ashley's words. "Of course she remembers. She's your mom."

Meanwhile, Ashley, who thought Josh thought she was joking, flashed a wry smile and picked up a glass filled with water nearby. She gulped it down little by little and slowly. Although her throat and body wanted more water to just give a fresh sensation to cool her feelings.

“So,” Josh took a breath while maintaining his calm demeanor, “how are you? You left without saying goodbye to everyone.” The tone of his voice was also flat with a hint of his friendliness trademark—just as she remembered, completely unchanged.

“Yeah, back then...” Ashley tried to prevent the memory of the time when she had to be forced to leave Korea from bothering her in this situation, “there was something very urgent.”

Josh waited for her to complete her sentence. He thought Ashley would continue. Instead, she let out a barely audible chuckle and sank into silence. That's when Josh knew that Ashley didn't want to tell him why—why she left all those years ago and disappeared without a word.

Without Josh realizing it, his head nodded vaguely, indicating that he understood and couldn't push Ashley for an answer.

"I guess what's past is past. I'm glad we got to see each other again. And I'm glad you seem to be doing fine."

Ashley wanted to answer, but she held herself back for a moment. She couldn't see how the expression, the hue, and the tinge that adorned her face at the moment, but to say that she looked fine... was not something natural to say in a situation like this.

The two of them, respectively, came here because their parents told them to. Their marriage plan would also be realized based on coercion and threats. So how could Ashley look ‘fine’?

“Do I look fine to you?”

Josh tilted his head at Ashley's question. “You're not feeling well?”

Ashley snorted softly. "You know, right, this dinner isn't a normal dinner? They told us to meet, to—“

”To get to know each other better,“ Josh interrupted Ashley who sounded a bit annoyed, ”because we're getting married."

The last words spoken by Josh sounded like a bitter pill that clogged her throat. Whereas he said it so lightly without seeming burdened at all.

“You already know.” Ashley's hands on her lap clenched into fists to contain the turmoil inside her and help her stay calm. "Then you shouldn't assume that I'm fine. You—are you okay with yourself after knowing about this plan?“

”I've known for a long time,“ Josh nodded rhetorically, ”So, yes, I am okay."

“For a long time?” Ashley was surprised. Then unintentionally exhaled a little harshly, “I guess I'm the only one who just found out this afternoon that I'm getting married.”

“They only told you this afternoon?” Josh was a little surprised.

“As soon as I got home.” Ashley said it casually. Even though she knew the information didn't mean anything. She felt like she was just aimlessly venting her frustration.

“You just arrived today?” This time Josh was quite surprised. He didn't know that Ashley had just come home and had to meet with him immediately. No wonder the girl looked offended when he said that she was fine. "Sorry, I didn't know. I'll be more understanding since you're still surprised."

Ashley sighed softly. She realized she couldn't blow off her frustration or act as she pleased. So slowly, she tried to make herself look calm and in control again.

“Did you also know that I was the one who—”

Just then the waiter started to bring the hors d'oeuvres menu. Ashley was forced to cut off her words and wait until the waiter left. She was silent and did not listen as the waiter briefly explained about their first appetizer.

After the waiter left, Ashley did not touch her dish, but immediately opened her mouth to continue her earlier remark.

But Josh was already ahead of her. It was as if he knew that Ashley really wanted the answer. "Yeah, I know. Probably about a week ago."

Ashley sighed and looked down. She wasn't sure how to convey the idea to Josh for rejecting this marriage plan—through a question, or a request, or just outright forcing him.

"Eat. You need a good meal to restore your energy," Josh reached out his hand for a spoon.

“So, what's your plan?” Ashley ventured to start baiting him about rejection. With a very careful tone, she continued her sentence, "My condition... It's quite difficult to express an opinion. So... I think you are the one who should say no to our parents."

Josh slightly squeezed the handle of his spoon after Ashley made that request.

The girl apparently didn't want this marriage either, just like him. But hearing her ask him to take her place to refuse their marriage, Josh could immediately conclude that their situations were quite similar—both unable to refuse.

But unfortunately, he didn't have the luxury to choose whether he wanted to or not. He had also taken many things into consideration and thought very thoroughly over the past week. And his own decisions and plans were already made and ready to be executed.

“I won't refuse,” Josh said lightly.