*Tak-Tak-Tak*
Ashton: *sigh*....
I feel awful... I-I couldn't make things clear with Kate and she won't answer any of my texts. When she looked at me back there, her face simply showed raw disdain.
For some reason, the situation is making me even more anxious than it actually should. The entire day, I kept feeling that something bad was going to happen, but I guess that this wasn't it.
Neha: Ugh, for god's sake, stop doing that?!
Neha, who's sitting beside me, suddenly snaps at me. What's wrong?
Ashton: What do you mean?
Neha: Seriously?! You- Y-Your constant sighing and tapping your feet on the ground..! It's so annoying!
Huh? Have I been doing that?... I honestly didn't even notice.
Ashton: Alright, I guess I'll stop then..?
Neha: Look, I know that you're feeling bad about what happened. In all seriousness, I agree that it was a horrible misunderstanding.
Neha starts talking me through my problem, to ease my nerves.
Neha: But what you must remember is that... If you keep doing this, I'm going to punch you in the throat, okay?
Ashton:.... Okay.
Aaand we're back to normal. When I get back home, the first thing I'm going to do is clear out the misunderstanding obviously, then apologize... But that doesn't seem "enough". Oh! I have an idea but it may get me a little trouble....
Although, I guess, it'll be worth it. Miraculously, the terrible idea in my head saves the rest of my day and I finally finish the shoot without pissing Neha off....
Good lord, my head is spinning like a top, but I guess that's to be expected since I haven't eaten anything today. I'm so glad that this is over.
When I get back to my dressing room to change out of the clothes I'm wearing, I spot something on the ground. Huh?! Th-That's my earring! And it's broken?! How could it-
Ashton:.... Dammit.
This must've been what that idiot slipped on. HOW CAN THIS DAY POSSIBLY GET ANY WORSE?! I heave the most massive sigh of the day and quickly do my business.
As soon as I leave the studio, I get swarmed over by reporters. 'Not gonna lie, I hate most journalists which I think is a little ironic because- No! I have to stop thinking about her!
The most important thing right now is that they don't figure out where I live. In the past I've had to switch apartments so many times because of them invading my privacy.
I brush them off and get into my car. I wonder if Kate got home fine... I check my phone once more. Still no response from her.
I guess she's really mad, huh. Oh there's a new message fro-
*Tap tap tap*
Ashton:!!!
One of the reporters knocks on my window, catching me off-guard. Gee, what's up with these people? I guess I should just leave. I put my phone away and drive home making a small detour along the way.
A while later...
I quietly open the front door and step inside. Kate, however, is nowhere to be seen. Huh? While I'm busy searching for her, Mrs. Yan walks over to me and greets me.
Ashton: Where's Kate?
Mrs. Yan: Madam is sitting by the pool.
She motions towards the pool area and I nod in response before heading there. As expected, Kate is sitting on one of the lounge chairs by the pool, staring into space.
*Knock knock*
I knock on the sliding door to get her attention. Woah, dejà vu. She casts me a sideways glance or a second before turning back to staring at the pool.
Ashton: Am I allowed to come out there?
Kate:... It's your house, do you whatever you want to.
Ashton:....
Okay, so she's definitely angry. I slide the door open and walk outside. I take a seat across of her and place the paper bag I've beem carring on the table. I made a stop at Sweet Treats before coming here and bought some desserts for her.
Ashton: I know that you like white chocolate and kiwis so bought something for you...
I trail off because of the awkward atmosphere. I don't know what I should say to her! While I'm thinking of something to say, Kate breaks the silence.
Kate: So, you're trying to bribe me?
She narrows her eyes and looks at me with all seriousness, making my heart skip a beat.
Ashton: N-No, I just thought... Well, I know that you're angry because I-
Kate: I'm not mad at you, I was mad at myself; that's why I left.
... Huh?
Ashton: What do you mean?
Kate sighs and her shoulders, that had been tense all the while, droop. Then, she starts talking, a faraway look in her eyes.
Kate: It's no secret that Ian Bleu is a massive male chauvinist. He raised and treated me way differently than he did my brother because of that. I was brought up believing that it was alright for a woman to be treated as an inferior being and that it was none of a wife's concern if her husband cheats.
Ashton:.....
I do remember Kate being very sceptical about everything back in the day for the same reason only, she never really explained it in such dept before. From her descriptions, I always found him to be a terrible father, and now those feelings have become stronger.
Kate: He thought that if I had too many boyfriends, my "character" would be deemed as "loose". So, when he forced me to come back to the Capital, I did make many "boyfriends", but in secret.
Wait, the day we signed our marriage certificates, she said that she had never dated anyone other than me. Why would she lie to me back then? She had no reason to, I for one wouldn't mind it; it's not like we live in the early 1900s.
Kate: I couldn't even let my brother know about them because he was too overprotective of me and would tell Ian about it.
I've never really liked my father, but I've never addressed him by his first name. I guess she really loathes him.
Kate: Due to my upbringing, I didn't want to trust you even when we were making a, supposedly, lifelong commitment.... Until yesterday. Talking to you made me think that Ian was wrong and I was right....
Ashton:...
I... I had no idea that she felt that way. I feel terrible. A massive wave of guilt washes over me. I've been consoling myself by calling it all an accident paying no heed to it's implications. I thought that she was just angry, but... in reality, she felt more than betrayed.
Kate: However, when I saw you with that other actress today, his words flashed again in my mind. I was so furious at my stupidity that I stomped off.
A sad smile appears on her face and I clench my fists.
Kate: Heh, why did I even expect-
Ashton: You're wrong.
Kate:... What...?
She turns towards for the first time when I say this.
Ashton: If you think that he is correct and that everything is as he makes it to be; then you're wrong. I don't know what kind of a father or husband Ian Bleu was or still is, but if you doubt that I am the same as him, then you couldn't be further away from the truth.
It's true that even though I'm committed to her, my heart's somewhere else. However, that doesn't mean that I would ever let Kate down intentionally and I stand by that. I would never want to hurt her.
Ashton: Trust is something that isn't given, but is earned. So, I won't go around asking for it from you. But, I made a promise to you and being a man of my word, I won't go back on it whether you place your faith in me or not. Believing me is up to you.... So, do you believe me?
My speech doesn't falter in the least and my words are as firm as they can be. When I ask her that, a single tear rolls down Kate's cheek, falling on her balled up fists on her lap.
Ashton:..!
I-I made her cry? Did I say something wrong?! But I meant what I said... Wh-What do I do?! As I sit in my place, panicking about what I should do, Kate smiles slightly.
Kate:... I do.
Ashton: Kate...
From that moment, tears start pouring out her eyes uncontrollably as though a switch just went off.
Kate: I-I'm sorry... I don't know why-..!
She starts to turn away to hide them, but I reach my hands out and cup her cheeks, wiping her tears away with my thumbs.
Kate has always had the habit of hiding her feelings and putting on a cheery front; I don't want her to do that anymore.
Ashton: It's okay to cry, you don't have to hide anymore.
I take a seat beside her and pull her towards me. She buries her face in my chest and wails like a child, finally letting out all the emotions she had been hiding for so long....