After a while, I finally gather courage to step out of the bathroom. As soon as I open the door, I spot Kate sitting on the edge of the bed, fiddling with her thumbs.
Ashton: Um... Did you want to go in as well?
Kate: No.
Ashton:....
Kate:...
Silence. This is so uncomfortable... What should I do?
Kate: Today has been such an emotional rollercoaster.
Ashton: Huh?
She crosses her legs and props her body up on her arms, leaning back.
Kate: It almost feels like life is playing a joke on us. To think that my husband's ex is now my brother's fiancee is just so bizzare, isn't it?
Ashton:..!!!
Sh-She knew?! Since when?!
Kate: What? Speechless?
Ashton: I...
What do I say to that? She sighs at my silence and pats the spot beside, urging me to sit down. Well, I had to confront her about this eventually. I take a seat and try to find words to say to her.
Kate: You want to know how I know about this, right?
Ashton:... Yes.
She simply shrugs and looks at me, her eyes narrowed.
Kate: The next time you're trying to hide a secret, make sure that you don't put the box of the evidence under the bed.
Ashton: What do you me-.....
... Oh, my God! How could I be so stupid?! When I first moved here, I found a box that had all the souvenirs and tokens of my relationship with Claire, even our photos together.
I still couldn't find the heart to throw it away so I just tucked it under my bed so that I'd never see it again. I completely forgot about that when Kate moved in with me!
I want to crawl into a hole and never come back out.
Ashton: I... I don't know what I should say. This is going to be a problem, isn't it.
Kate: I've never really approved of her to be a part of my family because I doubted her to be a gold digger. Then, she proved me wrong by showing me that she works hard to earn her own money.
Kate's aura has completely changed, this personality of hers is unlike what I've ever seen. She just sounds so distant with that belittling tone of voice.
Kate: However, now it turns out that she has always been the one to "catch big fish". Her hunger for money just never stops.
Ashton: That's...!
I'm about to tell her that she's wrong, but stop myself. How can defend my ex-girlfriend in front my wife? Besides, even if she wasn't like that before, Claire currently IS with Troy for his money.
Kate: 'Looks like you have something to say..?
Ashton:... No, nothing.
Kate: Anyhow, my brother already knows why she is with him so, it's none of my business to butt in. Let's not bring this up again, alright?
Ashton: Right...
Kate: G'night.
She moves towards her side of the bed and lays down, her back facing me.... What just happened? I completely blanked out in front of her. I've seen so many sides of Kate today, I just can't figure her out.
I could call her two-faced, but aren't we all the same?
F*ck, I can't sleep. Maybe I should revise the script for tomorrow.
I head downstairs and end up spending the whole night in the study. The next morning, Kate and I arrive at the set together which sets off a lot of commotion.
This is mainly because I've never disclosed any of my relationships publically before. Kate goes off towards Ms. Norris and Neha comes over instead.
Neha: Am I dreaming? Since when have you been going to events with your girlfriends?
Ashton:... I have to.
Neha: Why the long face? Is she forcing you to do this?
Forcing? Not really... But I keep having an unsettling feeling about doing this. Anyhow, I can't keep hiding this from Neha anymore; she has done so much for me, she deserves to know what's really going on.
Ashton: Do you know the founder of Emperor Group?
Neha: The founder... His name was Evan something, right?
Ashton: Ethan Beckett. He's my father.
Neha: I know.
I had already gues-... Wait...
Ashton: What?! How?!
Did she background search me, too? Why didn't she tell me before? First Kate and how her... Just what else is left?
Neha: He had reached out to me 8 years ago. He said that he'd pay me good money if I kept an eye on you, for safety purposes.
He.. did that? I thought that he hated me and would've been better off with me gone. However, does that mean that she only stood by me because she was getting paid?
Ashton: So... What did you do?
I nervously ask her, bracing myself.
Neha: Well, obviously, I said "no".
Ashton:.. Huh?
Neha: When have I ever been short of money to do something like this? Besides, I would be looking after you even if I wasn't offered anything, you're like my little brother after all.
Ashton:..!
She says, pinching my cheek. Neha... I have been gifted with such good friends, that I take it for granted most of the time. Now, I know where I've been lacking.
Ashton: Thank you.....