Neha:... So, you're saying that you both got married for commercial reasons? That doesn't sound like something you would do.
Ashton: I didn't want to do this either, but I don't want my mother to go through any more stress than she had when I was younger.
Neha goes deep in thought before finally speaking up.
Neha:... Did Kate, by anyway, give you the idea that you owe this to her?
Why is she asking this? Wait, come to think of it,...
Ashton: She didn't really say it, but she did tell me a lot about what she had been through all this time. That, that's what made me think that I should make it up to her.
Neha: And what do you think that means?
Hold up, she's making me feel guilty of the things that aren't even my fault to coerce me into doing things for her!
Ashton: She's... guilt tripping me, isn't she.
Neha: That's what I think too, but I've known Kate for as long as you have; so, I don't want to think that she would do this. It could just be my imagination or maybe there is a reason behind it.
Ashton:....
Neha: Anyhow, it's a matter between you two. You should probably solve it yourselves.
She leaves after saying this. I sneak a glance at Kate who is completely focused on the tasks given to her by Ms. Norris.
We've already been going through a tough patch recently and now another thing pops up. This marriage is cursed, isn't it? I really need to talk to her about this as soon as possible.
Later...
The shoot finally ends and the staff decides to pack up for the day. Since I had two different shoots today, I'm currently at a different location as compared to the start of the day.
I quickly text Kate that I'll be reaching home later than usual and that there's something I need to talk to her about. I get in my car and set out on a different destination.
Louis sent me a message yesterday telling me that he has something that he wants to inform me about. It must be something very confidential since he refused to tell me about it on a phone call.
For some reason, I have a bad feeling about this. I really hope that it's just my imagination and nothing else.
About half an hour later, I reach the Scarlet Club. I walk inside and am taken to the private room Louis has booked for us. I open the door and find Louis inside, fiddling with his phone.
Louis: Ah, you're here.
He looks up from his phone and smirks at me. I get in and take a seat beside him.
Ashton: So, what did you want to talk about?
Louis: Huh, are you sure that we're friends? Even business partners aren't this formal.
Ashton: Uh... Sorry, I've been very preoccupied lately.
That's not the only reason, I'm a little scared to stay in a room with him all alone without Drake here.
Louis: You don't say! Is the marriage giving you troubles?
Ashton:..! N-No, not really.
Man, that caught me off guard. Louis is really perceptive..!
Louis: No matter how great of an actor you've become, I can still catch your lies. I would normally want to dodge this topic, but what I called you here for concerns your relationship with Stacy Bleu's daughter.
Stacy Bleu is Kate's mother. However, Louis generally refers to Kate as Kate Bleu or Ian Bleu's daughter. There's something off here.
Ashton: What do you mean?
Louis: It was actually Drake who found out about this. We weren't going to tell you this because it's a very personal piece of information and it would be unjust if you heard it from anyone other than Kate herself.
Ashton: Go on...
What is this unsettling feeling?
Louis: Kate Bleu is not Ian Bleu's daughter. His wife had her with another man. We don't know who that is yet.
Ashton: What?!
Th-This can't be true, right? Although, that does explain why she has always been treated differently as compared to Trevor/ Troy. Hmm, but something doesn't add up.
Kate said that she was brought up by telling her that it was alright for the husband to be unfaithful and not the other way around, but in the reality, it was the opposite of what actually happened in that household.
What does he mean by that? Is he indirectly "punishing" her for being an illegitimate child because he was furious about being cuckolded?
From what I can guess, taking his frustrations out on Kate seemed like a better choice to him than tarnishing his reputation by divorcing Stacy for cheating on him.
Ashton:...
Is it justified to still be mad at Kate after this? Noticing my conflicted expression, Louis speaks up.
Louis: Don't sympathize with her too much, she's not all innocent either.
Ashton: Huh?
Louis: My informant in the Intel-Corp pharmaceutical laboratory recently found out that Ian Bleu had specifically made a team to create a fertility and aphrodisiac drug.
Why does he have a spy there? Is Louis doing some shady work again? However, speaking of aphrodisiacs, didn't she use that kind of a pill on our wedding night?
Louis: They're both tasteless drugs that can be ingested without being noticed. The fertility drug isn't that big of a problem, but the aphrodisiac is. It's every effective and takes action almost immediately.
Ashton:.....
Doesn't it match the description perfectly? I don't like where this is going.
Louis: Since it is such a powerful drug, it has some side-effects too, such as weariness and it's overdose can cause damage to a person's heart and liver. That's why it never got approved to be commercially produced. Even so, each week, a small package containing the drugs leaves the laboratory for "unknown reasons".
Ashton: Please s-stop talking. I-I...
I know exactly what he is implying... The package goes straight to Kate. If she gives birth to a hier for me, she has more leverage over the marriage and I can't leave her because it will create a lot of negative impact on my career.
Using such backhanded methods, manipulating me and pretending to be magnanimous by "forgiving me" for my "mistakes"... That bitch!