I almost choke on my soup when I hear Ashton answer her, "Yes!"
My hand stills. For a second, my mind goes blank.
He fell in love with me? That thought feels too heavy, too sudden. I tell myself I must have heard it wrong.
Rebecca's voice cuts through the air again, sharp and loud, carrying anger. "That's impossible! What you feel toward her is just guilt and responsibility, not love! She's been by your side for two years, and now she's carrying your child…"
There's a shift in the air after that. Not loud, but firm, like pressure settling over the room.
Ashton doesn't argue. He doesn't raise his voice either. His tone drops, controlled and final. "That's enough, Rebecca. Go back with Joe."
The authority in his voice is clear. It's not anger. It's command.
Soon after, the doorbell rings. Joe arrives without delay. Rebecca's emotions break loose as she resists, but Joe takes her away, steady and unshaken, guiding her out of the villa despite her cries.
