Chapter 86 : A Clearer Mind

Chapter 86: Chapter 86 : A Clearer Mind

Ring Ring Ring!!

Ashley was on the phone, trying to reach Clara, but she wasn’t getting any answer. Clara’s phone kept ringing until the call eventually went to voicemail.

Sitting across from Ashley was the therapist who was supposed to conduct their couples therapy session. They were both supposed to attend, but Clara hadn’t shown up.

"She must be really busy. She’s probably in a meeting with some important clients or something like that," Ashley explained to the therapist.

However, it sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than the therapist.

"I see. But are you sure she wanted to come?" the therapist asked, looking Ashley directly in the eyes.

"She said yes to couples therapy. I gave the date to her assistant, and she put it on Clara’s schedule," Ashley explained.

"Her assistant? Why did you give the date to her assistant instead of telling her directly? As far as I know, you’re her wife, not one of her clients."

Ashley looked away. The therapist had a point.

"Listen, Ashley. Let’s cancel today’s session. When you see your wife, try to convince her to come. Don’t force her. Convince her. If she wants to save your marriage as much as you do, she’ll agree."

"Our marriage is perfectly fine. We’ve just been going through a rough patch," Ashley said defensively.

She didn’t like what the therapist was implying. How could she think Ashley and Clara’s marriage was in danger when she barely knew them?

"I’m sorry if what I said hurt you. However, as a professional, I have to be honest with my patients and help them see past their illusions."

"You told me that the reason you wanted couples therapy was because you’ve been sleeping in separate rooms for almost two months and because she’s been distant toward you. You’ve given me the reasons for that, but in my professional opinion, your marriage is struggling."

The therapist paused before continuing.

"But that doesn’t mean there’s no hope. It only means there is a real danger that things won’t improve if nothing changes."

Ashley thought deeply about what the therapist had said, and she knew she wasn’t entirely wrong.

For several weeks now, Ashley had been trying to find a way to reconcile with Clara, but nothing had worked. Clara was still just as distant and cold toward her.

It broke Ashley’s heart to see Clara becoming so indifferent toward her. In some ways, she almost wished Clara would be furious with her rather than ignore her the way she was now.

Ashley left the couples therapist’s office with her spirits as low as usual. She now had to go see her own therapist for an individual session, whom she had been seeing for much longer because of the severe depression she had suffered from—a depression that had turned what was supposed to be the happiest time of their lives into a nightmare.

Ashley looked at her phone’s lock screen.

It was a picture of Clara and their daughter, Catlyn, during an outing. They were both smiling brightly.

The picture looked perfect, but Ashley saw it differently because she hadn’t been invited to that outing.

She sighed as she looked at how happy Clara seemed without her. And whenever Clara saw Ashley now, she barely even looked at her, as if they had become strangers.

"Hello, Ashley. Judging by your face, I can tell couples therapy didn’t go well," her therapist said.

It was Mackenzie, Ben’s wife.

"There was no couples therapy. She didn’t come," Ashley admitted with another sigh.

"I really envy you and Ben. You didn’t lose control like I did during my pregnancy, and now you’re closer than ever."

Ashley lay down on the couch and made herself comfortable. This was one of the few places, besides being with her friend Chloe, where she could let out all her frustration and have someone there to comfort her.

"Maybe you’re right, but don’t compare yourself to me. It’s true that my life wasn’t always perfect, but I always had a lot of support from the people close to me. Unlike you, you’ve been carrying buried trauma since childhood," Mackenzie explained.

"Thank you. What you’re saying really helps me feel less like a piece of shit."

Ashley was grateful to Mackenzie. Not only was she very professional, but she was also incredibly empathetic.

"So, you’re not experiencing any side effects from the medication I prescribed?" Mackenzie asked.

"No. I think everything is fine on that side. Ever since I started taking them, I feel like I’m finally coming back to my senses. I don’t feel like I did before."

Ashley shuddered as she thought about all the stupid crises she had caused over the past few months.

Looking back on those memories, she sometimes wondered if she had been possessed or something.

"Then, by any chance, don’t you have any advice that could help me save my marriage?" Ashley asked, using the words of her other therapist.

"Yes, I have plenty. First of all, stop thinking about your marriage and focus on yourself.

"Start exercising again. Go out. And even go back to work."

"Seriously?" Ashley asked, unable to understand the point of her therapist’s advice.

"Yes, seriously. Clara pulled away from you because she was tired of the unstable version of you. So you need to show her that version of you no longer controls you and that you’re getting better.

"That way, she’ll come back to you voluntarily instead of feeling pressured to fix things while she still has doubts."

Ashley thought about Mackenzie’s words and finally understood what she meant.

All this time, Ashley had been trying too hard and, in a way, forcing Clara to reconcile with her. And every time, Clara rejected her.

Mackenzie’s advice was for Ashley to focus on her recovery and let Clara come back to her on her own.

"I see. That’s actually not a bad plan," Ashley admitted.

After saying goodbye, Ashley left her second therapy session with a clearer idea of what she should and shouldn’t do.

Honestly, she was tired. She just wanted to be happy with her wife and their daughter.

For now, it seemed complicated, but she was motivated and determined to make it work no matter what.

Ashley then went to Regina’s house to pick up Catlyn, whom Regina had been babysitting.

"Aw!"

A huge wave of happiness washed over Ashley the moment she saw her little Catlyn.

"Hi, my princess," she said sweetly, gently pinching her daughter’s cheek.

Catlyn giggled and seemed just as happy to see her mother.

Looking at her five-month-old daughter, Ashley could see the striking resemblance between Catlyn and Clara.

Just like her mother, Catlyn had blonde hair and blue eyes. Their noses and mouths were also very similar.

"Mommy missed you too," Ashley added sweetly as she took her reason for living into her arms.

"I can never thank you enough for everything you do for us," Ashley told Regina.

"Don’t thank me. I’m the one who should be thanking you for trusting me with her. Without you, I wouldn’t have anyone to leave the fortune I’ve worked so hard for. My daughter doesn’t want it, and my niece is still hesitating."

"Are you okay?" Regina asked, realizing that something was bothering Ashley.

"Yeah, I’ll be okay. I’m just tired," Ashley answered honestly.

"Come on. Follow me. Let’s have lunch together so you can regain some of your strength."

Regina’s suggestion brought a small smile to Ashley’s face.

After spending the day with Regina, Ashley felt a little better.

But when she returned home, her mood dropped again. The house no longer felt anything like the warm home she and Clara had built together after their wedding.

When Ashley glanced into the living room, she saw that Clara had returned earlier and was watching TV.

Ashley took Catlyn out of her stroller and walked into the living room. It was the first time she had seen Clara that day.

"Hi," Ashley said gently, wearing a small smile.

"Hi," Clara replied briefly, giving her only a quick glance before turning her attention back to the TV.

"Can we watch with you?" Ashley asked, her heart pounding with fear of being rejected.

"Of course."

Clara held out her hand for Catlyn, and Ashley happily handed their daughter to her.

Ashley then sat beside them. From the corner of her eye, she watched Clara happily holding their baby.

Seeing them together made Ashley desperately want to wrap her arms around both of them and hold them close like a happy family.

But she was afraid of bothering Clara.

"So, what’s the movie about?" Ashley asked, breaking the silence.

"I think it’s about a woman who falls in love with a mafia boss," Clara explained.

"I see. The actress is really gorgeous, though," Ashley commented, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

But Clara didn’t continue the conversation, so Ashley didn’t either.

Throughout the movie, Ashley did everything she could to reduce the distance between them, using Catlyn as an excuse to sit closer to Clara.

Eventually, for several minutes, Ashley was pressed against Clara, and Clara didn’t seem bothered by it.

She was still ignoring Ashley, but the fact that she wasn’t moving away already felt like a small victory.

Ashley was happy just to be there.

With only one small movement, she could have wrapped her arm around Clara.

But just as Ashley was about to place her arm around Clara’s shoulder, Clara suddenly stood up with Catlyn in her arms.

"Catlyn fell asleep. I’m going to put her to bed."

"Okay. Go ahead."

Ashley was a little disappointed by how the evening was ending.

She sighed and leaned back against the couch.

Cling!

Ashley heard a notification coming from Clara’s phone.

’Maybe that means she’s coming back,’ Ashley thought, her spirits lifting slightly.

Cling!

Another notification sounded.

Curious, Ashley raised her head to see who kept sending messages to her wife.

Big mistake.

Her heart skipped a beat when she caught a glimpse of two messages.

The first one said:

I had a really good time today.

The second said:

Hopefully, if you’re available.

Ashley looked at the name of the person who had sent them.

She didn’t recognize the name.

Her mind immediately began racing, and her heart started pounding wildly.

Could it be that while Ashley was doing everything she could to save their marriage...

Clara was cheating on her?