The family was sitting at the dining table, everybody was present there except Ronald.
"Why Ronald didn't come for dinner, Ashley where is Ronald?" Andrew asked.
"I don't know, dad."
"Ashley, what do you do all the day that you don't even know about your husband's whereabouts?"
"Let it be Amy, maybe Ronald has not told her anything."
Julia said with a disappointed tone and Ashley was embarrassed in front of the family because of Ronald.
"Still, sister, she should know about her husband at least she should call him and ask him where are you and when you are coming."
Amy knew the true face of Ashley and hate her; she doesn't want to leave any chance to taunt Ashley.
Ashley wanted to say that it's a matter between me and my husband, I will take care of it, why are you so bothered? She restrains herself to be rude to any family members. Right now, she has to struggle to make her place between Walter's family.
"Aunty Amy, I tried his phone, but he is not answering my call, what should I do more?" Ashley tried to say beseechingly but couldn't hide the bitterness of her tone.
"Dad, there is something wrong with Ronald, even I noticed he was upset all day in the company."
Jack said with deep thoughts and recalled when Ronald couldn't able to work in the company.
Everybody knows that Ronald is going through emotional trauma, but Julia's face turned pale with concern for his son.
"What, Ronald was upset, why? What happened to my Ronald, Jack why didn't you ask him what's wrong with him?"
Julia stood up from the dining table anxiously and behave like she will go to search for her son right away, even she would move if Andrew didn't hold her hand to stop her.
"Julia, relax, you know about the emotional ups and downs of Ronald's life, recently he went through a heartbreak, give him some time to forget the past and move on."
Julia glares at Ashley angrily.
Every mother-in-law thinks that if her son is upset then her daughter-in-law should have to be considerate and don't like a reckless woman.
Ashley's face color drained by Julia's glare, not because she was scared but she felt that she is going to lose her position in the Walters family.
Ronald is already distant from here and now family members seem unhappy because of Ronald.
If it will continue like this, then she would lose everything that she has got after committing so many sins.
'I have to do something to restore my place in this family and chase Sarah out of her and Ronald's life otherwise it can be a threat to their relationship.'
Ashly was thinking about how to deal with this problem, looking in a daze when a voice zoomed her out of her thoughts.
"Hey, Ronald is back," Carol said,
Ronald passed through the dining area, and everybody noticed his gloomy face. He didn't join them for dinner and step on the stairs to go.
"Ronald, wait," Julia called him from behind, stood up, and walked towards him.
"What's wrong with you? Why are you so late today, where were you till now? Where are you going, come and eat your dinner first."
Julia fired many questions in one go in tension, and everybody sighed at her behavior.
Ronald looked at the people behind her then avoid eye contact with Julia.
"Mom, I went to see some old friends of mine, they all decided to have a small party in a pub, that's why I am late. Mom, I ate too many snacks with them and not hungry anymore. I will not eat dinner today; you all please continue. I am exhausted and sleepy, I am going to my room thank you & good night, good night dad, good night everybody."
Ronald unnaturally said so many things in one go with an altered smile and stride towards his chamber hurriedly.
Nobody else but Stefan and Sarah noticed his unusual behavior and perhaps know the reason for his lie, Sarah beckons Stefan, but in return, he blinks his eyes. They are helpless in this matter, that's Ronald's personal affairs, and he has to deal with it by himself.
"Mom, I think I should go and see Ronald, he must be tired." Ashley stood up from the dining table leaving her meal in the mid and said earnestly to show her concern as a good wife.
"Alright, you go and check him and don't forget to give him a glass of warm milk. He didn't eat his dinner but he shouldn't be empty stomach."
Ashley nodded and went from there, and after that everybody went to their respective rooms after dinner.
Ashley was in a hurry to check on Ronald and at the back of her mind some plan was going on to deepen the misunderstanding between Ronald and Sarah. She had to accept about drugs that Sarah was not at fault and since then Ronald is not same with her like before.
Just because Ashley was drowned in evil thoughts, she went to her room in a rush and forgot to bring a glass of warm milk for Ronald. Ashley entered her room but couldn't find Ronald in the room.
"Where did Ronald go, he said he is going to take a rest in the room."
Ashley mumbles and looked back and forth in a large room and found Ronald was standing on the balcony and gazing at the sky. Ashley hurriedly walked over and put her hand on Ronald's shoulder.
Ronald was in his own thoughts that how his life has changed in a blink of an eye, he has planned many things for his future with Sarah, the woman he loves but all his dream has shattered and they married to two separate people. What's more, now she is his elder sister-in-law and already moved on.
Sarah has moved on, so he can't go back to her even if he will divorce Ashley and the most painful part of his misery is he can't blame anybody else, because he brought this on him upon himself.
He was looking at stars blankly when somebody's disturbance in his thought pulled him out.
Ronald turned around and frown to see Ashley, but didn't say anything and again turned his gaze in the previous direction.
"I know Ronald you are upset. It's difficult for you to forget Sarah and move on, after all, she betrayed you and elope from marriage."
Ashley chose the proper words to sympathize with Ronald and add fuel to the fire in Ronald's heart against Sarah. She is oblivious to the truth that Ronald has already discovered her real face and her words to provoke him against Sarah actually triggered Ronald's anger against her.
Ronald turned with fierce eyes and wanted to retort but restrain himself and clenched his fist.