The next day, late evening Ashley was not anxious like she was in the morning, in contrast, she was calm and keep on smirking, thinking about her perfect plan to get rid of this New York trip with Ronald.
Ashley was sitting on the bed and lost in her thoughts that how and when will be the perfect time to execute her plan, but she didn't let her thoughts reflect on her face.
Just then Ronald walked into the room and saw Ashley was drowning in her own thoughts and called her while snapping a finger in front of her face, "Ashley, where have you lost?"
Ashley came back to her senses and stutter before answering, "Ahh, no, nowhere, I was just hmm, I was just planning about New York trip and packing and all. You know I am excited and looking forward to the day we will fly to New York."
Ronald didn't notice anything unusual, just hummed and went out of the room after there taking some files.
Ashley sighed.
"I have to be wary and control my thoughts until my plan will be successful, otherwise if not anybody else, Sarah will definitely get through my plan. If she will get it, then she will try even harder to chase me out of Walter palace and I can't go from here."
On another side of the corridor of Stefan and Sarah's residential area of the palace, even though Ronald was moving towards Stefan and Sarah's room, he was lost in his confused thoughts because of Ashely's behavior back in their room.
"Why she is looking so calm and even making plans for the New York trip?"
He didn't realize his surroundings and collide with love birds who were coming towards their room hand in hand, after taking a walk in the garden post-dinner, lost in their loving moments.
"Ronald, can't you see while walking, where is your attention nowadays?"
Stefan frowned and didn't take even a second to blame Ronald, even when mistake all of them was equal. Ronald felt wrong but he can't argue with Stefan because an elder brother inside him is in an activated mode.
"Oh really, but I can't ask you the same, because I know where is your attention nowadays," Ronald said sarcastically and beckon towards Sarah through her eyes.
"Sarah laughed loud and Stefan frowned, Stop talking nonsense."
Stefan chided and walked inside his room, Sarah and Ronald followed him and entered the room. Trio settled comfortably.
"Ron, is your packing done?"
Stefan asked, and Ronald nodded in yes.
"Have you packed all those important files I had given to you last evening, see don't forget anything?"
Ronald again nods absentmindedly and forwards a file towards Stefan, "I need your signatures on these papers."
Stefan took the file from his hand, signed it, and gave it back to him, but didn't notice Ronald's unusual appearance, "Anything else do you want?"
Ronald nods his head in negative, he didn't get up and go but looking in a daze.
Sarah noticed that Ronald is looking disturbed and asked, "What's wrong Ronald, why are you looking so lost?"
"Sarah, I am observing Ashley since morning, she is looking extraordinarily calm, and when I asked her the reason she answered that she is planning for the New York trip."
"So, what are you worried about? It's a piece of good news, isn't it?"
Stefan said, staring at Ronald's confused face and Ronald frowned. How could this be a piece of good news when Ashley was all set to cling to his neck?
"Do you think it's good news for me, then you are of your mind? I was suspicious before but now I am sure that maybe she had changed her mind and now she will go to New York with me. Stefan, Sarah now our whole efforts will go in vain."
"Ahh, Ronald, relax, mind it if Ashley so calm then it means she made her plan and only waiting for the right time to execute it," Sarah said calmly.
"How can you be so sure about it?"
"Because no one knows Ashley better than me."
A layer of gloominess appeared on Sarah's face and her eyes were blank when few scenes of past traveled in front of it. Ronald and Stefan both noticed this but they can't help it.
Ronald nod and immediately stood up to give them their space, "I hope you are right. Alright, love birds, enjoy your time, I still have the matter to deal with, so I will go first good night."
"Good night PG."
In return for Ronald's night wishes Stefan said playfully and smiled inwardly.
"Now what does that mean?"
"Playing gooseberry in my life."
Stefan beckons towards Ronald who stopped at the door and said seriously, Sarah hit him playfully.
"You are so shameless."
Finally, Ronald and Stefan successfully divert Sarah's attention from her painful past when Ashley played so many games behind her back.
"All right, Sarah, you deal with your husband, I am going out first."
Ronald laughed loud post-completing his words and ran from there because Stefan was striding towards him.
Stefan closed the door of their bedroom, turned around, and point a finger towards the direction from where Ronald went out, "Now would you believe that he is a true playing gooseberry."
"Shut up Stefan, you are getting shameless day by day."
Stefan walked towards Sarah, back hugged her, supported his chin on her shoulder, and whisper in her ear, "Sweetheart, what is shamelessness if I am romantic with my own wife? And you know what, my brother, Ronald always finds a perfect time to collide with us and disturb our own moment. Now, don't you think he is a playing gooseberry in my love life?"
Stefan's seductive whisper and ambiguity were alarmed in Sarah's mind what is ahead, since the day they have confessed she has long tormenting night and less sleep.
She immediately turned around and pushed Stefan, creating a distance between them.
"Ok, you have won the argument, and I lost. Now it's quite late, lets go to sleep now."
Sarah immediately moved forward and fetch a pair of a nightgown for her from the closet.
Stefan smile listening to Sarah's words and immediately jumped on the bed, "Oh yes, you are right, it's quite late and I was also waiting for this moment for the entire day."
Sarah's big doe eyes widen by Stefan's naughty action, "Stefan, now this is the height of your shamelessness, you can't always think in one direction."
Stefan furrowed his eyebrow and said innocently, "What's wrong sweetheart, I am tired of all day's work and wanted to sleep."
"Oh, I see....." Sarah sighed while cursing herself in the mind and failed to notice the naughty look of Stefan.