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Over the past two seasons, Ashley Darby has experienced ups and downs in her six-year marriage to Australian real estate giant Michael, much of it documented for The Real Housewives of Potomac. A year after his cheating scandal, the OG housewife spoke about how quarantining together during the COVID-19 pandemic strengthened their marriage.

Michael Darby and Ashley Boalch Darby attend Real Housewives Of Potomac Premiere Party
Michael Darby and Ashley Boalch Darby attend “Real Housewives Of Potomac” Premiere Party | Brian Stukes

Ashley Darby and Michael Darby experienced marital issues

Last season, Ashley Darby went through a sexual assault case with her husband in which a cameraman accused Michael of grabbing his butt. Even though the courts threw the case out, a few housewives, namely Candiace Dillard, still believed Michael had a problem with inappropriately touching people and refused to let it go.

Dillard’s treatment of the Darbys alienated her close friend Monique Samuels who later befriended Ashley. Throughout the drama and housewives spreading rumors that her husband was gay, the former pageant beauty stood by her man.

A few months after everything settled down, Ashley became pregnant. After giving birth, the OG housewife changed, and she and her husband began drifting apart.

During a girls’ weekend, he stepped out on his wife, which ended up making its way to the blogs.

Darby on how the pandemic strengthened her marriage

As a result of the affair, Ashley asked to modify their prenuptial agreement because she promised to leave him if he cheated again. Due to the affair making the front page of several publications, the other housewives immediately found out, and Darby explained the two had participated in threesomes together.

However, they agreed not to be with other women without each other, and Darby admitted she no longer wanted to do them anymore. In episode 12 of RHOP season 5, the couple went to counseling together, and Michael revealed the complicated relationship he had with his father and how it’s affected him.

A few days before the episode aired, Ashley talked about the current state of her marriage with In The Know. She explained they went through a “hard time” together and worked through several issues that viewers will watch unfold on the show.

The former pageant queen also noted they quarantined together during the COVID-19 pandemic and “reconnected.” She claimed the two “learned more about each other” and believes they’ve become closer than ever. A couple of months ago, the Darbys announced they are expecting another child.

Darby believes ‘RHOP’ season 5 will be ‘hot’

Additionally, the OG housewife talked about her expectations for the hopefully in-person season 5 reunion. Even though she hypes every reunion up, she believes the upcoming one will “top them all” because of all the missing pieces to storylines, noting “those involved will have a lot to say.”

The expecting mother claims even she is “shocked” to hear new information coming out and can’t wait for the reunion as she has “unanswered questions” and wants “closure.”

Monique Samuels has already opened up about some of the left out information, including the real reason why she didn’t want Charrisse Jackson Jordan around her.

According to Samuels, the ex-housewife attempted to spread malicious rumors regarding her youngest child’s paternity. Additionally, Samuels teased her receipts on Gizelle Bryant’s ex-husband-turned-boyfriend, Jamal, and his alleged mistress that she promised to reveal at the reunion. The Real Housewives of Potomac airs Sundays at 9/8c on Bravo.

Follow Tamara Grant on Twitter.

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