A Love Trap

Leaving Lena and Raymond behind, Ashley headed towards the Mu family's residence. But the engaged couple still managed to arrive before her. After all, they were in a car, while she was on foot.

She arrived at the residence and rang the bell. A maid answered the door.

The servant rolled her eyes at Ashley, turned around and walked away without even bothering with a greeting. It was evident that she had no respect for her.

If even the maid of the house treated her like this, it was easy to believe that Ashley had had a hard time in this family.

But she paid no heed to the maid's offensive behaviour. She didn't see any point in paying attention to people who meant nothing to her.

As she entered the living room, she heard them talking and laughing merrily.

All of them wore a bright smile, and the room had a cheerful atmosphere.

But with Ashley's arrival the gay atmosphere instantly turned sombre. They stopped chatting and stared at the intruder. Clearly they were unhappy with her presence.

'They don't want to see me, but they asked me to be here. They don't like me, but they put on a fake smile and pretend as though they are pleased to see me. Can't they just stop all this acting? I am sick of playing this stupid game with them, ' Ashley whined in her head.

"Dad, Mom," Ashley greeted her foster parents who were sitting on the couch and took a seat far away from them.

Aware that they disliked her, she chose to keep a safe distance from them.

"Ashley, you're finally here. Raymond told us a joke, and it was really funny," Lena broke the oppressive silence.

Although Ashley detested Lena, she didn't think it was a good idea to ignore her in the presence of her foster parents.

see," she responded coolly.

the moment she walked into the room, Ashley had sensed that she was the cause of discomfort for everyone. But it wasn't her fault. She was asked to be here, she told herself, in

his feet and headed upstairs. Peggy

followed them obediently.

Mu seated in the study, she entered the room timidly. Since her foster father

I were so worried

and replied,"Mom knew where I was that night. She saw that I got drunk and took

night you were not..." But her voice trailed off when she met her husband's

Ashley, she didn't have the guts to defy her husband. After

lip, Peggy cast a

acted nonchalant as if she hadn't seen her foster mother's angry

that we had prepared for you," Spencer Mu inquired, pretending to be unaware of the fact that Ashley had been drugged

that room and I dozed off. That's all I remember," Ashley explained giving her foster father an innocent

and looked convinced about her story. Motioning her to leave the room, he commanded,"You can leave us now. Stay and join us for lunch. Your mother has

meekly

Ashley, Spencer. I was taking her to Mr. Du's room,

up everything. Because of her, we have offended Michael and lost the chance to

see. You can leave now. Don't forget to tell Ashley to go on that blind

I will take care of it," Peggy promised confidently.

...

down the stairs when she caught sight of Raymond and Lena making out. After a pause,

they suddenly let go of each