A Love Trap

Ashley turned around and looked at Raymond in his eyes. The air of peacefulness about her and the unfeeling look in her eyes worsened the whole situation. "What else can we talk about?" she started in a flat tone. "I believe I have nothing to do with you anymore."

Raymond felt his heart break into pieces.

Cheating on Ashley was something that Raymond never intended to do. He was drunk that night, and he truly mistook Lena for Ashley. The feeling of regret was overwhelming him, but he knew that there was nothing else he could do to right what he had done wrong.

"Ashley, it was all my fault. Please forgive me," Raymond begged, with his eyes being already red. "I know you still love me. Please, Ashley, give me another chance to love you and take care of you. I promise this won't even happen again." With every word he said, Raymond felt his gut twist.

"Shut up," Ashley replied, her eyes still devoid of emotion. "What? You still love me? So what now? You're just gonna forget what happened?" Ashley's tone was becoming more pointed. Hurt was starting to color her eyes.

For some reason, seeing Ashley react like this and hearing the words that came out of her mouth relieved the grief-stricken Raymond. For him, Ashley being angry was a testament that she still loved him. 'If she wasn't affected like this, that's when I'd really be worried, ' he said to himself, sighing silently.

Whatever punishment Ashley had in store for him, he was ready for it. Having her back was the only thing that he wanted at that very moment.

Raymond took a deep breath, looked Ashley in the eyes, and said, "Lena is a good girl, but she isn't the one I love. You know that it's you who I love. Lena will find someone else, and she will give us her blessing once she finds out we're together," Raymond said firmly. He thought that saying that would appease the girl in front of him, but it seemed like it elicited a reaction opposite of what he was expecting.

From anger, Ashley's face contorted into a look of disbelief and disgust. 'Did this guy really say that Lena is a good girl?' she thought to herself, torn between wanting to laugh and wanting to slap Raymond.

'And how could he expect Lena to give us her blessing after what happened between them? That isn't what a boss of a big firm would do.'

There was nothing else Ashley could do at that moment but look at Raymond like he was some kind of a freak.

'Has he lost all his judgement about women, especially Lena?' she said to herself, now disappointed.

Everyone was fully aware of the things Lena had done, and not one of those things could be considered good or kind.

engagement was made with little to no concern about its consequences. Then, if ever they called it off, they also wouldn't care about its implications. The impact

of it. 'A good horse will

a betrayal. And from the moment that

is so good at acting? How would he be able to see how

laugh escaped

said firmly. "If you think that that's a game, let me

didn't know what affected

by the shoulders. "Believe me, Lena's going to let go and

ever do that? Getting engaged to Raymond took a lot of work on her part. What made Raymond think that she would

a strategy though." That was the Lena she knew. Getting connected to the Luo family was hard. There was no

at Raymond, Ashley saw him looking dispirited. 'Still handsome though, ' she noted in her mind. Taking a deep breath, she decided to shut out Raymond's proposal. "Your engagement with Lena doesn't only concern both of you, but also both your families," she started. "Stop asking me to give you another chance. I don't want to have any connections with you any longer." She took another deep breath. "I have loved you, missed you, dreamt about you. All of that is in

her, but she gritted her teeth and swallowed whatever

a final glance at Raymond, she turned around, and left.

was with Ashley. With his blood running cold, he shouted again, "Why did you come here with a man?" His breath was becoming fast and shallow. "You wouldn't make me see it if you didn't want

wanted to believe whatever he was saying, Raymond somehow couldn't. But still, he continued. "Being with another man is your revenge to me for my stupidity, I get it. I'm

wrong, Raymond. Do you really think that I was going to avenge myself for your faults by pretending to

believe Ashley could be so harsh

Stranger!

repeating

with. Cunning, dangerous, and evil were the only words that came into his mind. Exasperated, he shouted

you to tell me what kind of man he is. Mind your own business!" Raymond saw how

like nothing happened, she left.

walking away. He wanted to break down, but he suddenly noticed that someone was hiding in the