A Love Trap

"I only found out about this today. I'm really sorry," the middle-aged woman apologized sincerely.

Ashley and Ellie were displeased with the result, but they had no intention of putting her in an awkward position. After all, the woman was nice to them.

"It's okay. Now that you are going to sign a contract with someone else, we're fine with that," Ellie replied.

"I'm really sorry for wasting your time," the woman continued apologizing, with guilt written all over her face.

Ashley and Ellie bid her farewell and walked out. There was no point in crying over spilled milk.

...

They had come there to sign the contract in good spirits, but neither of them expected this to happen.

"It's so annoying! We have to go somewhere else now to rent a shop. What's going on? We agreed to sign the contract," Ashley whined in frustration as they left the shop.

"Things change, you know. Never mind. We'll find a good place," Ellie comforted. But there was a tinge of displeasure in her voice.

The two girls perked up again and started to look around for another suitable shop to rent.

For some reason, they were having a really hard time finding a suitable shop to rent. Even though they had found a few perfect shops, each time they were about to sign the contract, something would happen and the owners would suddenly back out of the deal.

The owners of the shops would have a different reason for doing so.

One of them said that they suddenly realized that the shop had already been reserved and that she had received the deposit for it.

changed his mind and didn't

since he was going to his hometown because his wife was due to

...

got an array of different excuses and reasons but the

something would always crop

shops out to the two girls, Ashley and Ellie were beginning to be suspicious that something was going on. After all, it was too much of a coincidence that they couldn't find one single shop to lease, even though everything was discussed

hectic day of looking for a storefront, Ashley and Ellie dragged their tired bodies back to their apartment. They trudged towards the couch

when she saw the caller ID was, Peggy on the screen, she

always felt the need to

unhappy with Peggy's attitude and behavior towards her. After all, she was an adopted child, not a servant. The Mus instructed her to do things all the time as if

phone. She had

she

took you so long to answer the phone? You didn't want to take my call, did you? Why did we adopt an ungrateful child like you? You..." Peggy's shrill voice resounded from the other

had become used to her insults and degradation. Each time she received a call from her foster mother, the latter would always remind Ashley how ungrateful she was and how she owed them so much for

just say even more harsh words if she

she usually did when she would call her. But since Ashley didn't say a word back, Peggy became bored

there at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. Do you hear me?" Peggy said

Ashley replied flatly.

you are taught to speak to your elders? Where are your manners? Your date has a doctoral degree and he has studied abroad. He is older than you, but he is a

date if he is such an excellent man? You made it sound like he is the

I will be there on time. But don't forget your promise to me. After I meet that man tomorrow, I will have nothing more to do with the Mu family. It doesn't matter if you refuse to admit it.

my word. You'd better be on the date on

her husband would agree with her. After all, Spencer had only asked her to talk Ashley into going on the