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.

that he changed his mind and didn't want to lease his

have time to sign the contract since he

...

got an array of different excuses and reasons but the end result was always the same.

crop up and the owner would give them a reason why they couldn't

suspicious that something was going

Ashley and Ellie dragged their tired bodies back to their apartment. They trudged towards the couch and collapsed on it. Just

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

the need to

was 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 she was their servant.

up the phone. She had already assumed the reason for Peggy's call.

she said acidly.

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?

time she received a call from her foster mother, the latter would always remind Ashley how ungrateful she was and how

she knew Peggy would just say even more harsh words

and insulted like she usually did when she would call her. But since Ashley didn't say a word back, Peggy became bored and cleared her throat finally getting to

forget the date. You must be there at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. Do you hear me?" Peggy said in a commanding

Ashley replied

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 promising man. He is

don't you go on that date if he is such an excellent man? You made it sound like he is the best man in the world,

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

I wouldn't break my word. You'd better be on the date on time

wasn't certain whether her husband would agree with her. After all, Spencer had only asked her to talk Ashley into going on the blind date, but he never mentioned disowning Ashley.