A Love Trap

At Spencer and Peggy's home

Peggy was sitting on the sofa, nursing her swollen face and glaring furiously at Spencer. She gritted her teeth as she said, "Why did you do this to me, Spencer Mu? How could you side with Ashley and slap me in front of so many people? You are supposed to stand up for me!"

Peggy's sharp, dramatic voice brought a frown to Spencer's face and he lost his patience. "Do you have any idea what you're talking about?" he barked. "Do you know who the man standing next to Ashley was? He has enough money to finish our family in the blink of an eye! How dare you act against him! You'd be happy to see our family go to dust, wouldn't you?"

Peggy couldn't believe her ears. "But Ashley shouldn't be able to know someone like that!" she said petulantly. "Just be honest and tell me whether you've been wanting to hit me for a while and used this as the perfect occasion to shame me. Are you tired of me?" Peggy kept up with her questions. She was now making a scene, which further irritated Spencer.

He pointed at Peggy and roared, "Why can't you just understand? Why do you have to be so annoying? I have explained clearly that we can't afford to be that man's enemy. You were there and you saw how much he cared for Ashley. Did you stop to even think of what disastrous consequences would have awaited us if you had continued treating Ashley like you did? There would be no room in J City for our family if the man had truly become enraged!

Even Clyde spoke deferentially to that man. Or didn't you notice that? You are way too insensitive, and you only care about how you can squander money every day with your rich lady friends. And you don't even think of trying and getting to know more about the circle!"

Peggy sneered. "Hah, Spencer Mu, you are now becoming dissatisfied with me, aren't you? You dislike me for using your money. And you hate me for never earning any back. You've started to loathe me because of the money, haven't you?

But guess what? I have so many appointments with those rich ladies—just for you! I keep trying to break into their circle and know more about them, but it looks like you think of me as just another woman addicted to vanity!"

Spencer frowned again as he looked at the woman he had been married to for more than twenty years. He sighed and tried to mollify her. "I didn't mean it like that. Don't take it seriously."

"Mom? Dad? What are you doing? Mom, are you okay? Why are you sitting on the floor?" Lena's voice sounded from the door of the parlor. Surprised at the scene in front of her, she hurried in to help her mother up.

As Raymond's fiancee, Lena had to entertain the guests at the party with him. She didn't leave the Luo family until all the guests had left.

early to avoid more

swollen face, her voice was laced with worry as she said, "Mom, your face

she looked at Spencer accusingly. "You

I know that Mom made a mistake, but you didn't have to fly into such a temper and hit her so hard," she said, clearly

his mouth to defend himself, but Lena threw him a look that silenced him. She turned around to comfort her mother. "Mom, let's go

mother had settled into bed upstairs, Lena walked down and saw her father sitting on the sofa, smoking. She frowned and

his daughter's concern, Spencer smiled slightly and put his cigarette away. Spencer was fond of Lena. He appreciated her perfect manner and

Peggy?" he asked.

know what Mom is like when she works up a temper. You slapped her in front of everyone at the party, so it's natural for her to get upset

family would have been at the risk of collapsing,"

her eyes. But she brightened as thought struck her. She asked, "Dad, is the man really so powerful? Is he truly

see for myself to confirm his identity, Clyde said he was and treated him with so much

her idea and asked Spencer, "Dad, what do you think I'm really

her life so far. She was cultured and educated, and had grown into an elegant lady. Everything that he and Peggy did well, Lena excelled in. There was

confidently, "My daughter

question that was surprising and shocking. "Then if a man has to choose between me and Ashley, who do you think he

"Lena, what are you planning?" he asked worriedly. "I need to warn you that this man cannot be played with. A tiny mistake can put the whole family at risk. The fate of this family is at that man's mercy. Don't underestimate him. Besides, you are now

sentence. She thought, 'Fiancee? That's not a big deal. I'm not yet married to Raymond. Anything is possible even