A Love Trap

"Okay. I'll wait here for half an hour. If you both still can't reach an agreement, then I'm going to leave.

"Okay. Thank you," replied Ron.

Ron pulled Ashley aside, released her hand, and gently asked, "Now, can you tell me why you don't want to go back to the Mu family's house?"

Ashley quickly withdrew her hand once Ron let go of her. She kneaded her wrist, lowered her head to avoid looking at Ron, and spoke up, her voice indifferent. "I don't want to go back there because they don't like me. And I really don't want to invite any trouble for myself."

Ron knew that Ashley hadn't gotten along with other members of the Mu family for a long time.

But he had never seen her act like this before.

Ron rubbed Ashley's head and said softly, "Don't worry. They won't dare treat you badly now that I'm back. Are you worried that I can't protect you?"

'I won't allow anyone to bully you anymore; nor will I allow anyone to be condescending towards you. You are my beloved. I must protect you well from now on, ' thought Ron.

Ashley had severed her relationship with the Mu family. She knew that she would lose her temper and do something bad to them if she fixated on the trouble that Lena and Peggy had caused her. Ashley took a deep breath and turned to Ron to explain. "No. I know that you will protect me. But the key problem is—"

"As long as you believe in me, everything will be fine," Ron said earnestly, cutting off whatever she was about to say.

Ashley turned around and fixed her gaze on the leaves that swayed with the breeze. She said slowly and carefully, "I've severed all ties with the Mu family. So I won't go back with you."

At this, Ron looked worriedly over at her and asked, "What happened? Did they do anything bad to you? Or did they force you to do anything that you didn't want to do?"

Ron knew Peggy and Lena well. They didn't dare treat Ashley badly when he was at home because of the protection he extended. But they began making trouble for Ashley the moment he left home.

Ron suspected that they had done something to Ashley but didn't even think that Ashley could have done to Lena and Peggy.

Ron in amazement. She hadn't expected Ron to ask her such a question.

you want to ask me why I cut off ties with the Mu family?" Ashley looked at Ron, an array of emotions

wrong?' Ron thought, a little put out by this. He then gently rubbed Ashley's head and looked

are always tolerant and never treat others heartlessly unless they irritate you. I believe that you did that

think? What if it's completely different from what you've guessed?"

didn't

also knew Ron well enough. If he didn't get an answer from her, he would make every effort

each other, both

Ron how and why she had severed her relationship with the Mu family. And she didn't tell him about the troubles

things were in the past and she

just gave him a brief run-through about

he said, "You must have lived an unhappy

shook her head. "No," she said.

back only if and when she was asked to deal with something, and she'd leave as soon as she

to her opinion and didn't go back to the Mu villa with Ron. Instead, she saw him off at the gates and asked the driver to take

her hands and looked outside, taking in

seemed to be lost in thought, her eyes

to the door of the Mu family's house.

two reasons why he hadn't told his family about his coming back. One was to

open the door. Everything was what it had

to step into the living

got married? But Raymond met Ashley again yesterday!" Lena shouted at Peggy.

voice trembled with