A Love Trap

Remorsefully, Claire said, "It's my fault...I shouldn't have put it here. I thought it would be easier for you to grab it if it was kept closer to you. I didn't think you could also knock it down accidentally..."

"Claire, it's okay. I'm not hurt. I am just clumsy sometimes. It's not your fault, don't worry."

"You didn't get burnt, did you?" asked Claire, feeling guilty.

"No, no. It didn't splash on me. Just don't worry about it...

Could you please clean up the place? I'm going to my room for a while," said Ashley with a reassuring smile.

"Okay, Miss Mu. I'll take care of this..." Claire replied, her eyes still low.

Leaving Claire there, she forced herself to climb the stairs, even though her feet were hurt.

She sat on the edge of the bed once she reached her room and checked her feet. The right one was alright, but the left one was miserable.

There was a red blotch on the instep. It had already started to swell.

She hissed quietly and walked to the bathroom to run cold water over it. Once the pain and stinging alleviated a bit, she fished for an ointment in her medical kit.

The ointment cooled down the spot instantly, making her feel much better. She then rested on the bed, playing a game on her phone.

Every now and then, the large empty bedroom overwhelmed her. She felt bored and lonely.

She never felt like that when Andrew was around. They didn't even have to be talking for her to feel comfortable. His sheer presence was enough.

Everything felt different now. Her mood these days had changed.

She wasn't used to sitting idly, without having anything to do.

Now that her foot wasn't bothering her so much, she forgot about it completely. She realized that she hadn't been to the cake shop for a long time. 'I don't have anything to do anyway, so why not go to see Ellie there?'

She acted as soon as she got that thought. She changed into better clothes and left the house. On her way out, she told Claire she might not come back home in the evening.

matter? Did she fight with Mr.

didn't know a fight was often a result of unsolved, trivial matters that piled up over time. They slowly grow bigger and bigger, finally reaching a stage where they become difficult to handle. That was the situation they were

out of the taxi, Ashley stood outside the shop for a long time. She remembered how nice it used to be to work

had even broken rules to enroll her. Now they expected her to be grateful to

her to change

she did like her job in

by ear, ' she thought, shrugging and finally walking in.

were very

today? You haven't visited in such a long time! Where have you

she had started working at

thought it was because she had to deal with some personal matters that she hadn't been

working at the

looked at her in surprise. "Work at the company? So

I'll still come here whenever I have time,"

slowly, then muttered, "But why did you suddenly

was probably a whim," said Ashley sheepishly.

You're so cute,

the job too stressful, you can come back here! We need you in the cake shop!" said Cheryl, smiling genuinely. They all missed

and I poured our blood and sweat to establish it..." Ashley said, looking all around her.

Ellie? Has she

resting inside," said Cheryl.

go see her. You two work hard! Don't

us in the

continued to banter for a while before Ashley finally

the edge of the couch, lost in thought.

she started to tiptoe. She walked over to her back quietly, covered Ellie's eyes and tried to fake as different a voice as

But she recognized Ashley's familiar fragrance, her forced voice and her touch.

a heartless pig!" said Ellie cockily.

"Why am I a heartless pig? You aren't as kind as

once since you started working at the