A Love Trap

The rumors going around didn't matter to Belinda. After all, there was usually very little truth in them. As long as her daughter said that Andrew was a good man, she would continue to believe it.

There was seldom a dearth of 'topics' when it came to conversations amongst women. They could talk about anything under the sun, unlike men who often found themselves lost for words.

Ashley and Belinda strolled from one end of the garden to the other, immersed in their conversation.

Ashley glanced at her watch, breaking herself away from their discussion for a moment. It was a force of habit for Ashley. She always knew instinctively when it was time for her children to get back from school. She slowly led Belinda and herself into the living room to welcome her children who would be arriving shortly.

Her three children were at the door in a matter of seconds just as she had expected. Dany was leading the trio with Fabio and Richard trailing tiredly behind him.

The first thing Fabio always did when he got back home was to look for his mother.

Earlier it had been only Fabio and Richard in the house. But now, they could spend more time with their mom.

The moment Fabio and Dany saw Ashley sitting on the sofa, they dashed towards her cheerfully, with their arms outstretched for a hug. "Mommy!" they squealed excitedly.

"I am so happy that you two are back home! I've missed you, my darlings!"

She held the two kids in a tight bear hug and placed a gentle kiss on their foreheads.

Looking at the three children running excitedly into the living room, Belinda and Martin were stunned.

Were they all Ashley's children?

All three of them were adorable and Ashley's parents got the feeling that they'd all grow up to be beautiful someday.

Jeremy had met Fabio before, so he knew that Fabio was a carbon copy of Andrew. The similarity in their features was almost uncanny.

"Hi, Uncle Jeremy!"

said Fabio in a sweet voice when he saw Jeremy.

"Jeremy is my brother. So that makes him your uncle, do you understand?"

Ashley rubbed Fabio's head and then turned to her other children with kind eyes.

"Ok! We got it, mom!"

Fabio, Richard and Dany spoke in unison.

"Good kids!"

Jeremy felt a mixture of pride and joy brimming in his heart as he looked at his nephews and niece.

he hadn't brought any gifts

the next time I visit, '

seated on the couch. Then she said to her children, "These are my parents. Or in other words,

they turned to

on the couch were

be impossible to their young

N country, they had not known another

loud. She shushed them with a simple look- one that she'd learnt as a mother.

Greet your grandparents," she said

"Hello, grandpa and grandma."

had told them. They slowly stepped up to the couch and extended their hands for

Fabio?" The moment she laid her eyes on

This is my brother Richard and

spoke with the authority of a leader introducing

a darling young boy!

you?" asked Belinda anxiously. She wanted to hold her

looked at Ashley subconsciously. He always did that when he wasn't

Ashley nodded reassuringly.

grandma. You can

bounced on to Belinda's lap. She

smelt the faint fragrance of milk coming from his body. It was the scent of childhood. His body felt tiny and warm in her arms. She

from afar but didn't say a

about Ashley's past.

wife. So it was essential that he knew

reunited with her family members. Chant felt delighted for her from the bottom

was brimming with a newfound energy. The light seemed warmer in the afterglow of this

she looked at the scene that was unfolding before her

was all she'd ever

Martin spent the whole day with Ashley and

he was

seemed to him like

in, but he stopped

at Jeremy coldly. He couldn't

here?' he wondered, barely managing to keep this thought from showing

sensed that something was off. He could feel a cold stare

kind to hold a grudge against anyone.

stare with

"You're here!"