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.

him that he hadn't brought

something for the kids the next time I visit,

towards Belinda and Martin, who were seated on the couch. Then she said to her children, "These are

at Belinda and Martin, and then they

on the couch

seemed to be impossible to

grown up believing that Cynthia and Zen were their only grandparents. During the four years they spent in N country, they had not known another truth. So it was natural that they couldn't wrap their head around the idea

shushed them with a simple

on now. Greet your grandparents," she said enthusiastically.

"Hello, grandpa and grandma."

had told them. They slowly stepped up to the couch and

laid her eyes on Fabio,

This is my brother Richard

spoke with the authority of a

a darling young

I hug you?" asked Belinda anxiously. She wanted to hold her grandchild in her

did that when he wasn't

Ashley nodded reassuringly.

grandma. You

on to Belinda's lap. She quickly

body. It was the scent of childhood. His body

them from afar but

about Ashley's past.

Ashley was Andrew's wife. So it

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

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

the scene that was unfolding before her eyes.

moment was all

spent the whole day with Ashley and her

he was surprised

on the couch in the living room, basking in each other's company. It seemed to him like the set of a sitcom he liked to watch. It seemed almost unreal

step in, but he stopped when noticing Jeremy's presence.

Jeremy coldly. He couldn't believe it.

wondered, barely managing to keep this thought

off. He could feel a cold stare upon

wasn't the kind to hold a grudge against

stare with a

"You're here!"