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

next time I visit, ' he

she said

then they turned to Ashley. They arched their eyebrows

strange couple on the couch

be impossible to their young minds.

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 that these strangers

voice his confusion out loud. She shushed them with a simple look- one that

your grandparents," she said

"Hello, grandpa and grandma."

told them.

laid her eyes

This is my brother Richard and that is

authority of a leader introducing the rest of his

such a darling young

wanted to hold her grandchild in her arms more than anything in the

at Ashley subconsciously. He always did that when

Ashley nodded reassuringly.

grandma. You can

to

of milk coming from his body. It was the scent of childhood. His

but didn't say

knew all about Ashley's past.

all, Ashley was Andrew's wife. So it was essential that he

felt delighted for her

sullen, was brimming with a newfound energy.

at the scene that was unfolding before her

moment was all she'd ever

Belinda and Martin spent the whole day with Ashley and her

Andrew returned home, he was surprised at what he saw.

sitting 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

to step in, but he stopped when noticing Jeremy's

at Jeremy coldly. He couldn't believe it.

he still here?' he wondered, barely managing to keep this thought from showing on his face.

something was off. He could feel a cold stare upon him and turned around to see

to hold a

countered Andrew's stare with a gentle

"You're here!"