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 any gifts for them

for the kids the next time I visit, ' he thought

turned towards Belinda and Martin, who were seated on the couch. Then she said to her children, "These are my parents. Or in other words, your grandpa and your

and Richard looked at Belinda and Martin, and then they turned to Ashley. They arched their eyebrows in

on the couch were

impossible to

had 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 that these strangers were

he could voice his confusion out loud. She shushed them with

now. Greet your grandparents," she said enthusiastically.

"Hello, grandpa and grandma."

as their mother had told them. They slowly stepped up to the couch and extended

laid her

This is my brother Richard and that is my sister

of a leader introducing the rest

darling

She wanted to hold her grandchild in her arms more than

always did that when he wasn't sure

Ashley nodded reassuringly.

grandma. You can hug

stretched out his little arms and bounced on to Belinda's lap. She quickly wrapped him in her arms.

the scent of childhood. His body felt tiny and warm in her arms. She felt a

from afar but didn't say

about Ashley's past.

So it was essential

Chant felt delighted for her from the

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

beamed as she looked at the scene that was unfolding before

moment was all

the whole day with

returned home, he was surprised

was 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 watch. It

in, but he stopped when

Jeremy coldly. He couldn't believe

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

off. He could feel a cold stare upon him and

wasn't the kind to hold a

Andrew's stare with a

"You're here!"