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

kids the next time I visit, '

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 Martin, and then they turned to Ashley.

the

impossible to their

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 also their

could voice his confusion out loud. She shushed them with a simple look- one that she'd learnt as a mother.

on now. Greet your grandparents," she

"Hello, grandpa and grandma."

doubts, Fabio and Richard did as their mother had told them. They

this Fabio?" The moment she laid her eyes

My name is Fabio, grandma. This is my brother Richard and that is my sister

of a leader introducing the rest of

such a darling

anxiously. She wanted to hold her grandchild in her arms more than anything in the world.

Ashley subconsciously. He always did that when he wasn't sure what to

Ashley nodded reassuringly.

You can hug

to Belinda's lap. She quickly wrapped him in

from his body. It was the scent of childhood. His body felt tiny and warm in her arms.

afar but didn't

all about Ashley's past.

was Andrew's wife. So it was essential that he knew

felt delighted for her from the bottom of

had begun to grow rather sullen, was brimming with a newfound

the scene that was unfolding before

moment was all she'd ever wanted.

and Martin spent the whole

was

basking in each other's company. It seemed to him like the set of

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

looked at Jeremy coldly. He couldn't believe

still here?' he wondered, barely managing to keep

a cold stare upon him and turned around to see Andrew at the doorway.

kind to hold a grudge against

countered Andrew's stare with a gentle

"You're here!"