A Love Trap

"Okay."

Ashley was happy to see her children getting along really well.

Her heart felt full. Although Richard was not her biological son, he could not have been more dear to her than if he had actually come from her.

The three children talked in low voices. They were also clumped together, so no one at the table heard what they were talking about.

Ashley could only see them whispering to each other.

After dinner, the servants cleared the table as Ashley and the others settled on the sofa.

They were watching TV together when, suddenly, the whole villa was plunged into darkness.

"Ah!"

Some of the more timid house staff could not hold back their screams.

"Is the electricity off? "How could there be a power outage?

"How could there be a sudden blackout in the villa?" the servants whispered among themselves.

Ashley was also a little scared, but she calmed down at the thought of Andrew by her side.

Suddenly, she remembered, 'My children!

Where are my children right now?' Ashley started panicking.

"Richard, Dany, Fabio, where are you?" Ashley called out in a loud voice.

However, no one answered.

It was dark everywhere, so Ashley started feeling more and more terrified. She held Andrew's hand and asked, "Andy, where are the children? Do you know where they are?"

"It's okay. Don't worry! They're all inside the house. Take it easy," Andrew comforted her.

Suddenly, Ashley noticed a faint light and some noise from a short distance. She looked up and tried to focus.

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!"

The faint light got closer and closer, and Ashley could now see it more clearly.

She heard the voices of her children singing the birthday song. The way they sang it was so lovely that it melted the hearts of anyone within hearing distance.

Stunned, Ashley could only gape at the children as they approached her.

Finally, they stopped in front of her and said aloud, "Happy Birthday, Mommy!" The three kids expressed their greetings in unison. Unconsciously, Ashley brought up a hand to cover her mouth and looked at them, emotions swimming in her eyes. She could not come to herself until sometime later.

"Mommy, blow the candles and make a wish!" Dany said excitedly as she walked up to Ashley, grabbing her sleeve.

"Yes, Mommy, make a wish!"

"Mommy, make a wish!"

Richard and Fabio also urged her.

make a

candles on the cake in front of her, closed her eyes to

"Yeah!"

cheered. At that moment,

was like the blackout from before

the cake and candles in front of Ashley told her that it was all

light in the

front of her. Behind them stood Linda and the other servants who all said aloud to

the servants who were

fairly well. He knew that Andrew would never

Andrew

had worked for Chant for

"Thank you!"

replied, her eyes

was still confused. Was today

Did you forget that today is your birthday?" Fabio asked when he saw the puzzlement

long time. Now, we're

out about it when she

she seldom celebrated her birthday. She had forgotten her own, but never the birthdays of

became, they

listening to their words, Ashley

you, my babies. I love you all!" Ashley said to her

She had

never celebrated it when she lived in M Country because of her busy schedule. She eventually forgot to celebrate it

never thought that her own kids would be the ones

heart was about

is my present for

eyes blinking innocently as she

are gifts, too?" Ashley exclaimed as she

was so

"Hmm, Mommy, do

up at

a present from you, Mommy

Ashley not love it? It was a gift

open it?" Ashley

it again and shook her

"Got it!"

replied as she carefully placed the

have a present for you,"

Richard handed the present he had

brother, Fabio offered his present to their mother at the

I love them all, very

contents of the presents, Ashley was

don't have anything for you. Just take

up to Ashley with a

just stared at the large box. She could not even hazard a guess as to what it

to, Grandpa," Ashley

grandfather, how can I not give you a gift?" Chant felt saddened by Ashley's refusal, but he kept looking at her with