A Love Trap

Underneath the image were the words "Happy Birthday!" written in ganache.

Ashley leaned over and kissed Dany on the cheek. "Thank you, my darling. I love it."

"Mommy, hurry up and cut the cake!" Fabio said, bouncing on his heels with excitement.

"Okay."

Ashley cut the cake into several pieces with a knife, put them in little plates and gave them to the children.

"Mommy! I want to eat the part of the cake made of my image!"

"Mommy, me, too!"

"Okay, I'll cut them for you," Ashley replied with a smile.

"Let me do it." After Ashley gave the small pieces of cake to Dany and Fabio, Andrew took the knife from her hand.

"Wait a minute," Ashley said as she quickly cut off a piece of the cake with Andrew's image on it. She placed that portion in her own plate.

She then looked at Andrew with a mischievous smile and took a bite.

Andrew looked at her without saying a word, but his eyes darkened.

Ashley lowered her head, slightly intimidated by Andrew's gaze.

She also immediately averted her eyes.

'I just ate the part of cake with your image. Why are you looking at me like that? It's so scary!' she said in her mind, looking at him.

Andrew carefully cut off the part of cake with Ashley's image and put it on a plate.

He then cut the rest of the whole cake into several pieces and handed them out to Richard and Chant.

He also gave several slices to the servants.

There were a few servants in the house. They were the people Chant had brought with him when he moved in—Linda, Porter, and two younger servants.

"Mommy, please come here." After eating half of his share, Fabio suddenly asked Ashley to lean down to him.

The two of them were already sitting very close.

After hearing Fabio, Ashley scooted even closer to him.

"What's wrong? Tell me, Fabio."

When Ashley got close to him, she saw a dollop of icing on his hand. Suddenly, Fabio lifted his hand and smashed the cream on Ashley's cheek.

Laughing, Ashley scooped some icing herself and playfully retaliated on the little boy.

"You look like a kitten,"

Ashley said with a grin.

Seeing this, Dany rolled her eyes in exasperation. Then, imitating Fabio, she also slapped some cake on Ashley's face.

The three children and Ashley were having so much fun playing this little game, while Andrew and Chant quietly looked on.

After they finished eating the cake, the servants cleaned up the mess and Ashley and Andrew went upstairs.

In their bedroom, Ashley sat on the bed, excited to find out what the children had given her.

She was looking forward to opening her presents.

Andrew whispered as he watched the childlike

the light, the cream on her face made her face look even

open the presents first," Ashley said while looking down at the gifts,

Andrew's face darkened.

held her hand. "Go wash yourself

up at him for a few seconds. Finally, she put

wearing thick flannel pajamas, and her fluffed up hair was carelessly tied back in a loose bun on top

was possibly due

Andrew followed her

and happily looked at the gifts from

them

face darkened once again as

thrown them out of the house. They're hogging Ash's attention

the gift from Dany. She opened the box and found something carefully swaddled in exquisite wrapping

my

she wondered out loud.

carefully peeling back the wrapping paper,

woman holding a child's

guessing, Ashley already knew who the two people on

Dany and

her heart, overflowing with

the painting, the more she began to notice the details. She was

skills

if she should enroll Dany in

thought, she suddenly felt a

wafted toward her. "What are you thinking

to focus her attention

jealous when he

stop

Andy, this is Dany's birthday

cajole him into a better mood, or else he would lose his temper

front of Andrew to show

What did you just call

Andrew's voice sounded inexplicably

"Um... honey?"

Ashley immediately said.

This satisfied Andrew.

looked at

as he looked at

you mean it's 'not bad'? It's a beautiful painting. This is a precious gift from my

still think that it was the best gift because

was how mothers all over the

is indeed a

Andrew conceded.

him and snorted. Then, she turned her attention to the remaining

could open them, Andrew grabbed her

"Ash."

it?" Ashley looked

have a gift for

Ashley put down the presents

that Ashley was looking at him seriously, Andrew smiled

attention was finally on

eyes and took

Without hesitation, Ashley complied.

a necklace from

the soft light of

was a cute silver necklace with a moon-shaped