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.

he

the cream on her face made

first," Ashley said while looking down at the

Andrew's face darkened.

forward and held her hand. "Go wash yourself

him for a few seconds. Finally, she put down the presents and followed

an hour, Ashley stepped out of the bathroom. She was wearing thick flannel pajamas, and her fluffed up hair was carelessly

was a little flushed, which was possibly due to the steam

Andrew

rested her back against the headboard and happily looked at the gifts from her three

carefully unwrapped them one by

darkened once again as he

out of the house. They're hogging

Dany. She opened the box and found something

did my baby

she wondered out loud.

carefully peeling back the wrapping paper, Ashley

of two people—a woman holding

even guessing, Ashley already knew who

were Dany and

her heart, overflowing with

to

painting skills were

wondered if she should enroll Dany in

thought, she suddenly

familiar scent wafted toward her. "What are you

to focus her

felt jealous when he saw her attention

her to stop thinking about

birthday gift to me. Isn't it

that she had to cajole him into a better mood, or else he would

the painting in front of Andrew to show

did you just call

that Andrew's

"Um... honey?"

Ashley immediately said.

This satisfied Andrew.

looked at him

said softly as he looked at the

you mean it's 'not bad'? It's a beautiful painting. This

would still think that it was the best gift because

was how mothers all over

indeed a very good

Andrew conceded.

looked at him and snorted. Then, she turned her attention

Andrew grabbed

"Ash."

it?" Ashley

have a gift

presents in her

was looking at him seriously, Andrew

attention was finally

asked Ashley to close her eyes and took a box from the bedside

Without hesitation, Ashley complied.

a necklace from a delicate

the soft

cute silver necklace with a