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.

face first," Andrew whispered as he watched the

her face made her face

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

Andrew's face darkened.

a step forward and held her

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

half an hour, Ashley stepped out of the bathroom. She was wearing thick flannel pajamas, and her fluffed up hair was carelessly tied back in a loose bun on top

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

long after, Andrew followed her

rested her back against the headboard and happily looked at

unwrapped them

face darkened once again

should have thrown them out of the house. They're hogging

She opened the

my

she wondered out loud.

carefully peeling back the wrapping paper, Ashley

holding a child's hand.

already knew who the two

were Dany

in her heart, overflowing

the more she began to notice the details. She was surprised at the

painting skills were

should enroll Dany in some

in thought, she suddenly felt a warm presence

her. "What are you

to focus her attention on

when he saw her attention focused

wanted her to stop

Dany's birthday

into a better mood, or else

front of Andrew to show

did you just call

thought that Andrew's voice sounded

"Um... honey?"

Ashley immediately said.

This satisfied Andrew.

just looked

softly as he looked at

It's a beautiful painting. This is a precious gift from my

think that it was the best gift because Dany

how mothers all

indeed a very

Andrew conceded.

Then, she turned her attention to the remaining two gifts

Andrew grabbed her hand and

"Ash."

What is it?" Ashley looked at him in

have a gift

do?" Ashley put down the presents in her hands

at him

attention was finally

close her eyes and took

Without hesitation, Ashley complied.

a necklace

the soft light of

cute silver necklace