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.

your face first," Andrew whispered as he watched

her face made

the presents first," Ashley said while

Andrew's face darkened.

took a step forward and held her hand. "Go wash

she put down

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

face was a little flushed, which was

Andrew

the headboard and happily

them one by

again

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

the box and found

my baby give

she wondered out loud.

peeling back the wrapping paper, Ashley clearly saw

of two people—a woman holding a child's hand. The scene looked

guessing, Ashley already knew who the

were Dany and

felt a tug in her heart, overflowing with love for her

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

painting skills were really

wondered if she should enroll

lost in thought, she suddenly felt

toward her. "What are

focus

he saw

to stop

this is Dany's birthday gift to me. Isn't

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

front of Andrew

What did you

that Andrew's

"Um... honey?"

Ashley immediately said.

This satisfied Andrew.

just looked at him

as he looked at the

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

matter what the gift would have been, Ashley would still think that it was the best gift because Dany

all over the

it is indeed

Andrew conceded.

she turned her

open them, Andrew grabbed her

"Ash."

What is it?" Ashley looked at him

have a gift

Ashley put down the presents

that Ashley was looking at him seriously,

attention was finally

Ashley to close her eyes and took a box from

Without hesitation, Ashley complied.

a necklace from a

necklace shimmered under the soft light of

silver necklace with