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 watched the childlike excitement on her

her face made her face look even

while looking down at

Andrew's face darkened.

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

seconds. Finally, she put

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

which was possibly due to the steam in

long after, Andrew followed her

happily looked at the gifts

carefully unwrapped them one by

face darkened once again as he

them out of the house.

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

did my baby

she wondered out loud.

wrapping paper, Ashley clearly saw what

painting of two people—a woman holding a child's hand.

Ashley already knew who the two people on the

were Dany and

her heart, overflowing with love

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

painting skills were

should enroll

in thought, she suddenly felt

familiar scent wafted toward her.

to focus

jealous when he saw her attention

stop

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

a better mood, or else he would lose

the painting in front of Andrew to show

What did you just call

Andrew's voice sounded

"Um... honey?"

Ashley immediately said.

This satisfied Andrew.

just looked at

Andrew said softly as

painting. This is a precious gift from my baby," Ashley

have been, Ashley would still think that it was the

all over the world

indeed a very good

Andrew conceded.

and snorted. Then, she turned her attention

could open them, Andrew grabbed her hand and

"Ash."

is it?" Ashley looked at him

have a

presents in her hands and looked

at him seriously,

attention was finally

close her eyes and took a box from the

Without hesitation, Ashley complied.

then took out a necklace from a

the soft light

was a cute silver necklace with a