A Love Trap

Andrew carried Ashley like she was something delicate. Ashley herself was reeling at Andrew's words.

Soon enough, however, she came to her senses.

She understood what Andrew meant with those words.

The corners of her mouth twitched. She secretly looked at Andrew from the corner of her eye and helplessly placed a hand on her forehead. Could he stop being like this?

Ashley sat on Andrew's lap, only a few feet away from Cayn.

"Andy, what are you doing?" Ashley whispered harshly into Andrew's ear.

Without answering her question, Andrew glanced at Fabio.

At that moment, Chant was also speechless, shocked by Andrew's actions.

Fabio curled his lips in aggravation.

Even Ashley thought even though they had just sat down together for a meal, the situation was not doing Fabio any good. What was wrong?

"Andy, stop it," Ashley told Andrew under her breath.

Andrew looked back at Ashley, his eyes brimming with cold disappointment.

Ashley thought that if they continued at this rate, Andrew would just leave without saying a word, with or without her.

Ashley was dumbfounded.

Even Chant could not say a single word.

Ashley had to ask Fabio to move to the side. "Fabio, be good, okay?" Ashley said in a soft voice as she winked at him.

Compared with the stiff, cold words Andrew had thrown at Fabio, Ashley's words were like a warm, soothing balm.

Despite his unwillingness, Fabio still moved to the side so that Cayn could sit next to him.

Richard also silently moved one space sideward.

Ashley saw them move and finally felt relieved.

It had been rare to get them to have a meal together.

Ashley returned to her seat.

The dishes in front of Ashley were different from the rest on the table.

Given her pregnancy, she could not eat a lot of foods that were considered hazardous to the baby.

Ashley was about to pick up a piece of vegetable to put on Dany's bowl when a faster pair of chopsticks suddenly beat her to it.

It was Cayn who had picked up a piece of braised pork rib and put it in Dany's bowl.

"Here you go Dany, you'll like it!" Cayn said gently.

"Thank you, Daddy!"

Dany said obediently.

"You're welcome, Dany. Now eat,"

Cayn responded as he affectionately rubbed Dany's head.

some vegetables, too," Ashley gently admonished. "Don't just eat meat, or you will not grow

thank you, Mommy. I got

"Good girl!"

Ashley leaned back, satisfied.

Richard were seated a little far

told them to go ahead and eat

meal went smoothly

stayed in the Lu family villa, Cayn would visit whenever he

almost as if Cayn regarded it as

that would be a

Cayn played with Dany for a while

that annoying man finally go, Richard and

them whenever Cayn was

the two of

thought that Cayn always stole Dany's attention and

enough to wash their faces and brush their teeth on their own before going to bed, Ashley still worried about them and usually fussed around before going back to her own

"Where are you going?"

was about to step out of

and the boys. I'll be back soon," said

how mean Andrew could

a very

come with me?" Ashley suggested, apprehensive if Andrew would

was a good idea for Andrew to spend some time with the kids and possibly bond

know

and make her spend all of her time

was why Andrew

needed no one else but him. Why would she go and see

that those people were

said

finally let himself be pulled and

out of the

the children discussing something with their heads close

didn't say anything to interrupt them. She just quietly walked up to them and found several sheets of paper with

at the drawings but she could not figure out what they

time,

moment, Dany raised her head and saw Ashley standing behind her. "Mommy!" she cheerfully called out. It was

were startled by her

Ashley was similarly surprised.

on, my darling?"

did you

They quickly put away

a little

three

doing just

just learning how to

Mommy, look, this is my

piece of paper she had hurriedly picked up from the

out that Dany liked

child as she took the paper

his lips

so when are you three going to

did not force

kids could play once they were done with

not particularly strict

brothers for a while. Can I do that, Mommy?" -- Dany