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 tall." She picked

you, Mommy. I

"Good girl!"

Ashley leaned back, satisfied.

Fabio and Richard were seated a little far away from

go ahead and

went smoothly after

stayed in the Lu

as if Cayn regarded it as his

course, that would be a story for

dinner, Cayn played with Dany for

go,

attention to them whenever Cayn was with

was why the two

Cayn always stole

their own before going to bed, Ashley still worried about them and usually

"Where are you going?"

as she was about to step out

the boys. I'll be

mean Andrew could

a very jealous

me?" Ashley suggested, apprehensive if Andrew would agree

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

know that it

feared that the children would hog Ashley's attention and make her spend all

Andrew did not

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

him that those people

Ashley said as she tugged at Andrew's hand and dragged him out of

finally let himself be pulled

the

the door, they saw the children

quietly walked up to them and found several sheets

the drawings but she could not figure out

time, she

"Mommy!" she cheerfully called out. It was quiet in the

and Fabio were startled

Ashley was similarly surprised.

my darling?" asked Ashley

did you

unison. They quickly put away the

looked a

the three kids

you doing just now?" Ashley

were just learning how to

We are learning to draw. Mommy, look, this is my

spread out the piece of paper she had hurriedly picked up from the

out that Dany liked painting

praised the child as she took the paper

his lips and

so when are you three going to

so Ashley did not force them to

that the kids could play once they were done with their homework. During the weekends, they

not particularly

while. Can I do that, Mommy?"