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.

too," Ashley gently admonished. "Don't just eat meat, or you will not grow tall." She picked up

thank you, Mommy. I got

"Good girl!"

Ashley leaned back, satisfied.

and Richard were seated a little far away from Ashley, she still did

told them to go ahead and

meal went smoothly

Ashley didn't know while she was away, was that when Dany stayed in

was almost as if Cayn regarded it as

course, that would be

Dany

that annoying man finally go, Richard and Fabio were

attention to them whenever Cayn was

was why the two of them

that Cayn always stole Dany's attention and

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

"Where are you going?"

she was

going to see Dany and the boys. I'll be back soon," said

how mean

was a very

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

was a good idea for Andrew to spend some time with the

Ashley did not know that it was

Ashley's attention and

was why Andrew

else but him. Why would she go and

did not matter to him that those people

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

finally let himself be

stepped out of the

they saw the children discussing something with their

say anything to interrupt them. She just quietly walked up to them and found

she could not figure

some time, she

Ashley standing behind her. "Mommy!" she cheerfully called out. It was quiet in

Fabio were startled

Ashley was similarly surprised.

on, my

Daddy, when did

in unison. They quickly put away the sheets on the

a little

three kids

were you doing just

learning how

Mommy. We are learning to draw. Mommy, look,

had hurriedly picked up from the ground and showed

out that Dany

as she took the paper and

lips and

you three going to

It was the weekend, so Ashley did not force them to do their homework like other

were done with their homework. During the

not particularly strict

Can I do that, Mommy?" -- Dany blinked and looked at Ashley with begging