A Love Trap

Ashley didn't give the coat back to Ellie in the end. After all, she had started trembling now due to the cold.

Although it was summer, the temperature here varied greatly in a day. Ashley, however, forgot about that when she left for L City in the afternoon. It was indeed cold for her especially since she only wore a light T-shirt.

After about 10 minutes, the bus that the girls had been waiting for finally arrived. Only a few people were waiting for the bus, so there were many empty seats to choose from. Ashley and Ellie picked the two seats by the window.

"Ellie, what happened? Normally you would have come back by now. What took you so long this time?" Ashley asked.

Ellie told her the truth. "Well, my grandpa fell and broke his ankle a few days ago. And you know about his heart disease. How could I leave him alone in the hospital? I needed to stay here to look after my grandpa. That's why I have stayed for a few more days than I usually did."

"But why didn't you answer my calls? Do you know how worried I was about you because you didn't return my calls?"

"Come on! Do you know how busy I am? I need to take care of my grandpa in the hospital and my grandma at home. I have little time to check my phone. Plus, I usually keep my phone at home. I was in the hospital when you called me.

But why did you rush here all of a sudden? What about our shop? Did you take care of everything?"

Ashley nodded and answered, "Of course I did." She already took care of everything when she left.

"Oh no!" Ashley shrieked all of a sudden.

Her cry made all the other passengers turn and look at them.

Ellie turned and was greeted with a distressed look on Ashley's face. "What's wrong?" she asked.

Ashley looked at her best friend for a few seconds, and then shook her head. She decided not to tell Ellie that she was married, because it didn't feel like it was the right time.

Ashley was perturbed.

She suddenly remembered that she had not told Andrew that she went to L City. She was worried that Andrew might be angry at her even though the ice hadn't broken yet after the fight between them.

Andrew would care about her whereabouts. After all, they'd had a

now. That must be it! He doesn't want to see me

convinced herself, but still felt

hospital or head home now?"

want to see my grandpa. I'm still worried about him.

something with you,"

asked. Sensing Ellie's hesitation, she urged, "Come on, Ellie! We are best friends. You can just tell

grandparents to J City. They need my care at their age. If I hadn't called them, I would have never known about his injury. There was a slip of

to J City. The hospitals in J City are better than the ones here. So I want to take both of them to J City, and let them live with us,"

all, Brown and Laura were the only family she had in the world. It was her grandparents who had raised Ellie.

office now. Both of us have the time to look after them. Honestly, I miss them. I haven't seen them in such a long time." Ashley agreed to Ellie's plan one hundred percent without even the slightest

could live in her room when they arrived in J City. Ashley and

wondering how she would tell her

burned inside

Meanwhile, in J City

believed that her absence wouldn't mean anything to Andrew. After all, they hadn't talked to each other in so long. Plus, they were not

Andrew almost lost his mind when he

come home to find her watching TV or playing on her phone on the sofa. Or,

her when he came

find Ashley in the kitchen, living room or their

was like Ashley had never

she leave? Is it because she can't stand me anymore? She can't stand my selfishness anymore? Is it because she hates me? She must

mind instantly. Hurt, anger and resentment filled Andrew's

thought filled his mind: Ashley had left him.

back! Where is Miss Mu? Didn't she come back with you?" Claire came out of the kitchen and asked Andrew,