A Love Trap

"Okay. I'll wait here for half an hour. If you both still can't reach an agreement, then I'm going to leave.

"Okay. Thank you," replied Ron.

Ron pulled Ashley aside, released her hand, and gently asked, "Now, can you tell me why you don't want to go back to the Mu family's house?"

Ashley quickly withdrew her hand once Ron let go of her. She kneaded her wrist, lowered her head to avoid looking at Ron, and spoke up, her voice indifferent. "I don't want to go back there because they don't like me. And I really don't want to invite any trouble for myself."

Ron knew that Ashley hadn't gotten along with other members of the Mu family for a long time.

But he had never seen her act like this before.

Ron rubbed Ashley's head and said softly, "Don't worry. They won't dare treat you badly now that I'm back. Are you worried that I can't protect you?"

'I won't allow anyone to bully you anymore; nor will I allow anyone to be condescending towards you. You are my beloved. I must protect you well from now on, ' thought Ron.

Ashley had severed her relationship with the Mu family. She knew that she would lose her temper and do something bad to them if she fixated on the trouble that Lena and Peggy had caused her. Ashley took a deep breath and turned to Ron to explain. "No. I know that you will protect me. But the key problem is—"

"As long as you believe in me, everything will be fine," Ron said earnestly, cutting off whatever she was about to say.

Ashley turned around and fixed her gaze on the leaves that swayed with the breeze. She said slowly and carefully, "I've severed all ties with the Mu family. So I won't go back with you."

At this, Ron looked worriedly over at her and asked, "What happened? Did they do anything bad to you? Or did they force you to do anything that you didn't want to do?"

Ron knew Peggy and Lena well. They didn't dare treat Ashley badly when he was at home because of the protection he extended. But they began making trouble for Ashley the moment he left home.

Ron suspected that they had done something to Ashley but didn't even think that Ashley could have done to Lena and Peggy.

expected Ron to ask her such a

cut off ties with the Mu family?" Ashley looked at Ron, an array of emotions crossing

Ron thought, a little put out by this. He then gently rubbed Ashley's head and looked helplessly

wouldn't have severed your relationship with them if they hadn't done anything bad to you. You are always tolerant and never treat others heartlessly unless

the truth is not what you think? What if it's completely different from

but didn't say

didn't get an answer from her, he would make every effort to find out the

each other, both

family. And she didn't tell him about the troubles that Lena and Peggy

the past and she didn't want to

just gave him a brief run-through about what had happened and then stopped

laced his voice as he said,

shook her head. "No," she

long time ago to live with Ellie. She had gone back only if and when she was asked to deal with something, and she'd leave as

to the Mu villa with Ron. Instead, she saw him

with her hands and looked outside,

to be lost in thought, her eyes empty of emotion.

to the door of the Mu family's

abroad for many years, he still had a key to the house. There were two reasons why he hadn't told his family about his coming back. One

Everything was what it

the living room

didn't you say that Raymond wouldn't contact Ashley once she got married? But Raymond met Ashley again yesterday!" Lena

voice trembled with anger.