A Love Trap

Chapter 11 A Blind Date

Somehow, Lena and Ashley had always been rivals. Even in her childhood, Lena hated Ashley. She would always snatch Ashley's favorite toys away from her --- it was irrelevant if they were expensive or not. She also spoke ill of Ashley and told lies about her in front of Spencer and Peggy. The point was to belittle her as much as possible. Lena felt threatened by her and wanted to remain their favorite daughter.

It didn't matter how much Ashley tried to explain or defend herself, Spencer and Peggy didn't believe her. After all, Ashley was only their adopted daughter. And Lena was their biological one, so they were always biased towards her.

As time went on, Spencer and Peggy misunderstood Ashley more and more.

When Ashley was a child, she couldn't understand why her parents disliked her. She wanted to be cuddled in her mom's and dad's arms. But she never knew such extravagance from them. That was only reserved for Lena.

Many times she would think about the reason why her parents would always push her away. She wondered if it was because she was disobedient.

But it didn't make any sense because Ashley was a very obedient and considerate child. But it still wasn't enough for her parents. When things didn't go well in the business or there was something wrong with the family, they would take it out on Ashley. She would be beaten and scolded and blamed for everything.

As she grew up, she finally understood why her parents disliked her and favored Lena instead. She also realized that it was of no use and silly to be so obedient and loyal to them.

—

It was only when the servant had called her to have lunch that Ashley had suddenly woken from her sad memories of her childhood.

"It's incredible. You've only been sitting here for a short while and you're in a trance already," Peggy said impatiently.

Ashley pretended not to hear what she said.

"Are you all right, Ashley?" Lena asked with a worried look on her face as she approached her.

"I'm fine." Ashley didn't bother giving her any details.

Spencer sat at the head of the table as usual. Lena and Raymond were on his left, while Peggy sat to his right and Ashley sat next to her.

"Raymond, this is your favorite, Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs. I asked Claire especially to cook the dish for you. Please, try some." She looked at Raymond with her beautiful eyes. Lena picked up some spare ribs with the chopsticks and put them on his plate.

Ashley found it comical to watch Lena trying to please Raymond. 'Can't you see the look of discomfort on his face?' Ashley thought.

In fact, Raymond didn't like to eat Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs at all. He didn't like the taste of the combination of sweet and sour. But Ashley liked the dish very much. So every time when they used to go out to dinner, he would order Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs for her.

Ashley once asked him why he would always order that dish when he didn't like it.

Raymond replied that it was her favorite dish, so he would try and like it as well. Back then, Ashley felt special when he had said that to her.

Lena then served her parents' favorite dishes and put the dishes in each of their plates. The family members then dined in a happy and cheerful atmosphere, except for Ashley of course.

Sitting in her place, Ashley silently ate her meal. She thought if she spoke less she would make fewer mistakes and there wouldn't be any reason for anyone to scold her.

However, she was wrong.

Peggy, who was sitting beside Ashley, snorted," How can you sit there and have your meal without talking to anyone else? Don't you know that the family members should enjoy the joyful atmosphere during the meal? One would think that we have wronged you in some way and kept you from talking!"

Ashley could hardly believe her ears.

She remembered that once Peggy had scolded her for saying something when they were having dinner. Peggy was so angry that she said," Don't you know that it's reasonable to keep silent while eating!"

Since then, whenever they sat together for a meal, Ashley never said a word to avoid Peggy's fault finding with her.

However, despite staying quiet, she still couldn't avoid irritating Peggy. Whatever Ashley did, it seemed to be wrong in her mother's eyes.

The fact was that if a person didn't like you anyway, he would find fault with you no matter how well you performed.

"Raymond, why aren't you eating? Don't you like the dish?" Lena asked, puzzled.

After hesitating for a moment, Raymond said sheepishly, "No, I just have a toothache these days. So I can't eat this now."

"Oh, really? I thought maybe you didn't like it," Lena said, smiling sweetly. "If you can't eat it, then just put it aside."

"Okay."

Raymond looked calm on the outside, but inside he felt awkward and uneasy.

When Lena had invited him to have lunch at her house, Raymond thought that he was just going to meet her parents. He didn't know that Ashley would be there as well.

What was worse, out of habit, he almost put the spare rib into Ashley's plate.

—

While they dined, Lena had openly shown her affection for Raymond the whole time.

After they had all finished their meals, they adjourned to the living room for a rest and chat. However, Ashley felt uncomfortable and embarrassed to stay with them.

'Did they call me to visit them, specifically just to see Lena show her love and affection to Raymond?' she wondered.

Ashley stood to leave but Peggy immediately told her she wanted a talk with her in her room upstairs.

"Ashley, you're old enough now. Your father and I have chosen a boyfriend for you. He just got his doctor's degree and has come back from abroad. He is a fine looking young man and is around your age. I've already made an appointment for you to meet him this Saturday. You had better make the time to see him then."

Peggy told her straight because only the two of them were in the room.

Realizing now what the purpose of the visit was, Ashley felt resentment in her heart for them.

'Are they afraid that I might steal Lena's boyfriend from her?

If that's the case, then they really do despise me very much.

Raymond has got a new girlfriend. And I have my dignity, ' she thought bitterly.

"Mom, I don't want to get married yet."

"Nonsense! You're old enough to get married! Lena is two years younger than you and she is already engaged. As her older sister, do you want to wait until she gets married?" Peggy immediately got angry at what Ashley had said.

"You will see the boy this Saturday! You have no right to refuse me. We've supported you for so many years, but you are so disobedient and ungrateful. I am asking if you would like to go on a blind date, but even that is too much to ask, it seems. Even a tamed dog would have been more loyal than you!

Moreover, if you didn't run away that night, would Michael do those things to the Mu Group? Not only did our company lose a big business deal, but Michael also had a bad impression of our family!"

Ashley was speechless after hearing Peggy's list of complaints about her. Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

'How could they blame so much on me?

In order to get that big deal, they have planned to give me knockout drops and send me to Michael's room. Michael is a real womanizer and would have had his way with me. How could they plan to do such a despicable thing to me?' Ashley wondered.