Chapter 7 The Unknown Visitor

Ashley tried working on the information Jasper had given her. She spent an entire week checking the authenticity of the news, but she couldn't find Dylan anywhere. Ashley wondered if Jasper had tricked her.

The next morning, Ashley was in her room, sleeping. Betty Yuan, the servant, woke her up.

"Ashley, wake up. You have visitors. A row of luxury cars have lined up outside the villa. You should come and see," she gushed.

Who would want to see her-that too on a Monday morning? Ashley was exhausted. Sleep was lingering in her eyes; she couldn't wake up. She tried to open her eyes, but the morning light, flooding through the window, forced her to shut them again. "Who are they? Did they mention the reason for their visit?" she mumbled.

"No. They didn't want to come in. I don't know who they are. The driver delivered a message asking you to come out."

Ashley rubbed her eyes and finally opened them. Her vision darkened as she sat up in a swift motion, forcing her to shut her eyes again. Annoyance bubbled up in her stomach; she wanted to sleep a little longer. However, she took a moment to compose herself and stood up. "You ask them to wait. I'll shower and get ready."

"Okay!" Betty chirped and left the room.

After Gloria Wang married Ashley's father, she fired the old servants and appointed new ones. Ashley was an innocent girl back then. Her mother had placed Betty in one of the new servants. Betty devoted herself to taking care of Ashley.

'Mom really cared for me,' Ashley thought to herself while taking a bath.

Ashley showered quickly, slipped on fresh clothes, and walked out. The moment she stepped out of the room, Gloria and her daughter were staring at the cars outside the villa.

"I didn't know you have such powerful friends, Ashley. Do you want to introduce them to us?" Gloria smiled sweetly.

Ashley arched an eyebrow. Gloria was a home-wrecker. How did she have the nerve to say something like that despite all the things she had done? Nevertheless, Ashley was still living in the Fang family villa, and she didn't cut her ties with them.

"I don't know who they are, Auntie Gloria." Ashley returned the smile. "You are too old to go after men. Dad will be unhappy to find that you are after wealthy guys."

"Ashley, you should know I'm not that kind of person." Gloria was impervious to the accusations. She was never ashamed of her behavior. "I just want you to introduce your friends to Sheila."

Gloria used her old trick again. After she and her daughter had moved in, she had asked Ashley to introduce her friends to Sheila. She had been a mediator who helped Sheila make new friends. Sheila was an illegitimate child, and Ashley didn't want her to feel left out. Sheila was a scheming woman. She had even turned Ashley's friends against her.

Ashley regretted trusting them. She eventually found the true colors of the mother and daughter and decided to stay away from them.

Ashley frowned, feigning embarrassment. "But my friends don't like home-wreckers, and they even refused to step in. I'm sorry I can't introduce them to Sheila."

"Ashley!" Sheila growled; her face reddened with rage. "What the hell are you talking about? My mom met Dad first. You hadn't graduated from high school when I met Francis. Your mom was the other woman, and so were you."

Sheila and Ashley went to the same college. She had graduated high school before Ashley and had met Francis right after that.

Sheila had poor grades. Her broadcasting skills enabled her to join C University. Ashley chose the same university because she liked performing. She wanted to become an actress. Francis was Ashley's senior; he and Sheila were in the same grade.

"Are you kidding me?" Ashley scoffed. "It's not about whom you meet first, but whom you fall in love with. Francis chose to marry me, not you. Although he divorced me, he hasn't married you. It's been three long years, so it's obvious that he doesn't give a shit about you."

"What's going on?" Samuel Fang walked out of the study with a frown. "Don't ruin my morning with your silly arguments."

Gloria stood up from the sofa and smiled apologetically. "Samuel, please calm down. Ashley said that I was a home-wrecker. Sheila and I aren't new to this insult. We shouldn't have argued with her. I'm sorry."

Samuel glared at Ashley. "Ashley, can't you behave? Did I not tell you that I was in a relationship with Gloria before I met your mother? I didn't know that she was pregnant with my child when we broke up. How many times do you want me to repeat the same old story?" He paused and took a deep breath. "Gloria married the wrong person; her life had turned to hell. She came back to me for help."

Ashley rolled her eyes. Her father used the same excuse again and again. She knew she shouldn't have argued with them in the first place.

"Excuse me," said a man at the front door. "Miss Ashley, are you ready?"

Ashley snapped her head to the side and saw a man smiling at her. She knitted her brows; the man looked familiar.

"I've got to go, Dad. See you later."

Samuel had also seen the row of cars lined in front of the house. He understood that they were wealthy people. "All right. Leave soon; don't keep them waiting."

Ashley nodded and left. Her brain was ticking; she wondered if they had met before. Realization hit her when she was outside the villa. The man was Jasper's driver; he had dropped her home the other night.

Ashley's heart sped in an instant when she realized that Jasper had been waiting for her.

Her body stiffened as memories of the torturous night engulfed her. A tingle spread across her body as she remembered his touch and the way his breath blew against her skin. Ashley vowed not to see him again; the memories of the night brought her endless pain. She didn't expect to meet him too soon.

"Miss Ashley." The driver smiled and waved his hand, gesturing for her to get inside the car.

Ashley took a moment to compose herself and trudged towards the car. She couldn't afford to offend Jasper.

The driver opened the back door of the car. Ashley's eyes settled on Jasper before her gaze shifted to the little boy beside him. Nelson was bouncing on the spot; his face lit with Joy.

Ashley's mind was a mess. She couldn't understand why Jasper brought his son with him.

"Hello, Auntie." Nelson grinned and waved his pudgy arm.

"Hello, little boy." Ashley forced a smile.

"Nelson hasn't stopped talking about you. He wanted to see you; I hope you don't mind," Jasper mumbled, not bothering to look at her.

"Of course not." Ashley's voice was stiff.

"Miss Ashley, please get in the car." The driver reminded her to get in.

Ashley swallowed her fear and sat beside Jasper. The driver closed the door, returned to his seat, and started the car.

Jasper rested his head on the back of the seat and continued to look ahead. His posture was erect.

An uncomfortable silence pervaded the car. Ashley could hear the sound of his breathing. She couldn't believe that the man, who was the ruler of the business industry, was sitting beside her. Ashley fell into a trance as the words of the girls gushing about Jasper filled her mind.

'Men like Jasper who doesn't seem interested in women are the most charming. If he falls in love for a woman, he will dote on her and do anything for her. Oh, the mere thought of it is exciting.'

'Jasper is every girl's dream. He is powerful, rich, not to mention handsome. If only I had the chance to be his woman. It sounds dreamy.'

"You're hardworking for someone from a wealthy family," Jasper said, snapping Ashley out of her reverie.

His tender tone made Ashley's skin prickle. She didn't expect him to be gentle; everything seemed new as if they were meeting for the first time.

"I'm flattered, Mr. Jasper." She smiled and studied his flawless face.

It had been almost ten days since their last meeting. He somehow seemed more handsome today. His bushy eyebrows and starry eyes were vivid in daylight. Jasper looked like a demigod.

His olive skin, with a natural tan, seemed to glow under the sun. There was a sparkle in his calm eyes. No one, except the little boy beside him, could ignite the emotions in Jasper's heart.

The girls in Ashley's office were right: he was calm, self-sufficient, and majestic.

Jasper exuded charm and confidence that intimidated the people around him. Ashley felt stupid for secretly taking Flora's video. Flora was Jasper's artist. Offending Flora meant offending him.

'I should have known him better. I was so naive back then," thought Ashley.

"I thought you were here to get the video footage," she said.

"It doesn't matter."

Jasper glanced at her. Ashley squirmed in her seat; she felt naked around him.

"I don't think you would do any harm." The intensity of his gaze made Ashley uncomfortable.

"I still don't know why you have come to see me." She forced a smile.

"Auntie, it was me who wanted to visit you." Nelson finally spoke. "I wanted to play with you but didn't know how to contact you, so I begged Daddy to bring me here."

Ashley's mouth popped open in shock. She couldn't believe that Jasper had brought his son to see her without any inhibitions. He knew she wouldn't dare to expose them.

"I'm glad you trust me." She chuckled and turned to Nelson. "Nelson, I have to go to work. How long will you play with me?"

Nelson pouted. "Auntie, when do you have to leave?" He wriggled himself from Jasper's hold and moved closer to Ashley.

Fearing that his son might get hurt, Jasper let go of him and held his waist for support. Ashley felt that he was a considerate father.

"I should be at the company by nine." Ashley glanced at her watch and frowned. "It's half-past seven. We only..."

The driver slammed the brake.

Caught off-guard, Ashley's head was about to bump into the front seat.