Trial Of The Senses

On New Year's Eve, the villa of Fang family, which had been always bustling, saw a lonesome new year for the first time. There was no servant around, and there were only two people in the villa, Samuel and Ashley.

The dumplings were made by Betty before she went back to her hometown and put in two freezing compartments of the fridge. The amount of the dumplings were enough for them to eat for five days. Besides, all freshly cooked cold dishes were also stored in the fridge. On the New Year's Eve, Ashley cooked two dishes of vegetable, a fish and two plates of dumplings as well as warmed some cooked food. Then she placed them all at a small table.

Outside the window, firecrackers were going to take place at some distance, and Samuel was absent-minded while eating on the Chinese New Year's Eve.

"I still remember the time when your mother and I just got married? It was New Year's Eve. How time flies! So many years have passed..." Murmured Samuel.

Ashley didn't reply.

"What about Nelson? I haven't seen him for a long time." Asked Samuel.

"Jasper's parents are back now. They love their grandson so much that they can't bear to see him leave," Ashley took a bite of the dumpling.

"That's right. I haven't seen him for one year, so I definitely miss him. He is such a lovely kid." Holding the chopsticks in his hand, Samuel forgot to eat anything. He recalled the old stories and said, "if your child is still alive, he might be as old as Nelson."

Hearing this, Ashley paused and said, "Yeah, more or less."

"It's all my fault. If it were not for me, Sheila would not have come to harm you. Your child and marriage could be saved, and I could also have grandchildren." Samuel's voice was vague

Drugged one night by her ex-boyfriend, a mysterious man took advantage of her in an ecstatic night filled with sex.

To take her revenge, she married the man, and used him.

"As long as I'm alive, I'm still his legal wife, while all of you are just his mistresses."

She remained adamant even when he was involved in scandals with other women.

Eventually she stormed off after she learned that he had betrayed her again.But life brought her back to him a few years later, to his astonishment.

"Father, don't you have to go to another place to celebrate the Spring Festival? I want to play with aunt Ashely. You should go now." Nelson counted the money in the red packet and looked up to drive him away.

"Mr. Jasper, please go on with your work. Don't worry. Nelson is here with me."

"Thank you, Mr. Samuel. I will pick Nelson up after my new year's greetings are done." As Jasper looked down at the boy who was squatting and counting money on the ground, he said, "Nelson, don't disturb Grandpa. He is ill. Do you know that?"

Nelson didn't want his father to be so long winded. "I know, father. You'd better leave now."

"Ashley, you go see Mr. Jasper off," Samuel asked the silent Ashley.

Since Ashley hadn't seen Jasper for a long time, she was a little embarrassed and didn't know how to release her hands and feet. At the order of Samuel, she nodded awkwardly and said, "okay. Please, Mr. Jasper."

Jasper nodded.

In the cold New Year's Eve, both of them walked on the withered grass, surrounded by the sound of firecrackers.

"Is your arm recovered?" Jasper didn't make himself heard amid the noise of fireworks.