Ice and Fire
Chapter 26 Stay With Me
Stephen took Cherry to his office and had her sit on the sofa. He took out a medicine bag and applied ointment on Cherry's wounded hand.
"Is it hot water that hurt your hand?" Stephen asked.
"Yes. It was an accident," Cherry said.
"How have you been recently?
It seems like you are feeling a bit blue," said Stephen. What he wanted was the truth, instead of his guesses.
"No. I'm good." Cherry wanted to cover her depression, but she couldn't.
"Does Jackson stay at home?" Stephen kept asking. He had not heard the truth yet.
"He... he... he went back to the army barracks." Cherry did not know how to lie glibly, so that Stephen would not figure out the truth.
"Really?
Does he know you are hurt?" Stephen wouldn't stop asking questions.
Cherry replied, impatiently,"Could you stop mentioning him?"
Then she pulled back her hand, even before Stephen had finished applying the ointment.
"He treated you badly, didn't he?"
Stephen asked, bluntly.
"We married before we fell in love with each other. Did you imagine we would live happily?" Cherry answered, opening up. She did not want to hide things anymore.
Stephen didn't say anything. He kept looking at Cherry, encouraging her to go on.
Cherry paused and looked away. Then she said, in a weak voice,"He doesn't love me. But why is he finding it so difficult to stay with me?"
Stephen understood what she meant. Jackson was most probably having an affair. But Stephen also knew that Jackson wasn't that kind of a person. Even though Jackson did not love Cherry, as a soldier, he would not choose to have an affair post marriage.
Suddenly, something occurred to Stephen. He was reminded of the one thing and the one person he had nearly forgotten about. Had she come back?
"Well, has she come back?" said Stephen, with hesitation.
"Do you know her?"
Cherry looked at Stephen curiously. After meeting him several times, she had realized that Stephen and Jackson might be sharing secrets. She hadn't paid more attention to that because she did not know Jackson at all. But Stephen might know who Sally He was, otherwise he would not have asked that question.
Stephen looked into Cherry's eyes and said,"She is Sally He."
Cherry didn't say anything.
Stephen realized that his guess was right. He looked away and said,"She was the one who Jackson would die for. Now she has finally come back."
Cherry still kept silent. She understood that Jackson loved Sally He the most.
Cherry and asked,"Did Jackson dump you and go to
He wanted to protect her, although he
kept
said, slowly,"We did not fall in love with each other, so it is
to comfort Cherry. If they continued this conversation, Cherry would definitely
your hand, I'll help
put her hand forward and
had left. Stephen immediately called his
out
Stephen ordered.
meant. Who dared to investigate powerful people like Jackson Chu? If Jackson found out, it
handle it if
Upon Stephen's assurance, the assistant finally took the
villa at high speed. Looking at the luxurious villa, Stephen angrily said,"He does know how to hide people
knocked on the
Jackson opened the door. He was surprised to see
"How did you...?"
are you so surprised?" asked
out about this
exists, I'll find it," said Stephen. "Jackson Chu, are you challenging
do you want to
to
in to have a cup of tea," said Stephen.
of tea, have you?" Jackson was guessing that Stephen had somehow found out
come to see who you are hiding." Stephen
said, coldly,"Stephen An, you have
said,"I have gone too far? You are having fun with Sally He here, but what about Cherry? You left her at home alone. Have you thought
none of your business."said
define your relationship with Cherry? If you don't like her, I'll take her away from you. I
don't you think so?
Isn't it
Asked Jackson.
is your wife, Then what are
"You stay with this woman. Have
my business." Jackson stared at Stephen angrily,"Besides, don't approach my
Just then, Sally
"Stephen An?"
a bit
see Sally He, but he kept calm. "Sally He, good to
come to see Jackson, or
said, gently.
be? I heard that you had come back and dropped by to visit
did you know I had come
was a bit intrigued and continued,"I thought only Derek Lu and Jackson knew that
He thought no one else knew that she had
this question," said Stephen, as he turned to
Jackson shouted angrily,"Did you