Ice and Fire

Time passed, and Emily's funeral was held. As soon as they walked out of the cemetery, Cherry suddenly fell to Jackson's chest and fainted. Jackson didn't say a word, and instead held Cherry in his arms, heartbroken.

When they got back home, Jackson gently put Cherry on the bed, and quietly sat next to her.

He didn't leave his wife's side until she woke up, and as he looked at her emaciated face, he felt even more distressed than he was before.

One week passed, and Cherry changed greatly. She became silent and hardly spoke, and every time Jackson talked to her, she only replied to him by using her eyes, or by simply nodding or shaking her head. When she spoke, she uttered only a word, or maybe two.

Cherry ate less and less, and sometimes she would only have one small meal for the whole day. Jackson knew that this was also because of Emily's death, and he was worried about her very much. He had tried his best to comfort her, but all of his efforts had been in vain.

One evening, the couple was sitting on a deck chair on their balcony, under a starry sky. Cherry was lying obediently in Jackson's arms, and was looking up at the star-lit heavens, mute, and lost in thought.

Suddenly, Jackson whispered, "Honey."

Cherry didn't reply, and instead still looked up at the sky.

Jackson knew that Cherry had surely heard him, and continued, regardless of Cherry's silence. "Would you please talk to me? I want to listen to you."

At that moment, as he held Cherry's slender waist as tight as he could, Jackson's voice couldn't have been more tender than it was.

After some time, Cherry began to speak, "Jackson."

He was happy when he heard his wife finally speak to him. He quickly said, "Yes, I'm here."

"I miss Emily so much..."

Jackson didn't know how to comfort her.

He paused for several seconds, looked for the words, and said, "Honey, I'm sorry about Emily; it was all my fault. All of this wouldn't have happened if I hadn't misunderstood you in the first place..."

Jackson continued, "But Cherr, could you please just stop torturing yourself like this? Seeing you like this breaks my heart; I don't want you to be like this."

Jackson was almost in tears, but Cherry shed them first before he had the chance.

She burst into tears, and said, "Do you know something? In the whole world, the only two people that have ever treated me well are Emily and Wilson. They have never hurt me. When Wilson had to go abroad, I was left with only Emily, and she was very important for me, but now she...She's…"

had never expected that Emily would die because of her, and if she had not come to her house, and not

arms and comforted her, and said, "Honey, it's alright. Please, don't be afraid; don't

and could not help but shudder. No

then

were shining bright above them. Cherry slowly opened her eyes, and as she looked up at

good on both mental capabilities, and appearance. He could tell from Cherry's remark and tone that Wilson had been good to her, and that he must have played an important

dare to show them in Cherry's presence. He carefully said, "It's all right, honey, he must miss you as much as

his words, and he was determined to be

Cherry fell silent

in bed holding Cherry in his arms,

opened his eyes, grabbed the phone from the bedside, and tapped the "Reject

moved in his arms, and was relieved that she was not awakened.

that Derek had been the one calling. He suddenly had

longer, and

heard Jackson's words,

a night-robe on, and walked out of the

back until he entered

quickly

Derek. His voice sounded

He was sure that something must have happened, or otherwise Derek's voice wouldn't

has been properly handled,

and after he listened to Derek's partial sentence, Jackson became infuriated. He coldly said, "You know what

wife. Are you sure that we want

it twice, Jackson said, "Anyone who dares to hurt my woman

was Cherry's sister; once Jackson took

suddenly burst into fury, and shouted at Derek, "Derek, are

In order to calm Jackson down, Derek

what are you concerned about? I'll never

contradict him, and only replied, "Okay, I'll obey

see that Jean Shen again, " ordered Jackson. He couldn't have hated her more, and if it hadn't been for her, Emily would not have

understood, " said

then hung up