Ice and Fire

In the morning, Cherry got up early to get to work. Processing yesterday's orders to the manager and making herself busy with her own tasks, Cherry spent the whole day without anything unexpected happening.

She walked out the JS Building after work, as usual. Her phone, kept away in her bag began to ring suddenly when she was about to drive her car out of the parking lot.

Taking the phone out, Cherry saw that it was John, and she answered the phone.

"Hello, John, " said Cherry in a cold tone.

"Cherry, have you gotten off work now?" John asked with concern.

"Yes, I just got done with work now, " said Cherry.

"So are you free now? Would you like to have a cup of tea with me?" John offered.

Thinking about it for a while, Cherry thought that it would mean nothing to have a cup of tea with John since she had no affection for him now.

"Okay, where do you want me to come? I'll try to get there soon, " Cherry said decidedly.

"Come to the Ancient Path Tea House", replied John.

Cherry drove to the teahouse after hanging up. All that while, she wasn't aware that there was a man following her.

When Cherry got to the place, she found John occupying a seat in the corner, so she just walked up to him.

"You are here, " said John.

"Hmmm, " Cherry sat opposite to John.

"How are you doing these days? How is everything at work?" John asked with concern. He had not seen Cherry since the last time they had met at the cemetery. He had only spoken with her on the phone. Luckily, both of them were free today, so he could meet her here and ask her about her wellbeing.

"Well, fine", said Cherry simply. Seeing John's caring attitude, Cherry spoke to him as though he were a regular friend, "so, how are you doing these days? Are you keeping very busy?"

"Not really, it's just the same as before. Sometimes there are some things that need to be handled, while sometimes, I am free, " said John.

Cherry nodded, letting him know that she was listening to his words.

John continued, "Cherry, how could you join the JS Group?"

Cherry felt a bit surprised when she heard the question. Why couldn't she join the JS Group? She had employed her own abilities rather than nepotism to be one part of the JS Group, so why couldn't she get the position she had earned?

"Why do you ask that? Do you think I could not get into the JS Group?" asked Cheery, with a hint of anger in her voice.

He didn't mean that and he just wanted to clarify to her that

waiting for his further

walking towards them, before he finished his words. His expressions

saw John stopping short with his words,

How could Jackson possibly know that they are here? Had he already got the message that Cherry

word uncle made Cherry shudder as she knew his uncle was no other

followed John's gaze to stand up and

realized that how furious Jackson was at

walked to place himself between Cherry and John, took a glare

meet him?" What Jackson said resonated in Cherry's ears,

looked into Jackson's eyes, quiet and too

Cherry and he knew that Cherry did not want to

turned his glare towards John and shouted angrily, "John, do you think that your life as

he had been five years ago, and he had learned to fight back against Jackson

it's you who has helped me to get the position of the state governor, but if you want to threaten me with taking that

in all of these five years, considering that John was even ready to abandon his position of the state governor for her. 'Cherry, how many men have

to ask as he found it amusing to play this game of questions and answers. Cherry hated to see him. She had not even wanted him to know that she had come

that he might put Cherry in an awkward situation, he finally answered, "I only wish that you should not

finished his words, Jackson grabbed him by the collar. Looking at him closely, Jackson

a bit terrified. He just looked

behave like this, Cherry immediately said, "Jackson, let him go. It's my decision to

up to Cherry, looking down at her, "Does it make

eyes. Lowering her head even more, she asked,

to know the answer to that? Then I'll let you know what I really want to do." With these words, Jackson gave a sign to the men

come with Jackson, came in front of John and punched him in

head when she heard the sound, only to

Cherry cried. When she tried to help John back up, Jackson pulled

strength was too much for Cherry who failed to let herself loose

unable do to anything while watching John being beaten up by Bobby, hopelessly. There was even no scope for him to hit back as the man seemed

resist Jackson, "Jackson, release

Jackson only spoke grimly, "You want me to release you to let the beauty save the

Cherry said in a hurry, "He is your nephew! He will

love him any more. Even if she had hated him from the bottom of his heart,

he looked at her painful expressions. Did she still care about John, making her so

I have always cared for him a lot" Encouraged by an uninhibited momentum,

A sudden sound reached people's ears.