Ice and Fire novel Chapter 26

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.

Stephen looked at Cherry and asked,"Did Jackson dump you and go to Sally He?"

Stephen felt a complicated emotion when he asked the question. He felt sorry for Cherry, but at the same time, his heart was tugged by her. He wanted to protect her, although he had no idea whether it was because of his feelings for her, or if it was because he wanted to get back at Jackson.

Cherry still kept silent.

After a while, she said, slowly,"We did not fall in love with each other, so it is none of my business if he goes to another woman."

Stephen did not know what to say to comfort Cherry. If they continued this conversation, Cherry would definitely feel more depressed.

"Give me your hand, I'll help you with the ointment."said Stephen.

Cherry put her hand forward and fell silent.

Two hours later, Emily and Cherry had left. Stephen immediately called his assistant.

"Go and find out where is Jackson."

Stephen ordered.

"Boss, Jackson is..." The assistant did not have to finish the sentence. He knew that Stephen understood what he meant. Who dared to investigate powerful people like Jackson Chu? If Jackson found out, it would not end well for the investigator.

"This is my order. I'll handle it if anything goes wrong," Stephen said.

"Yes." Upon Stephen's assurance, the assistant finally took the task.

When Stephen found out where Jackson was, he drove to the seaside villa at high speed. Looking at the luxurious villa, Stephen angrily said,"He does know how to hide people in style."

Then he knocked on the door.

Soon, Jackson opened the door. He was surprised to see Stephen there.

"How did you...?"

"Why are you so surprised?" asked Stephen.

"How did you find out about this place?" asked Jackson.

"As long as this place exists, I'll find it," said Stephen. "Jackson Chu, are you challenging my abilities?"

"What on earth do you want to do?"

Jackson appeared to be angry.

"I was thinking if you would invite me in to have a cup of tea," said Stephen.

"Stephen An, you have not come here for a cup of tea, have you?" Jackson was guessing that Stephen had somehow found out that Sally He had come back.

"I have come to see who you are hiding." Stephen looked at Jackson and said.