Ice and Fire

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

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

still kept silent.

love with each other, so it is none of my business if he goes

Cherry. If they continued this

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

her hand forward and

and Cherry had left. Stephen immediately called his

and find out where

Stephen ordered.

that Stephen understood what he meant. Who dared to investigate powerful people like Jackson Chu?

handle it if anything goes

Stephen's assurance, the assistant finally took the task.

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

he knocked on the door.

opened the door. He was

"How did you...?"

are you so

did you find out about this place?"

find it," said Stephen. "Jackson Chu, are

do you

to be

you would invite me in to have a

here for a cup of tea, have you?" Jackson was guessing that Stephen had somehow found out that Sally He had

who you are hiding." Stephen looked at Jackson and

and said, coldly,"Stephen An, you

shook off Jackson, without fear. He angrily said,"I have gone too far? You are having fun with Sally He here, but what about Cherry? You

none of your business."said

take her away from you. I will not endure it if she suffers." Stephen finally admitted that he had come here for Cherry. He felt sorry for her

impossible, don't you think so?

my wife. Isn't

Asked Jackson.

your wife, Then what are you

"You stay with this woman. Have you

Stephen angrily,"Besides, don't approach my

Sally He

"Stephen An?"

was a bit surprised,"Why

see Sally He, but he kept calm. "Sally He, good to

you come to see Jackson, or

He said,

I heard that you had come back and dropped

know I

only Derek Lu and Jackson knew that

else knew that she had come back. So how did Stephen

need to ask Master Chu this question," said Stephen, as he turned to Jackson. "He did not want

An," Jackson shouted angrily,"Did you