Ice and Fire novel Chapter 75

Cherry pushed Jackson away impatiently, and said, "Jackson, don't believe everything that you see, I just don't feel like explaining. Just relax and go to sleep, okay?"

However, leaving her alone was the last thing that he wanted to do. He tore off her pajamas, grabbed her arms forcibly, and demanded her to answer him, "Are you getting tired of me?" "What?"

Cherry sensed that his anger was boiling, and was afraid that he would not leave her alone if she kept defying him. She thought that she might as well obey and please him to prevent him from finding out that she was pregnant.

Her gaze on Jackson then turned affectionate. She suddenly kissed him, and her lips pressed and rubbed gently onto his in a kind of sensual dance.

She ended the argument before Jackson even realized what happened.

Jackson was surprised, and he immediately fixed his eyes on her; he had not expected her to kiss him first.

Cherry whispered in a sweet and gentle tone, "I'm so tired, I just want to sleep. Please!"

Jackson, as always, surrendered to her girly behavior, and his rage and fierceness extinguished in just moments. Looking at the woman under him, he thought how could he ever do anything against her will?

He kissed her tenderly on her forehead, flipped her over, and held her tightly in his arms. Breathing her scent, he fondly said, "Sleep tight, I'll be right here with you."

Cherry did not show any reluctance this time, because this was the best that she could have hoped for the moment. She whispered to him, "You too."

As Cherry cuddled up against him, she had a feeling of reassurance, and it did not take long before she fell asleep. She thought, 'It's so good to have him beside me now, I don't feel so lonely any more. Every time I saw that he was anxious for me and angry about the things that I did, I thought that he cared about me and loved me, but as soon as Sally showed up, he lost all of his calm. He'll do anything for that woman, even abandon me. He cares so much about her, but what about me? Did he ever think about how sad I would be?

It feels like he and I have returned at the very beginning of our relationship, when we got married just for our own sake; he, for stopping the endless blind dates, and I for escaping from the Shen clan, but, unfortunately, marriage is like a tomb that buries us little by little. Should this child really come to this world?'

Cherry slept until she woke up natural. When she opened her eyes, Jackson was looking at her affectionately.

"Awake?" he asked fondly. He could not get enough of her sleeping face.

"Yes. When did you wake up?" asked Cherry.

"Just now, " said Jackson, as he caressed her hair and pulled it behind her ears. He then asked attentively, "Are you hungry?"

She then unconsciously put her hands on her stomach, and said, "No, not really."

Her silly behavior pulled his heartstrings, and he suddenly felt that he could not stop loving her more and more by each passing day. He grabbed her waist and cuddled her, and whispered in her ear, "Honey, now that you've had a good rest, can we do it?"

However, the love words seemed to alarm Cherry. She was pregnant now, and if they had sex in the way that they always had, they would definitely hurt the baby.

She slowly tilted her head backwards and gazed at him, and as she put her arms around his neck, she coquettishly asked, "Don't you have to go to the barracks today?"

"Not now, I'll go in the afternoon, " he replied, and then asked quickly, "What's wrong? Do you want want me gone?"

She denied immediately, "No, of course not."

"Let's do it, honey, I can't wait any longer, " said Jackson, pressing Cherry under him.

"Wait, " cried Cherry suddenly, stopping him.

A little unsatisfied, he asked, "What's wrong?"

She looked him straight in the eye, and begged, "Not today, please!"

"Why? Are you sick?" he asked anxiously.

"No, I'm not, but I'm just a little depressed and not in the mood, " she lied. She was thinking whether to tell him that she was pregnant, or not.

Jackson could tell that Cherry was not in the mood, and he did not insist. "Okay, whatever you say."

She gave him a half smile and said nothing more. She snuggled her head on his chest, and felt his warmth. Suddenly a great affection for him flooded her heart. Should she still cherish it as before? She did, and she cherished every moment that she spent with him, because if something were to ever happen, she might never have him again in the future.

They cuddled up together in bed until noon, and afterwards Jackson took her out for lunch.

They ate inside the VIP room of a fancy restaurant, and Jackson carefully studied her. He felt comfortable in the cozy atmosphere, but his emotions were dominated by hers.

After lunch, he drove her home before he set off again to the barracks.

Before he left, Cherry snuggled up against his shoulder at the porch, and was reluctant to say goodbye.

His heart overflowed with happiness. Only God knew how much he wanted to stay with her, but he was a soldier, and he did not have much time for her.

After some time, he looked at his watch, and said to Cherry, "Honey, I really have to go now. You stay at home and take good care of yourself, I'll be back tomorrow."

Cherry pretended to be deaf to his words, and instead lingered for a little longer before she let him go. She looked up at Jackson's handsome face and nodded to him.

Jackson then kissed her on her cheek and left.

Tears welled up in her eyes when she saw Jackson disappear in sight. She said to herself, "Jackson, perhaps I'm the one who should leave."

Cherry then turned around and entered the house. She called Stephen, with whom she made an appointment.

When she entered the cafe, she saw that Stephen had already arrived there, and she walked straight over to his table.

As she took a seat across the table, she called out his name, "Stephen!"

"Cherry, is there anything wrong?" asked Stephen anxiously. Since Cherry had told him over the phone that she had a matter of some urgency, he was apprehensive about her.

She looked at Stephen, and decided to be frank with him because he might be her only reliable friend.

"I want to leave, " said Cherry decisively.

Stephen, a little stunned, asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Her tone then suddenly turned serious, and added, "I want to leave Jackson, and I also want to leave this city."

Stephen suddenly called out her name, "Cherry!" and then asked, "Is it because of the baby?"

She turned to look out the window, and said, "Partly, but I have other reasons as well."

Cherry did not express any emotions, and Stephen did not know what she was actually thinking.

"Where do you want to go?" he asked.

Suddenly a glimmer of hope flashed through her mind. Could she really rely on that?

"I want to ask for Wilson's help, " she said.

'Wilson?' Her answer took Stephen by surprise because he had inquired into Cherry's past and thus knew about her relationship with Wilson.

She nodded quietly.

Stephen then got lost in thought. Whatever was the case, he wanted her to be well and happy. Even though she did not love him, and he could never be her Mr. Right, he still hoped that someone could do it.

He then continued, "Cherry, do you think that Jackson would let you go?"

"That's why I don't want him to find out. With, or without his permission, I'll still go, " said Cherry firmly, looking at Stephen again.

"But you know Jackson, and without his approval, leaving him is nearly impossible!" Stephen knew what a murderous man Jackson actually was, something he had experienced years ago.

"Even if it means my life, I'll still go, " Cherry said bravely. "There's no point of being with him any longer. To see him put me aside for Sally? To stay at home with my baby and wait for him?"

After she said these words, a tear rolled down her face. It was a tear of grievance, mixed with a little bit of unwillingness to leave Jackson, whom she wanted so much to be with. However, his heart was not hers, and now she had a baby. How could she ever let her child live the same agonizing life that she had? If she let that happen, she and Sally would then be just like her mother and Jade, spending all of their youth fighting for a man, leaving in the end nothing but scars on their own children. She would never let that happen to her and her child.

Stephen felt sorry for her, but could not find a single word in him to comfort her. Her tear made him understand that he had to help her to achieve what she wanted, by all means possible.

"What do I have to do?" asked Stephen.

Cherry's mood lifted slightly when Stephen promised to help her; her plan would be carried out smoothly with his assistance.

Cherry took out her passport, handed it over to him, and said, "Book me a flight on the day after tomorrow. Once I board, you have to find a way to erase any trace of my departure from Jackson. He can never find me again."

"A flight on the day after tomorrow?" said Stephen, surprised. "Why in such a hurry?"

Cherry shook her head, and said, "Jackson will come back home tomorrow and return to the barracks the day after that. I have to seize the opportunity, or otherwise, there'll be no way for me to leave him in the future."

Stephen asked nothing more, and just nodded.

Cherry warned him again, "Stephen, remember to wipe off all traces of my departure! I have high hopes on you."

Stephen then looked at Cherry and again nodded, but could not help but ask, "Cherry, do you really plan to keep the baby hidden from Jackson forever?"

Instead of giving him a straight answer, she said firmly, "You know that I don't change my mind so easily..."

She could not be more determined. It was time to give up the painful life she lived and start a new one, one where at least her child could grow up peacefully and be happy. No matter how Jackson would think of her, she would accept every blame and curse that he would throw at her.

Stephen nodded silently.