Ice and Fire novel Chapter 82

Derek pulled Jackson out of the apartment and placed him inside the car. As he drove to the residential compound, he called the Chu house butler and asked him to call in for a doctor.

Andrew's heart broke when he saw Derek help his grandson get out of the car. He also saw that his hand was bleeding, and he couldn't bear to see him like that, because Jackson had never been hurt in the past; he was in that condition because of Cherry.

Jackson sat on the sofa, and the doctor started to bind up his wound while Derek and Andrew were standing beside him and watching.

Jackson didn't care about the pain. His eyes were glassy, and his mind was filled with a deep hatred for Cherry. He thought to himself, 'How could she just leave me like this? How could she dare abandon me and leave me alone?'

After the doctor finished bandaging his wound, he reported to Andrew and then left after receiving his permission.

Andrew looked at Jackson, and sat beside him, and wanted to comfort him, he instead was silent.

After some time, Andrew slowly said, "Jackson, please don't be sad; I'll help you to find her back."

Andrew didn't expect Jackson's answer. But to his surprise, Jackson suddenly talked.

He replied in a cold tone, saying, "No. No matter."

Andrew, Derek, and the butler were all a little astonished when they heard his reply. They wondered what Jackson meant with it.

Jackson didn't look at his grandfather, and instead stared straight ahead, and slowly said, "If she wanted to run away, let her stay away."

Derek then clearly saw tears falling from Jackson's eyes.

He was astonished, because this was the second time that he saw Jackson crying. The first time that he had seen him cry was when Jackson had been very young. Back then, Jackson's parents had died, and Jackson had kneeled down in front of their portrait and cried. When Sally had left him years ago, he had just panicked, but hadn't cried, but this time, he did for Cherry.

Andrew also saw Jackson's tears and he was very sad. He had always been very fond of Jackson, and he had never wanted to see him hurt, but Jackson had now been hurt by a woman. He thought to himself, 'Many years ago, Jackson has begged me to help He Clan for Sally He, but he hasn't cried for her. Now, Jackson declines my help, but he cries.'

Feeling the tension in the air, Derek said to Andrew, "Perhaps Jackson has his own thoughts. Just let him handle this by himself."

Andrew glanced at Derek and then looked at Jackson. He thought to himself, 'My grandson is all grown up, and he's able to handle things on his own from now on. Indeed, I should let him handle this by himself.'

Andrew nodded, and while he lightly patted Jackson's shoulder, he said, "Okay, okay, I'll let you handle it by yourself, but..." Andrew paused for a moment, and then continued, "Promise me you won't abuse yourself."

Andrew was afraid that Jackson would destroy himself because of his despair.

"No, she's not good enough for me to do anything, " slowly said Jackson. His eyes were filled with anger, and he thought to himself, 'Cherry, I'll hate you forever.'

After he heard Jackson's words, Andrew still wasn't relieved, because he felt that Jackson still cared about Cherry.

Andrew knew this but there was nothing that he could do or say, and besides, Jackson was in no mood to listen to anyone.

Andrew helplessly shook his head, stood up, and left with his walking cane.

Derek also looked at Jackson and was helpless. All that Jackson needed to do was to calm down, because there could be no reasoning with him whatsoever.

"From now on, you can live here. I'll help you clean up the apartment and leave it empty. Okay?" said Derek.

"Things will go back to how they were before, " said Jackson coldly.

Derek was surprised, and he didn't expect that Jackson would say that.

Jackson thought that Derek didn't understand his meaning, and he repeated, "I mean the apartment."

Derek knew that Jackson rarely repeated his words, and quickly replied, "I get it."

A week later, Derek was driving Jackson to the barracks. On their way there, Derek noticed that Jackson was looking out the window, and that his face was icy-cold and unwelcoming.

Derek thought for a while, and then said, "Jackson, I've got the apartment all cleaned up."

Jackson heard his words, but didn't reply, and instead continued to look out the window with an empty gaze in his eyes.

Suddenly, Jackson's phone rang, and he regained his composure and took out his phone to answer it. It was Sally, and Jackson calmly answered the phone.

"Hi, Sally!"

While Derek was driving, he had no idea about what was going on, and he couldn't believe that Jackson could be that gentle to Sally.

"Jackson, are you busy now? I miss you, " said Sally in a sweet voice.

"I'm on my way to the army now. What's the matter? What are you doing?" said Jackson gently.

"I'm so bored here in the apartment all alone. I want you to have dinner with me, " answered Sally.

"Okay, " crisply replied Jackson. He then added, "I'll first go back to the barracks to handle some things, and after that I'll call you in the afternoon and pick you up."

"Okay, Jackson. I love you!" said Sally with a smile on her lips.

After that, Jackson hung up. Derek was very confused, and he wanted to ask Jackson, but he didn't know how to. After all, this was Jackson's own business, and he couldn't possibly meddle in it, but if it hadn't been an intimate problem, he would have already asked him.

Jackson also didn't intend to explain it to him, and instead continued to look out the window and remain cold and arrogant.

In the afternoon, Jackson drove the military jeep to the suburban villa to pick Sally up.

When Sally saw him, she was so happy that she threw herself onto him at first sight. She put her arms around his neck, and while she snuggled in his arms, she said, "Jackson, why are you so late? I missed you so much!"

Jackson didn't push her away, and instead he fondly touched her head, and said, "Have you waited long? Let's go and have dinner."

Sally nodded happily, took his arm, snuggled up to him, and said, "Okay."

Jackson then took her to a fancy restaurant and ate some delicious food with her.

Sally felt very happy, and she picked food for him while she was also having dinner herself. They both looked like a happy couple.

After dinner, Jackson drove Sally back to the villa.

After he saw her enter the villa, he was ready to go, but Sally suddenly pulled his clothes, leaned close to him, and gently asked, "Jackson, could you come in and stay with me? I'm afraid to be alone."

When he saw how cute and innocent Sally was, Jackson nodded, and said, "Okay."

Sally was flattered, because she hadn't expected him to accept her proposal straightaway. However, she was still very happy, and since Jackson agreed, she thought that she wanted even more out of him.

Jackson entered the villa with his arm around her waist.

After they walked into the living room, Jackson sat on the sofa and Sally brought him a glass of water.

Jackson took it, drank it, and then put the glass on the tea table in front of him.

Sally then suddenly straddled her legs on him and threw her arms around his neck.

She slowly got closer to Jackson, and felt his warm breath on her face.

"Jackson, do you love me?" she asked.