Ice and Fire

When she saw him, Cherry quickly wiped away her tears, and said, "Hi, John. Long time, no see..."

All of his betrayals and feelings mattered too little for her, and she calmly greeted him without any sort of emotional distress.

John quickly asked, "When did you come back?"

"Yesterday, " replied Cherry.

John knew her well, and nodded gently. The first thing that she did after her return was to visit Emily's grave.

John put the flowers in front of Emily's tombstone, and as he looked at it, he said, "She wasn't lonely; Stephen and I have often come to see her in the past five years."

When she heard him, Cherry quickly asked, "How is Stephen nowadays?"

Cherry was very concerned about Stephen, because he had helped her escape. Except for Emily and Jackson, he was the only one that she ever cared about in the past five years.

John didn't intend to hide anything from her. He looked at Cherry, and said, "He's had both good times, and hard times."

"What do you mean by that?" Cherry didn't understand John too well.

"My uncle eventually found out that Stephen was the one who helped you leave, " said John. He believed that Cherry would then understand him.

Cherry then just stared at him, and wondered what Jackson had done to Stephen.

When John saw Cherry's expression, he guessed that she already understood what he wanted to say to her. He continued, "So my uncle always made things more difficult for him. That, and..."

"And what?" When she heard him, Cherry became a little more anxious. She wondered what had happened during her absence.

of the underground organization of the city now. Bobby, who is under Jackson's command, took it over from him. You should

got lost in thought for a few moments, and then

his side then..." John paused for a few moments, and then continued, "To be more accurate,

never expected Stephen to suffer so

he was satisfied with his current status, and that he doesn't hate Jackson. There's

it was all my fault. If I hadn't asked

that. Although years had passed, she had never changed, and had still remained as considerate

it; it wasn't your fault. If

but they didn't belong to

my return a secret for the moment? Don't tell Grandpa Andrew or Jackson about

it were possible, she would have liked to never see them again. She just wanted to

Jackson?" said John, surprised by her request. He continued, "You're still

and said, "I have no idea;

adjust herself and deal with her own affairs. Her mind was a mess now, and it might not be the right time for her

no matter what she wanted to do, and he believed

you, " said Cherry.

tomorrow on, and to start a new life in the city with her beloved son. She felt energetic because of Joe, and although it wasn't easy for her, she would work hard to make hers and Joe's life better and better.

In the parking lot, after she put everything inside the car, she drove away

were still away. She somehow worried and called Wilson, but

from abroad, the subsidiary had a chance to develop pretty well in the city, and to provide more business opportunities all over

back home until the evening.

soon as they got home, Joe

heard Joe's voice, and happily replied, "Mommy's