Ice and Fire

In the morning, Cherry got up early to get to work. Processing yesterday's orders to the manager and making herself busy with her own tasks, Cherry spent the whole day without anything unexpected happening.

She walked out the JS Building after work, as usual. Her phone, kept away in her bag began to ring suddenly when she was about to drive her car out of the parking lot.

Taking the phone out, Cherry saw that it was John, and she answered the phone.

"Hello, John, " said Cherry in a cold tone.

"Cherry, have you gotten off work now?" John asked with concern.

"Yes, I just got done with work now, " said Cherry.

"So are you free now? Would you like to have a cup of tea with me?" John offered.

Thinking about it for a while, Cherry thought that it would mean nothing to have a cup of tea with John since she had no affection for him now.

"Okay, where do you want me to come? I'll try to get there soon, " Cherry said decidedly.

"Come to the Ancient Path Tea House", replied John.

Cherry drove to the teahouse after hanging up. All that while, she wasn't aware that there was a man following her.

When Cherry got to the place, she found John occupying a seat in the corner, so she just walked up to him.

"You are here, " said John.

"Hmmm, " Cherry sat opposite to John.

"How are you doing these days? How is everything at work?" John asked with concern. He had not seen Cherry since the last time they had met at the cemetery. He had only spoken with her on the phone. Luckily, both of them were free today, so he could meet her here and ask her about her wellbeing.

"Well, fine", said Cherry simply. Seeing John's caring attitude, Cherry spoke to him as though he were a regular friend, "so, how are you doing these days? Are you keeping very busy?"

"Not really, it's just the same as before. Sometimes there are some things that need to be handled, while sometimes, I am free, " said John.

Cherry nodded, letting him know that she was listening to his words.

John continued, "Cherry, how could you join the JS Group?"

Cherry felt a bit surprised when she heard the question. Why couldn't she join the JS Group? She had employed her own abilities rather than nepotism to be one part of the JS Group, so why couldn't she get the position she had earned?

"Why do you ask that? Do you think I could not get into the JS Group?" asked Cheery, with a hint of anger in her voice.

explained immediately. He didn't mean that and he just wanted to clarify to her that her boss

John, still waiting

walking towards them, before

with his words, and that his face grew momentarily

" Join could barely get the words out of his mouth. How could Jackson possibly know that they are here? Had he already got the message that

the word uncle made Cherry shudder as she knew his uncle was no other

up and turned to see the man behind

Cherry saw the angry face of Jackson, she realized that how furious Jackson was at that moment. And what's worse, there were

between Cherry and John, took a glare at John and turned to focus his complete attention

meet him?" What Jackson said resonated in Cherry's ears, word by

eyes, quiet

for Cherry and he knew that Cherry did not want to see Jackson again. He interfered immediately, "No, uncle, it was me who called her to come

"John, do you think that

what he had been five years ago, and he had learned to

but if you want to threaten me with taking that away, you should just do it now, because I'd rather abandon

that John was even ready to abandon his position of the state governor for her. 'Cherry, how many men have you

amusing to play this game of questions and answers. Cherry hated to see him. She had not even wanted him to know that she had come back, but here she was intimately chatting with his nephew in a corner of a tea house. No one could

fit of anger. Being afraid that he might put Cherry

finished his words, Jackson grabbed him by the collar. Looking at him

by Jackson, John felt a bit terrified. He just looked back

like this, Cherry immediately said, "Jackson, let

Hearing Cherry's words, Jackson fiercely threw John away and stepped up to Cherry, looking down at her, "Does it make your heart ache? Are you scared that I would

her head even more, she asked, "What

answer to that? Then I'll let you know what I really want to do." With these words, Jackson

Bobby, one of the men that had come with Jackson, came in front of John and punched him in the

to

tried to help John back up, Jackson pulled

much for Cherry who failed to let herself

John being beaten up by Bobby, hopelessly. There was even no scope for

resist Jackson, "Jackson, release me,

to release you

said in a hurry, "He is your nephew! He will die

Cherry continued her pleadings, her heart began racing when she turned towards John, whose face was now covered in blood. She didn't want to see John hurt like this, even though she did not love him any more. Even if she had hated him from the bottom of his heart, that had been a thing of the past. All of these things had been a matter of the past, right? Cherry

him so much?" Jackson got even more angry when he looked at her painful expressions. Did she still care

him a lot. I have always cared for him a lot" Encouraged by an uninhibited momentum, Cherry spoke out without

A sudden sound