Ice and Fire novel Chapter 140

Stephen watched Cherry deeply contemplating something but he could not figure out what it was actually.

"Cherry, " called Stephen softly.

"Yes?" Cherry immediately brought her thoughts back to the present and looked at Stephen.

He thought about what he wanted to say for a moment and then said, "Cherry, you don't need to think too much. You will understand whatever is going on in the days to come."

However, Cherry did not really pay heed to Stephen's words as she was still lost in her own thoughts. "Stephen, do you think it was right for me to marry to Jackson? Hasn't it been a complete mistake?"

Stephen considered her question in his mind and firmly said, "Cherry, if I had known you before Jackson, I would have taken you away from this city and if it were possible, we would never come back!"

There was not only a sense of longing but also sadness in Cherry's eyes. Seeing that, Stephen was ready to abandon the hatred he held for her in his heart. As long as he could have her, he was okay with never ever seeing Jackson again all his life. He would not even avenge him since he would be content with Cherry by his side.

Cherry still dwelled in her imaginary world. Shaking her head, she said, "Stephen, maybe I'm destined to stay entangled with Jackson."

Stephen didn't say anything because he knew that she would not listen to anybody now.

Suddenly, she asked a question Stephan could not have predicted, "Do you think I can trust Selina?"

Fixing his eyes on Cherry, Stephen could not tell what was going on in her mind. After thinking about her question, he said, "I'm not sure. Maybe you can trust her. She doesn't live in the family residence and shows no signs of a soldier, but a foreigner. Honestly, I'm not familiar with her."

Cherry pondered over this in her mind. Based on the time that she spent with Selina, she found her to be a simple child rather than a calculating woman. But her relationship with Jackson was very special. Could she still trust her?

Seeing that Cherry kept silent, Stephen suddenly recalled something and then said to Cherry, "Cherry, there is a person you can trust beside you."

"Who is that?" Cherry looked at Stephen in surprise. She was anxious to find someone she counted enough to rely on. She had trusted Stephen very much earlier, but now she felt that she did not know him at all! Though Stephen had never hurt her and had even helped her, she found him so strange that she even could not figure out what kind of a person he had become now.

Stephen stared into Cherry's eyes and firmly answered, "John."

'John?' Cherry was taken aback by that name, stopping all other thoughts in her head. 'How could it be John?'

Stephen continued, "Though John had betrayed you before, I can assure that he would never hurt you. Try to think of the past few years. Has John done anything bad to you besides he cheating on you with your sister after you met him the first time?"

Considering it carefully, Cherry had to admit that Stephen was right. It was true that John had never hurt her, except for the betrayal which happened five years ago. But she could never forgive him and kept him in her blacklist.

Then Stephen said, "But John is not so powerful since Jackson has always suppressed him. After all, he is Lucia's son!"

"I have been with John so I am not unfamiliar with him. He would have preferred to lead a peaceful life but his has been influenced by his families. Lucia directs his life all the time, " Cherry began to analyse John carefully.

Stephen nodded, "Yes, this is his short coming. He relies on his mother and the Chu family too much. But..."

Stephen paused for a moment, "Cherry, if you go back to the Chu family, John might be the only person who will stand by your side and protect you. But I don't know if he can protect you well enough. You know better than anybody else when it comes to Jackson's temper."

"What do you mean?" Cherry was a bit confused. Why was John the only person who could protect her? What about Jackson? Would he bring her to any harm?

Stephen spoke seriously, "Cherry, the Chu family is complex. Everyone has their own secrets. It seems that Jackson hasn't told you anything, right?"

Cherry felt even more frightened in her heart. 'What is it?' She had guessed that there may be some secrets in the Chu family. But she made that assumption only based on the immense power of the family. Was it true that there were big secrets in the Chu family?

Stephen instantly thought through the perspective of Cherry and added, "Maybe Jackson just wanted to protect you and so he didn't tell you anything. Cherry, you are safe now."

Cherry shook her head. Who she was worried about right now was not herself but her little son. None of these people knew about him yet. But if they got to know, no one could say what would happen next.

"No, I'm worried about Joe, " said Cherry nervously.

Stephen tensed up at the mention of Joe. As of now, no person in the entire Chu family, knew about the existence of this boy. It could be assumed that both Cherry's and her son's fates would change if they got to know.

Cherry grabbed Stephen's arm in desperation and said, "Stephen, what should I do now? I will not allow Joe to be hurt. I don't want to see any accident happen to Joe. What should I do?"

Seeing Cherry like this, Stephen immediately put his hands on Cherry's shoulders to calm her down, "Cherry, listen to me, no one knows about Joe's existence. So it's alright. Don't worry about that. Furthermore..."

Stephen turned his eyes towards thin air, as though foreseeing the future, and said, "Joe is an offspring of the Chu family. If there is anyone who wants to harm Joe, Jackson and Andrew will not let them off."

Cherry had lost all her strength. Sitting there quietly, Cherry only hoped that her son would be okay. Joe was everything to her and she could not allow any accident to happen to him.

Much later, Cherry's spirits began to lift up and she said with determination, "No matter what happens, I will protect Joe and will not let him be hurt."

Stephen evaluated the strength with which Cherry said those words, then he said, "You should protect yourself well, too, okay?"

Cherry did not answer him.

Leaving the bar, Cherry drove back home. When she got to the entrance of her home, Cherry saw Selina's car parked in a distance.

When Selina saw that Cherry had come back, she got out of the car and walked towards her.

Cherry got out of her car as well and stood beside it, and watched as Selina walked towards her.

"Cherry, why are you home so late?" Asked Selina with concern as she did not know where had she gone.

"Is there anything you wanted from me that you came here?" asked Cherry in a cold tone.

"I just want to talk with you, " explained Selina.

Looking towards the villa nearby, Cherry also found Wilson's car parked in the yard. Joe was at home too. So she could obviously not invite Selina to her home.

Cherry stared at Selina and said, "Let's find a place to talk."

Selina looked a bit surprised. Why did Cherry not invite her home as they were right in front of the residence now?

Cherry figured out Selina's thought and said, "There are too many people in my home. My mother and my uncle are at home too. It will not be convenient for us to talk."

Selina agreed with her with a nod, and said, "Then let's go and find a cafe."