Ice and Fire novel Chapter 144

After a while, Cherry put on her clothes. She stepped downstairs and saw that Jackson was busy cooking in the kitchen. He was a respectable and decent gentleman in the outside world, but now he was just a man cooking for his wife.

All of a sudden, Cherry's heart was filled with love, and she walked up quietly behind him and hugged Jackson leaning against his back.

Jackson felt Cherry, and as he smiled, he softly asked, "What's up, baby? Why did you come here? Just wait for me in the dining room, I'll finish here soon."

After she heard his sweet words, Cherry really wanted to tell him that she didn't want to leave him. She knew that once she spoke these words she had to abide by them; however, she hadn't figured out how to live with him yet.

At that very moment, the doorbell suddenly rang, and Cherry was taken aback. She wondered, 'Who could it be?'

Jackson was astonished and also wondered who could be outside the door.

Cherry then left Jackson's back, and said, "I'll get it."

"Okay, " nodded Jackson, thinking that it might be Derek.

Cherry happily walked to the door and opened it.

Outside, Sally had thought that Jackson would be the one who would answer the door. When she saw it open, wearing a smile on her face, she said, "Jackson!"

But her grin immediately froze when she saw Cherry standing in front of her instead.

When Cherry saw that the person at the door was Sally, and that she was calling Jackson's name so sweetly, all the happiness in her mind quickly faded away.

"Why are you here?" asked Sally confused.

Cherry didn't fear Sally. She looked at her, and replied, "Why shouldn't I be here? Isn't this my home?"

Then they both heard Jackson's voice.

As he stepped to the door, Jackson asked, "Who's it, baby?"

When he saw Sally, his cheerful face gradually started to darken into a grim expression.

"What do you want?" he asked. Jackson was astounded. He hadn't thought that Sally would come there to look for him at this time.

Sally looked at Jackson and instantly fell in low spirits. She asked, "Why didn't you answer my phone calls?"

Her question reminded Jackson that he had indeed received a call from Sally in the morning, and Cherry also vaguely remembered that Jackson's phone had rung once while they were sleeping. Maybe it had been Sally.

Jackson then glanced at Cherry and saw that she was not as happy as she had been earlier. He cared about her feelings, and was worried that Cherry would become angry because of Sally.

Cherry felt that it was unnecessary for her to stay there, because she didn't want to be a fifth wheel in their conversation.

She turned around to go back inside the apartment, but Jackson suddenly pulled her back and held her into his arms.

He then looked at Sally, and indifferently said, "Anything else? If you have something important to say to me, say it now, or leave; we're having lunch together."

Sally felt even more terrible when she heard Jackson's words, and when she also saw Cherry in his arms, the strong hatred that started to boil in her heart made her want to slap Cherry over her face.

"Jackson, are you planning to live with her?" Sally's tone had obviously changed. Jackson was the one she loved, while Cherry was the one she hated, and Jackson was showing his love to Cherry in front of her. How could she keep herself calm?

"Why not? After all, she's my wife." This was the first time that Jackson mentioned about his relationship with Cherry in front of Sally, and also with complete affirmation in his tone. He had lost Cherry for five whole years, and he had now finally understood how important she was for him. Cherry was his wife, the person who had to accompany him for a lifetime.

Cherry was surprised by Jackson's words. In the past, he had always protected and spoiled Sally, but now he had adopted such a forceful tone towards her, and had also declared firmly that she, Cherry, was his wife.

Cherry turned around to face Jackson and her eyes met with his. There was sincerity flowing between them in their eye-contact.

Sally was furious when she saw them displaying their affection towards each other in front of her. She shouted at Jackson, "What about me? What am I to you after spending five years with you?"

Jackson showed no kind of distress at all. He instead stared at Sally, and said, "I've told you countless times that the one that I'll protect for all my life is she, Cherry." After that, he placed his eyes again on Cherry.

Sally hadn't expected that Jackson would make such a declaration in front of her, and at that moment she lost control over all of her emotions.

As she pointed at Cherry, Sally said, "Jackson, this bitch has left you for five years! You don't even know what she's done during all this time! Do you actually still want to believe in her and spend the rest of your life with her?" Sally thought that even if she had to ruin Cherry completely she would still do it to drive her away from Jackson.

"Shut up!" immediately shouted Jackson infuriated. He paid no attention to Sally's resentment, and said, "That's none of your business!"

Cherry trembled uncontrollably when she saw how mad Jackson was. He had changed considerably. Five years ago he had abandoned and ignored her because of that woman, but now he was shouting at that same woman for her. What had happened during these past years? What had made him change like this?

Jackson was aware of Cherry's trembling, and he assumed that he had frightened her because he had lost control of his temper. He grasped her hand promptly and held it tightly into his, trying to imply to her that she didn't have to be afraid.

Sally felt speechless in front of them, and was also astonished by Jackson's fury towards her, and when it occurred to her that Jackson had become mad for Cherry, she felt even more uneasy in her heart.

In the end, she focused her eyes on Cherry, and fiercely warned her, "You'll pay for this, Cherry Shen!"

And with that, she quickly turned around and left.

After Sally left, Jackson asked Cherry, "Are you okay?"

Cherry nodded to him and then went back inside.

They had lunch together. The meal that Jackson had cooked for her was very delicious, but Sally's sudden visit had put Cherry in no mood to enjoy it.

Jackson was sitting at her side, and as he watched Cherry eating the food that he had cooked for her, he felt very happy. He couldn't take his eyes off her every time when he was with her, and whenever she was at his side, he felt that he owned the whole world.

After they finished their lunch, Cherry said to Jackson, "Jackson, I've got to go now. I have something to do in the afternoon, and I'll also have to go back home in the evening."

"But didn't you say that you'll have dinner with me later in the evening? Won't you return to our home?" Jackson was upset, and couldn't understand what Cherry was talking about.

She looked at him earnestly, and said, "Remember, I just came here to see the place last night. I won't live here for long, because I have my own family now. I'm very happy when I'm with my mother."

Jackson could see Cherry's love towards her family in her eyes, but what about him? Wasn't he also part of her family?

"What about me? Do you have the heart to leave me alone here?" quickly asked Jackson.

Cherry didn't know what to say to him, but eventually replied with only a "Sorry." She then grabbed her handbag and decided to leave the apartment.

Jackson immediately dragged her by her arms and hugged her from behind. As he bent over his head over her shoulder, he begged her, "Please don't go, baby! Please don't leave me here alone again!"