Ice and Fire novel Chapter 293

When they arrived at the party's location, Jackson and Cherry got out of the car, while Derek and Selina were already walking towards them.

Standing next to Jackson, Derek took a peek inside, and said, "It seems there aren't so many people inside."

"Maybe most of them haven't arrived yet? Every time there's a party, some people will be late, right?" said Selina.

Jackson and Cherry were silent, and didn't talk to neither Derek or Selina.

Derek and Selina looked at each other for a moment and felt that something was odd. Were they still having a lover's quarrel? Shouldn't have they made up already?

"Jackson, Cherry, come on, let's go inside, " said Selina.

"Yes, let's go inside. I don't think it's appropriate to stand at the door for so much time, " said Derek, echoing Selina's words.

As she looked at Selina, Cherry slightly nodded, and said, "Okay, let's go in."

After she said that, Cherry reached out to hold Jackson's arms. She knew that it was what she had to do as Jackson's wife when she was present at such events. Even if she was still mad at him, she had to pretend that they were going along very well. She had to put on a mask to hide herself from everyone around her, and to pretend to be a friendly and hospitable woman, Jackson's ideal wife.

Jackson said nothing when he saw that Cherry had taken the initiative to hold his arm.

As sensible as Derek and Selina were, they also quickly took action. After Selina cheerfully strode towards Derek and held his arms, they walked inside together, with Jackson and Cherry entering behind them.

As soon as they stepped through the door, Cherry caught everyone's attention. All men stared at her without looking away not even for one second, while every woman seemed to be in the grips of the green eyed monster.

"Mr. Jackson's wife is so beautiful, " said one man.

"Yes, just look at her face and figure! Both are just perfect, " said another man.

"Only a successful man like Mr. Jackson could have such a beautiful wife, " they concluded.

Not far away from them, a group of women were also discussing about her, obviously jealous on her beauty.

"She's caught everyone's eyes! I bought my evening dress in Paris, but I'm still no match for her, " said one woman.

"You do know who she is, don't you? She's Mr. Andrew's granddaughter-in-law, Mr. Jackson's wife! If you're as pretty as she is, you can also become Mr. Jackson's woman and stand at his side, " said another woman.

"Yes, and at that time, the queen of the party will be you, " said a woman beside her.

"Oh, I consider such behavior to be beneath contempt. You know, a woman showing off just because her husband is rich and handsome, " said the first woman.

"Is that what you're really thinking? Isn't it because you're no match for her no matter how fabulous your dress is?" scornfully said one of them.

Jackson and Derek were standing in a less crowded corner, with Cherry and Selina quietly standing next to them.

Some moments later, several people came to greet them. As Jackson looked at the respectful men in front of him, he slightly nodded and chatted with them for a while. Occasionally they mentioned about Cherry, and after she heard them she forced a smile on her face, but didn't say a word.

They had just arrived at the party for ten minutes, but so many people had already come to greet Jackson and Derek. Selina said a few words from time to time, but Cherry remained mostly silent. Jackson knew that she wasn't in a good mood, so he tried his best to help her. Sometimes, Cherry should have been the one to answer the other party guests' questions, but Jackson did that for her, which made him an excellent husband in the other people's eyes.

As she looked at the group of people in front of her, Cherry felt very sick. Although every man wore a luxurious suit, it seemed that they all had a dirty mind. And the women were no better than men, because despite their extravagant dresses, they were ignorant and gossipy. There was no way that Cherry could have ever liked them, not to mention make friends with them.

A middle-aged man stood in front of Jackson with a wine glass in his hand. As he looked at Cherry, he said, "Mrs. Cherry, you're so young and beautiful. I would have never believed that you're already the mother of a child if I didn't know it."

"Thank you, " politely replied Cherry.

"Mrs. Cherry, I've never seen you at any social event like this one, and we never had chance to chat with each other. I was wondering if I can invite you to an afternoon tea some time?" asked the woman, who was standing next to the middle-aged man, with big smile shining on her face.

As Cherry looked at her, she thought to herself, 'Look at her fake smile! What a hypocritical woman she is! She would have never invited me to an afternoon tea if I wasn't Jackson's wife who stood beside him.'

But still, she knew what she had to do as Jackson's wife in a social context like this.

"Okay, how about I ask you out when I have free time? I'm just a little bit busy these days, you know, working at the JS Group. I'll ask you out when I find some free space in my agenda, " said Cherry, a little distant and perfunctory.

The woman was very pleased after she heard that Cherry was going to ask her out. She could now finally make friends with those who were richer than her, and if she got along well with Cherry, then her husband would never have to worry about his career for his whole entire life.

"Okay, okay, Mrs. Cherry, I'll wait for you, " said the woman smiling.

Cherry nodded to her and didn't say anything else.

After she chatted with several other people, Cherry got a little bored. She turned to look the other way, and found that Derek and Selina were laughing and talking with a group of young men. She thought to herself, 'They're their friends, aren't they? They've grown up in such a rich family, so it's natural to meet with friends and acquaintances at a party like this.'

Jackson felt the shift in Cherry's mood, and with his face close to her ear asked her, "What's wrong?"

When Cherry sensed that he was coming close to her, Cherry immediately backed away from him a few small steps. She shook her head, and said, "Nothing."

"If you think it's boring, let's just go home, " said Jackson. He wanted to do everything according to Cherry's wish, and to give her anything that she wanted. From the way she backed away from him, he could see that she was still very mad at him.

Cherry shook her head, and calmly said, "It's alright; all these people have come to greet you anyway. Even if we leave now, we'll still stumble into them."

She then looked away from him and stared at the big pool. There were lights in different colors reflected on it, which was very beautiful.

She suddenly heard someone calling her from not far away, "Cherry!"

Cherry was a little surprised. She didn't think that she could have friends who would show up at this kind of party, so she was wondering who it could be.

When she turned around and saw the familiar figure, she eventually recognized the man who had called her name. At that moment, she realized that she hadn't seen him for a long time, and that he looked thinner than he had been before. What had happened to him? Was he sick these days?