Ice and Fire novel Chapter 342

"It was okay, " answered Joe, without raising his head from the tablet. He was clearly aware that his mother was angry with his dad because of what had happened earlier, so he also didn't ease up.

Jackson didn't know how to continue the conversation, so he just drove the car in silence and listened to their laughter on their way back home.

They were soon back at the military's residential compound, but when Cherry and Joe got out of the car and were walking to the house, they heard someone calling "Joe!"

"Joe, come and join us!" Some of the children were playing with each other and were having fun in the courtyard.

They were very happy there, and Joe wanted to join them to play interesting games with them. He asked his mother, "Mommy, can I play with them for an hour? I promise that I'll be back home in time for dinner."

Cherry looked at Joe and saw in his eyes the yearning to join them. Cherry eventually nodded, and said, "Go; Lily will ask you to come back for dinner later."

"Okay! Thank you, Mommy!" Joe then gave his schoolbag to Cherry, and added, "I'll go and play with them now."

After that, he cheerfully ran to his friends to join them.

"Be careful, and remember to be friendly with each other!" advised Cherry, still a little worried.

"Alright!"

Joe then gradually disappeared from sight. Jackson walked up to Cherry, and said with a smile on his face, "He's just a kid, let him play with the other little ones."

But when Cherry heard Jackson's voice, her own smile immediately disappeared. She then turned around and walked to the house alone, leaving Jackson in the back. She was still angry because of what had happened earlier at the school.

Cherry's anger made Jackson at a loss to please her. He didn't know how to explain to her, although he knew that she was offended by what had happened at the school gate.

When Cherry walked into the living room, she found that there was only Lily busy in the kitchen, and that Andrew and the Butler weren't anywhere.

Lily saw that Cherry was back home, and she politely greeted her, "Madam, it's good that you're back."

"Joe's playing with the children in the courtyard; please remember to call him back for dinner, " said Cherry, but before Lily had the chance to reply to her, she quickly started to walk upstairs.

"Okay, " said Lily, as she looked at Cherry's back a bit puzzled. She thought, 'Cherry was in a good mood when she left to pick up Joe from school, but why does it seem that she's annoyed now?'

While Lily was pondering, Jackson also came in. She walked out of the kitchen, and greeted him, "Mr. Jackson, it's so good that you're back!"

"Where's Grandpa?" asked Jackson in a calm tone.

"He went out to the neighbors to play a game of chess with them. I will call him back before dinner, " answered Lily politely.

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

Lily was a little worried about Cherry. She glanced at the second floor and hesitated for a moment, but then she eventually asked Jackson, "Master, is it me, or is the Madam somewhat unhappy this evening?"

Jackson also looked up at the second floor, and said, "It doesn't matter, I'll go upstairs and comfort her."

After he said that, he also went on his way upstairs to deal with his wife's issues.

After Jackson opened the door of the bedroom, he saw that Cherry was combing her hair in front of the dressing table. Jackson strode towards her and then held her tightly in his arms.

"Take your hands off me!" furiously shouted Cherry

But Jackson didn't let her go; instead, he hugged her even more tightly, and said to her tenderly, "What's the matter? Why are you angry?"

Cherry turned her face to Jackson, and seriously said, "Since you care so much about me, why do you want to play the field?"

Jackson knew that Cherry was irritated because of what had happened between him and Rosa at the school gate. He patiently explained to her, "You know that I am loyal only to you; I don't even know her, I only know that she's Joe's headteacher, and I've only met her by accident for several times when I went to pick up Joe."

"Have you ever met with her in private? When she saw you, the look on her face obviously showed her love for you. If she doesn't know you, how could she behave in such a loving way?" said Cherry.

Cherry somewhat doubted Jackson's words. The look on Rosa's face and her behavior both suggested that she was quite familiar with Jackson, so she guessed that they had both known each other for some time already. Cherry had paid little attention to Jackson's whereabouts, and she had no idea about what he did or where he went. She had never asked him about his relationships with other people, except when he had mentioned about them casually during their daily conversations. Cherry now hoped that Jackson could explain things to her clearly and in detail.

Jackson had never thought that Cherry would be so angry. He held her in his arms tightly, and as he looked at her, he solemnly explained, "My baby, you should always trust in me. I don't have any affair with Joe's headteacher, and I really don't know what kind of person she is and what she wants from me."

"Even a fool can see her love towards you, " said Cherry, very irritated, but after she spoke out her words, she couldn't believe what had come out of her mouth. How could she say such a thing? Was it because she was jealous?

Jackson tried to calm down. After that, he looked at Cherry, and earnestly said to her, "Honey, I've loved only you for so many years already! Don't you know that by now? You're the only one in my heart, but if you're really bothered about the headteacher, I'll choose a new school for Joe tomorrow."