Ice and Fire novel Chapter 377

It was already 3 o'clock in the morning, but the light was still on in the living room. Jackson took a look at the woman leaning on his arms. It was Cherry, his wife, he felt a little upset by what he saw. His wife looked so tired and sleepy kneeling on the ground. Cherry could barely keep her eyes open. She kept dozing off, that if it were not for Jackson's support, she would probably be on the floor now. Jackson still cared for her. He adjusted his position and faced her, holding her into his arms so that she would be a little bit comfortable.

Suddenly, Jackson heard the sound of someone's feet going down the stairs. He turned his head and looked up and saw his son Joe walking down the staircase with his hands holding a blanket.

Joe walked towards his parents and stopped in front of his Daddy. When he took a look at his Mommy sleeping in his Daddy's arms, he felt sad.

"Why are you here?" asked Jackson, in a low voice so as not to disturb Cherry from her sleep.

"Daddy, " said Joe, "I am afraid that you and Mommy will be cold, so I brought you my blanket."

He then handed over his blanket to Jackson.

"Thank you, son. Now be a good boy and go back upstairs and sleep." said Jackson, in a whisper.

Joe knew that his father was not in good mood so and he didn't try to argue with his orders. The boy nodded his head in obediently.

Joe took another look at his sleeping Mommy and asked Jackson, "Daddy, how about Mommy?"

"She has me here. You just go back to sleep." said Jackson. He felt tired physically and his emotion exhausted from the grief of losing Andrew. What made matters more complicated was his feeling towards Cheery and Joe, who were always able to touch his heart.

"Okay, " said Joe, looking straight at him. He was confident that his Daddy would look after his Mommy, so, he slowly went back upstairs to his room.

Seeing Joe climbing up the stairs, Jackson lowered his head and took a look at Cherry's face. He felt ache in his heart and he knew this pain was not something that medicines can numb or heal. He took a deep breath and thought, 'How do I face my wife? Where do I start?'

Early next morning, Cherry and Joe were just finishing their breakfast when they heard the voice of Lucia barging into the house.

"Grandpa!, Grandpa!..." cried Lucia. When she saw Andrew's ashes displayed in the living room with a portrait of him smiling, she became hysterical.

Lucia scampered towards the living room and grabbed hold of Andrew's portrait and cried. She howled in pain feeling the deep loss of the one person who unconditionally loved her.

Edwin and John followed Lucia into the house. Upon entering the house, John took a look at Cherry, who was standing at the dining room doorway, and didn't say a word. Both men then walked towards the living room.

Seeing the Ye family arrive, Cherry held Joe's hands and walked into the living room to console them.

Jackson was sitting on the chair in the living room, with his head bowed. He was aware of Lucia's appearance, but he ignored her and kept his silence.

Lucia knelt in front of Andrew's ash, feeling heartbroken. She had lost her knight in shining armor in the family.

Edwin and John followed Bill's instructions, to kowtow before Andrew's remain. It was a tradition, a show of respect. Having done this, the two Ye men then stood aside and kept their silence as well.

After a while, Lucia finally calmed down and stopped crying. She looked at Jackson and asked, "Jackson, what happened? I thought he was doing well! He looked so healthy when we last visited. How could Grandpa suddenly..."

Jackson didn't answer her and still kept his head down.

Bill, who was also in the living room saw that Jackson had no intention of answering Lucia's question, said, "Andrew has not been in good health these past days. Yesterday morning, he suddenly fainted, so we rushed to take him to the hospital and that's when...

Bill didn't add any more details. He thought it best to keep the current Chu Family affairs out of the picture. Besides, he was not the right person, nor was he in the right place to talk about it. He found the whole mess distasteful and was in no mood to discuss it.

"It couldn't be. Grandpa was very healthy when we last saw him. How could it..." argued Lucia, shaking her head unable to accept Andrew's passing. She didn't believe Bill's words. She needed to blame someone for this pain and agony that she was now feeling.

Lucia searched the room and she knew who was to blame for all of this. She scanned the room and her eyes caught Cherry. She saw that Cherry was standing with her son not far from where she was. Lucia stood up and walked directly towards the person whom she hated the most.

She stopped in front of Cherry and stared at her with enraged eyes. Unexpectedly she furiously slapped Cherry's face. Cherry felt the sting of Lucia's palm and she involuntarily took a step back in surprise and pain.

When Joe saw Lucia's violence towards her mother. Instinctively he immediately stepped in between the two women and pushed Lucia away. In a furious voice, he asked, "Why did you hit my Mommy?"

Lucia surprised that someone dared to shove her, she lowered her head and saw Joe. She heard the boy's question but didn't answer. This child was a Chu's direct descendant. If she were to hurt him, Jackson would surely get angry and there would be hell for her to pay. Cherry, however, was different, she was not as important as Joe. Cherry was disposable, a pawn.

Lucia then turned her attention to Cherry again. This was a person she hated to her bone. In a voice full of hatred, she shouted, "Cherry Shen, you are the bane of the Chu family. It was you who killed Grandpa! You were never supposed to marry into the Chu family! You have brought nothing but misfortune! Wherever you go, disaster happens! You have ruined Shen family, you have destroyed John's marriage and now you even killed Grandpa! I will never forgive you!"

Without any hesitation, Lucia rushed forward and grabbed Cherry by the hair and then proceeded to slap her once more.

Joe was so angry to see his mother being hit by Lucia that he moved forward to pull Lucia away from his mother. He kept shouting, "Don't touch my Mommy!"

But Joe was too small. His strength was nothing compared to Lucia. After seeing that he was not making any difference. Joe cried because he was helpless. He could do nothing to defend her mother against Lucia's merciless attacks. Cherry on the other hand, made no effort to defend herself. She accepted all of Lucia's blow. Joe ran towards his dad and begged him, "Daddy please come and save Mommy! Hurry up! Please...."

Jackson who was sitting, was unperturbed by the event unfolding before him. He didn't rise himself even when he heard Joe's imploring voice. He kept still with his head bowed as if he were in another place.

John looked at Jackson, surprised. He wondered why his uncle was so indifferent to Cherry being hit. 'He used to protect Cherry well. Why didn't he stop this?'John thought.

When he saw that Jackson wasn't moving, John hurriedly moved forward and pulled away Lucia from Cherry and said, "Mom, stop it!"