Ice and Fire novel Chapter 396

"You stayed at the residential compound with Jackson? Is everything okay?" asked Wilson. He thought Cherry was at the compound because something bad had happened to Jackson.

Cherry said, "Yes. I just wanted to see him, and Selina happened to stop over last night, and offered to stay there so I could go to the compound."

"Wait? Selina stayed at your villa last night?" asked Wilson, feeling somewhat disheartened. Selina shared everything with him usually, but she hadn't told him anything about last night.

When Cherry saw the look of astonishment on his face, she smiled saying, "Yes, and she sent Joe to school this morning. Didn't she tell you?"

"No! I know nothing about it, " replied Wilson with an awkward smile on his face.

"Alright, well, now you know! It's no big deal." Cherry said shrugging as she wrapped her arm in his and went on, "Let's go inside now! Come and show me around your office."

Wilson's smile widened, "Yes! Let's go have a tour! My father and Aunt Elsa will be joining us at noon, and we will have lunch together." He explained as they headed into the H King Group.

Mond was feeling superior, as usual, and reclined comfortably on his sofa in the villa, coldly staring at Stephen who was sitting next to him.

Sally sat opposite the gentlemen, and glanced at Jean sitting next to her side before telling Mond, "Mond, this slut is of no use to us anymore, and I think you should ask her to leave immediately."

Hearing what Sally said, Stephen glanced at Jean expressionlessly, but said nothing.

Jean was terrified at the prospect of having to leave. She looked at Mond pleading, "Mond, you promised that you'd keep me at your side! When you took me from that place, you swore to me!"

Mond lowered his head and kept silent, his mind a total mess. He had thought that after Andrew passed away, he would be happy and his plans would continue smoothly. However, he found himself too depressed to stick to what he originally planned.

Sally stared at Jean, "It doesn't matter if Mond promised. The situation has changed, and if you were to stay here, you'd be a liability. Considering what our next step is, you have to leave, understand?"

Jean met her cruel gaze, shaking her head. She didn't want to leave. Mond saved her five years ago, and she wanted to stay with him, forever, regardless of how poorly he treated her at times. She was haunted by the memories of what had happened, and wanted to keep his company. Being alone and in the dark was too frightening to handle alone, and she hated it.

"No! No! I won't leave! I can't! I want to stay here! Forever!" Jean cried out, hysteria beginning to grip her from the inside.

"It's not up to you!" screamed Sally, a cruel glint shone in her eyes. She looked over at Mond again, "Mond, make up your mind, now!"

But Mond remained silent.

Jean suddenly jumped from her seat, rushing across the small space and squatting down beside him. She tugged at his coattail begging him, "Mr. Mond, please! Please don't drive me out! You saved me when I was in despair, and helped me from a wretched existence. I'm begging you, please, don't send me away now!"

Mond glanced down at Jean. He wasn't sure what he should say. Looking at her now though, he was reminded of Cherry, and silently wondered, 'Jean is Cherry's sister. Would Cherry be mad at me if I sent her sister away?'

Stephen was sitting there quietly. He didn't really care about either of them, because it didn't relate to him. Jean's matters had nothing to do with him, and he didn't care whether she stayed or left.

After Mond mulled it over a while, he broke the silence with an order, "Jean, go upstairs."

Jean froze immediately when she heard him. She asked herself, 'What does he mean? He didn't ask me to leave, so, does that mean I don't have to go away?'

Sally became vehement, and leaped to her feet shouting, "Mond? Why didn't you tell her to leave? What are you thinking?"

"Do you really believe you have any right to question my actions?" Mond roared back as he turned and glared at her, "Would you like Jackson Chu to be the next one to die? I can make it happen, and send him straight to the hell on Andrew Chu's heels!"

Sally didn't dare to say any more when she saw how enraged he was. Instead she shot Jean a resentful look, and then turned and looked out the window.

Mond ordered Jean again, "Go! Upstairs! Now!"

Jean knew Mond was furious, so she quietly stood up and raced to the stairs.

When she was gone, Stephen finally opened his mouth and said, "Let's discuss what our next step should be."

"Wipe Cherry and her son out!" suggested Sally. Getting revenge on Cherry had always been part of Sally's plans.

"No!" Stephen promptly rejected Sally's suggestion, "The only person we need to deal with, is Jackson. Everything that happened in the past was his fault, and has nothing to do with anyone else."

"But I need revenge on Cherry! She stole my only hope in this lifeless world when she took the love of my life, and I won't let her get away with it so easily!" Sally shouted seething with fury. Her eyes burned with intense hatred. She thought, 'Cherry! I'll make you pay for it, mark my words!'