Ice and Fire

Chapter 141 My Son, My One And Only

Selina and Cherry drove to the cafe separately in their own cars. After they arrived, they sat across

each other at a corner table.

Cherry took a sip of her coffee, and said, "Go ahead, I'm listening. What do you want to talk about?"

Selina looked at Cherry, and after she carefully weighed her words, she said, "Cherry, I'm sorry for what

I've done to the Shen Group, I didn't know that Harrison was your father. I thought..."

But Cherry interrupted her before she could say a word more.

"Never mind. Leave it be, " said Cherry.

But Selina insisted on the subject and continued, "No, Cherry, please, you have to listen to me. I really

had no idea that Harrison was your father. If I had, I would have tried to stop Jackson."

Selina looked as though she had misunderstood everything, and didn't know why she insisted on

explaining the truth to Cherry. Maybe it was because she felt bad that Cherry flared up to her earlier in

the afternoon, and wanted to straighten things up with Cherry again.

Cherry pondered for a while, and said, "Selina, I understand and I don't blame you. Jackson always

gets what he wants, with or without your help."

Her words made Selina feel even worse. Cherry seemed to have forgiven her, but Selina knew that Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Cherry had been badly hurt by the things that they had done to her.

Selina said resignedly, "Actually, Derek told me that it was your abrupt departure and not Harrison's

offence that made Jackson destroy the Shen Group."

Cherry turned her head and looked out the window, and said, "I know. He hates me."

"No, " said Selina quickly, "Jackson loves you! You have to believe him, Cherry!"

Selina tried to defend Jackson, because she was sure that he still loved Cherry.

"I can't afford his exclusive love, " replied Cherry.

When Selina looked at her gloomy expression, sadness also struck her, and tears also started to well

up in her eyes.

"Why don't you want to make up with Jackson?" asked Selina, slowly starting to sob.

This took Cherry aback for a moment.

Cherry saw tears falling from Selina's eyes on her cheeks.

Cherry wanted to comfort her, but didn't know what to say to her. "Selina..."

But Selina interrupted her, and said, "Do you know that Jackson has been suffering since the first day

he was born? Why do you have to punish him like this?" Selina didn't mean to blame Cherry, but

wanted to speak out for Jackson.

Cherry looked surprised at Selina, but she didn't interrupt her. Instead, she listened to her.

"Jackson's parents left him when he was very young, and he had to be strong, because he was born as

a soldier's son, something that Andrew had always told him. At that time, Derek and I could tell that

Jackson was always very sad because neither of us had ever seen him smile, not even when we were

obviously having a lot of fun.

It was only until he was a teenager and found out what love was that he started to become a little more

open to the outside world around him. But, unfortunately that didn't last either, and then Sally's family

got into trouble and Jackson had to fall into his sadness again."

Selina didn't say more about the incident and instead went straight to the point. "I was not there five

years ago when the two of you got married, but I could tell that he was smiling happily over the phone

when he informed me of the good news. From that day on, I believed that you're Jackson's one true

love, but..."

Selina then stopped, but Cherry knew that the next part of story was about her.

She looked into Cherry's eyes, and said, "Cherry, Jackson actually loves you. He's never hated you,

and even if he does hate you somehow, that's still because he loves you too much!"

Cherry was a little touched by her words, and deep in her heart she said to herself, 'How could I not

love Jackson? There are too many things stunting our love.'

"Thank you, Selina, " said Cherry, who understood Selina's kindness towards Jackson.

"Cherry, do you want to get back together with Jackson?" asked Selina anxiously, eager to know the

answer. She truly hoped that Cherry and Jackson would eventually get back together.

Cherry, however, shook her head and looked away from her. She said, "I don't think that I'm ready yet."

"Why do you need to get ready?" asked Selina frustrated. She continued, "Haven't you lived together?

Don't you already know what kind of person Jackson is? What are you afraid of? With Jackson

protecting you, you won't need to worry about anything."

Cherry shook her head, and with resignation clearly heard in her tone, replied, "Selina, you don't

understand me, I have my own concerns."

Cherry didn't dare to tell Selina about Joe. She knew that if she did that, Selina would definitely tell

everyone about him, and then they would have no peace anymore.

Selina didn't demand more from Cherry when she saw her reluctance to explain more to her.

After that, they just sat at the table in silence. Eventually, Cherry said, "Selina, can I ask you for a

favor?"

"Of course you can, go ahead, " replied Selina.

"Can you help me find my father? I want to know where and how he is. After all, he is my father, " said

Cherry in a gentle voice. It pained her to remember what Harrison had done to her, but in any case, he

was still her father.

Selina nodded, and said, "Okay."

Cherry's mood slightly brightened when she saw Selina's prompt promise. She continued, "Can you tell

me where Jackson is?"

Selina opened her eyes wide, and said, "Are you going to see him?"

She was so elated that she immediately took out her phone and tried to call Jackson.

But Cherry quickly grabbed Selina's arm, and said, "Don't tell him about me."

Selina nodded and dialed Jackson.

He answered quickly.

"Hello, Selina, " said Jackson drowsy.

"Jackson, where are you?" asked Selina, more than excited.

"At home. What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to know if you're at the family residence." She didn't know if Jackson was at his

condo or at the military residence compound.

"I'm in my flat, " replied Jackson.

"Okay, alright then, " cheerfully said Selina.

"What's going on? Has something happened?" asked Jackson.

"No, all's good, I just wanted to know where you are. I have to go now, bye, " said Selina, wanting to

hang up right after she found out about his whereabouts.

"Okay, take care. And don't stay out too late!" said Jackson.

After the call was over, Selina gladly grabbed Cherry's hand, and said, "He's at the appartment."

Cherry had suspected that Jackson was at their old home.

She looked at Selina, and said, "Okay, got it. I'll go and see him right now."

Afraid that something would go wrong, Selina stopped her for a moment, and said, "Cherry, you have to

talk with Jackson tonight and listen to what he wants to say. Can you promise me that you'll do that?"

Cherry nodded. Looking at her chirpy expression, Cherry really appreciated Selina's concern about her

and Jackson.

They walked out of the cafe and waved goodbye to each other. Cherry then drove to apartment that

had used to be her home years ago.

As she drove, she called home and Wilson answered it.

"Wilson, are you still up?" asked Cherry, surprised when she heard Wilson's voice.

"Yes. I'm still waiting for you. When will you come back home?" answered Wilson, gently as ever.

Cherry fell silent for a moment before she said, "I won't be coming home tonight."

"Why? Where are you going to stay?" asked Wilson, unaware of what Cherry was about to do.

Cherry decided to be frank with him, and said, "I'm going to see Jackson. I have some business to deal

with him."

"Why don't you settle it tomorrow? It's already pretty late, " said Wilson, concerned.

Cherry didn't answer him at first, but then added, "Wilson, please don't tell Joe that I'm going to see

Jackson; I don't want him to know about it. Just tell him that I'm staying at a colleague's tonight and that

I'll be back home tomorrow evening."

Cherry waited for Wilson's answer, but he was silent.

She knew that he was still on the line and listening to her. She continued, "Wilson, you know me, and

that means that you also know that I stick to whatever I decide to do. No matter what will happen in the

future, I know that I can't live without him."

And with that, she hung up the phone.

After a while, her phone rang again, and Cherry saw that Wilson called her back. She pulled up on the

side of the road and answered it.

"Hello, " said Cherry.

"Mommy, it's Joe here!"

"Joe?" Why are you still up at this hour?" asked Cherry, surprised.

Like a spoiled child, Joe answered, "Mommy, I can't go to sleep without you!" All of a sudden, Cherry's

longing for her son also flooded her heart.

Cherry composed herself and comforted him as gently as she could. "Joe, I have something to do

tonight and I have to stay with my colleague. Stay with your uncle and be a good boy, okay? Mommy'll

come back home early tomorrow."

"Okay, I understand. I just miss you and wanted to hear your voice, " said Joe.

Cherry faked a cheerful tone, and said, "You've heard my voice, now you have to go to bed."

"Okay, I know. Goodnight, mommy!"

After she finished talking on the phone, Cherry gripped it tightly in her hand. She thought of her one

and only son, and how she would always try to keep him away out of harm's way.