Ice and Fire

Chapter 44 Shopping With Best Friend

The afternoon sun shined bright into the stuffy love room.

Cherry was sound asleep, and just like a lovely puppy, she was nestled comfortably in Jackson's arms.

Jackson slowly opened his eyes and saw that Cherry was still asleep. She had burrowed her head into

his arms, letting Jackson know how insecure she actually felt, and when he thought of that, he loved

her even more.

After some time, Cherry also woke up, but before she opened her eyes, she stretched her arms and felt

that someone was holding her. There was no doubt that it was Jackson.

She opened her eyes and slightly turned, and saw that Jackson was staring at her.

"Oh, you're awake, " said Jackson tenderly, without his high-handed, usual attitude.

"Yes, I am, " replied Cherry. She felt that her whole body was stiff. She wanted to change her position,

but when she moved her leg a little, she felt a piercing pain coming from her private parts.

Cherry couldn't help but cry out, "Ouch!"

"What's up?" asked Jackson hastily, looking at her face apprehensively.

When she saw him, Cherry was even more mad at him, and shouted, "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't

ache this much."

"Does it really hurt?" Jackson asked. He was very worried about her, and also regretted that he had

just enjoyed himself without caring a bit about how she was feeling.

"Bullshit! You'd still be happy even if you tormented me to death!" Cherry vented all her anger on

Jackson, and she didn't care whether he would be angry at her, or whether his face would darken; she

just wanted to release the anger from her heart.

Unexpectedly, Jackson didn't dare to get mad when he saw Cherry angry. He instead held Cherry tight

in his arms, and in a spoiled tone, said, "Okay, don't be angry, it's all my fault."

Cherry actually was not angry at all with him, and she leaned in Jackson's arms, and felt very happy.

She didn't expect that Jackson would spoil her this much, and she even thought that life could still be

wonderful if she didn't fuss and care about things too much.

Suddenly, just like a spoiled child, Cherry said, "Jackson, I'm hungry now."

Jackson whispered in Cherry's ears, "Okay, let's go and eat out. What would you like?"

"Cantonese cuisine, " said Cherry, and couldn't help but gulp when she thought of the delicious food.

"Okay, no problem, I'll take you out, " agreed Jackson. He continued, "Baby, let's take a shower first

and then go out for dinner."

"But my body aches and I can't move, " replied Cherry, in a spoiled way.

"I will carry you."

"Don't bother me while I'm in the bathroom!" warned Cherry. She worried that her bossy husband would

take advantage of her.

"Don't worry, I'll be tender, " said Jackson while he secretly snickered in his heart. He was the only

person to decide how his wife should be treated.

Cherry warned again, "Jackson, you must keep your word, and I mean it!"

"Baby, if you warn me again, I'll break my word, " said Jackson.

The following morning, Jackson was already dressed in his military uniform, and was waiting for Derek

to come to pick him up and go to the army base.

Cherry stood beside Jackson while he waited for Derek, without uttering a word.

All of a sudden, Jackson pulled Cherry into his arms, and whispered in her ears, "Be a good girl, and

stay at home. Call me if you need anything, okay?"

Cherry then put on a happy smile, and wondered whether he actually cared about her.

Cherry tittered, "Are you afraid that I will go out with other men?"

His face soon darkened, and Cherry stopped smiling immediately. "Oh, I dare you!" he said.

She promised him, "Got it, calm down! I'll stay at home and won't go anywhere."

"And don't see my ungrateful nephew, " said Jackson. He still didn't feel relieved.

"Why should I even meet him? I hope that he'll disappear from my life forever, " said Cherry. She got

mad at the mere mention of John. How much she had loved him once, and how much she hated him

now, but it didn't matter, because she was now already his uncle's wife. What was more, she had a tall

and strong husband to protect her, and she guessed that John wouldn't dare to overdo it with her.

Jackson continued, "And don't get close to Stephen."

Cherry was then suddenly annoyed. In an angry tone of voice, she said, "Jackson, are you restricting

my freedom now? What if I go to see Emily, and I happen to come across Stephen? That's something

that I can't control!"

"Then don't go to see Emily, " replied Jackson.

"No way, I could meet with nobody, except Emily, " retorted Cherry. Emily was her best friend, and how

could she not see her?

When he saw that Cherry was stubborn, Jackson didn't say another word more. He also clearly knew

how important Emily was to her, and he thought that perhaps she was Cherry's only friend.

Cherry then put a smile on her face, and while she looked at Jackson, she said, "Don't worry, I won't

see any people that I shouldn't see. Even if I come across them, I will try to get rid of them."

Looking at her sincere face, Jackson helplessly nodded his head.

"Remember to have your meals at regular times, and go to see grandpa if you have the time, " said

Jackson, while he caressed her beautiful hair.

"Okay, I got it, " said Cherry.

A car horn then sounded outside, and Jackson knew that Derek had arrived. He showed his reluctance Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

to part with Cherry and kissed her forehead, and said, "I have to go now."

Cherry nodded, and said, "Okay."

She watched Jackson disappear in the distance, but didn't feel sad. It was not like when he had left her

for Sally; he was going to the army base this time, not to chase after other women.

Cherry closed the door and walked back into the living room, feeling a little bit lost. She had the big

house all to herself.

Derek was driving the car, but when he saw that Jackson was silent, he asked, "What's up? Sad that

you had to leave your wife?" joked Derek.

Jackson didn't answer him, but instead showed a grave expression on his face. After a while, he asked,

"How about Sally now?"

When he heard the name Sally, Derek immediately became serious, and said, "She still wanted to see

you some time ago, and she was not satisfied about the housemaid, but things seemed to be much

more better these days, and she also seemed to be much more quiet."

"Is the housemaid reliable?" asked Jackson. He was worried about her because he knew what kind of

person Sally was. She was hot-tempered, and Jackson knew that this had not changed at all.

"Don't worry, the nanny is a relative of one of my friends and there is absolutely no problem, " said

Derek quite assured. Was Jackson really doubting his ability? What the hell his attitude was to talk to

him like that?

Jackson nodded, without saying any more words.

In the first days since Jackson's departure, Cherry had stayed at home and relaxed, but in one warm

afternoon, she called Emily to ask her out to get some fresh air and to catch up with each other.

They arranged to meet each other at a shopping mall.

One hour later after they talked, Emily, with a satchel in her hand, appeared at the door of the shopping

mall and waited for Cherry.

Cherry saw Emily standing at the door the moment she got out of her taxi, and rushed to her.

"Emily!" screamed Cherry.

Emily was also very excited when she saw Cherry, and she held her tight in her arms, and said, "I was

dying to see you! Why didn't you come to see me these days?"

"I missed you too! I couldn't wait to ask you out!" said Cherry happily, with a smile drawn all over her

face. She was always happy to be with her best friend Emily.

Emily teased her, and said, "So, did Jackson agree to let you out?"

Whenever she spoke of Jackson, Cherry's face filled with happiness. She said, "He's returned to the

army base, and I'm home alone."

Emily deliberately scolded her, and said, "Then why didn't you come to see me since you're alone?

What kind of friend are you?" but when she saw Cherry's happy face, she was even more contented.

"Okay, okay, I was wrong. Miss Emily, how about I make it up to you by buying a big meal another

day?" said Cherry. She was like a child who leaned close to Emily.

Emily had no temper whatsoever whenever Cherry acted like that. From the time they were kids, Emily

would always soften up and do whatever Cherry said as long as she said it in her own spoiled childish

way.

Emily helplessly shook her head, and said, "Let's go, Mrs. Chu. What do you want to buy today?"

"Oh, how unpleasant it is to call me Mrs. Chu! Just call me by my name, " said Cherry. Although she

said that Mrs. Chu was unpleasant to hear, her heart was very happy, because this was the first time

that she had been called Mrs. Chu. It meant that she was Jackson's woman. What a sacred salute!

Emily couldn't help but shake her head as she looked at the little woman next to her.