Ice and Fire

Chapter 30 Party Accident (Part One)

Jackson stayed for a long time until Cherry started to breathe regularly. He thought that she was now

sleeping soundly.

He tucked her in, kissed her forehead, and went out of the bedroom.

As the door shut, Cherry's eyelids flickered open. Tears trickled down her cheeks. 'I have failed. He

does not belong to me, nor does his heart, ' she thought.

Jackson and Sally He sat on the beach near the seaside villa. The woman snuggled into the man's

arms, enjoying the cool, salty breeze and the crash of waves.

"Sally," Jackson blurted out. His voice was a bit hoarse.

"Yes?" Sally He responded in a carefree tone overflowing with happiness.

"Are you going to stay in this city?" asked Jackson.

"Of course, I've always been dreaming of living with you," replied Sally delightedly, as she tilted her

head back and gazed at Jackson.

"Sally," Jackson decided to come straight to the point. "I've gotten married and I have a wife. I hope you

understand what I mean."

Sally He instantly tensed up and got out of Jackson's arms. She looked into Jackson's eyes and

asked,"Do you want to go back to her?"

"She's my wife," he said, lost in thought. He was thinking of Cherry's fair face and her fragile figure.

"Do you love her?" asked Sally He.

Jackson looked at Sally He and thought to himself, 'I love Cherry and she now has a spot in my heart.'

Sally He could read behind the man's silence. She demanded,"What about me?" 'What should I do? I

have spent so many years on you. What do you want me to do?"

She started to cry. She had been suffering a lot during the past years. Jackson had been her only

support and hope during that bleak period. What would she do if he abandoned her?

"Sally, please don't cry," Jackson said, trying to calm himself down before comforting her. "You deserve

a better man. You could..."

Before he could finish his words, Sally He cut him off.

"No, I don't want anyone else!" she cried out. She had never thought of leaving Jackson, even though

she had spent so many years separate from him.

Seeing her hysterical, Jackson dared not say anything more that might agitate her further.

However, Sally He's eyes glittered with brutality. Plans were brewing up in her mind. 'Cherry Shen, I'm

wondering what kind of a woman you are. Why would Jackson, who always stayed away from

womanizing, abandon me for you?'

In the end, instead of convincing Sally He to leave him, Jackson ended up spending time comforting

her.

The next morning, Cherry got up and decided to have something simple for breakfast. As she was

walking downstairs, her cellphone started to ring.

Seeing it was Stephen calling, she accepted the call right away.

"Hello, Stephen," Cherry greeted him as if he was a regular friend.

"Cherry, have you gotten up?" asked Stephen, gently, as if he was doting on her.

"I just got up," she replied.

"Oh, well," he paused,"Do you have any plan for the day?"

"No. What's up?" she asked.

"I need a partner for a party tonight." He paused for a while to hear if there was any furious reaction

from the other side of the call. "I was just wondering if you're available tonight?" Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Then he explained,"Please don't get me wrong. It's just a party among friends. It's only for fun, nothing

more."

Cherry thought for a while. She had been in great depression, staying at home for the past a few days.

Stephen's invitation had come just in time. She needed some fresh air to cheer herself up. Going to a

party with Stephen was much better than staying at home, alone, and filling her head with nonsense.

"Okay, when is it?" she asked.

Hearing her response, Stephen replied happily,"At seven o'clock. Do you have anything to wear for the

party? How about going shopping with me this afternoon?"

Cherry had two evening dresses. However, both were out of style. She would better buy a new one if

she was going to go as Stephen's partner.

"Okay, pick me up at two this afternoon," agreed Cherry.

"Deal. I'll be there on time," Stephen answered, excitedly.

The call was over. However, Cherry stared at the phone, lost in thought.

'Why should I care about how Jackson would feel? We don't love each other. I can go out and have

fun, even though I am married. I must stop imprisoning and torturing myself at home! I am a human

being. I am free to live the life I like. I don't need to care about what others would think of me.'

In the afternoon, Stephen arrived on time. Seeing Cherry walk out, he joyfully opened the car door for

her.

Cherry politely nodded to thank him and entered his car. She had not figured out what role Stephen

played in her heart. Perhaps she just wanted more faithful friends like Emily to ease her loneliness.

The two stepped into the mall and visited a famous evening gown store that Stephen had chosen in

advance. Cherry tried on a few dresses and asked for Stephen's opinion.

In Stephen's view, it felt like every gown was made for Cherry. The clothes perfectly accentuated her

beautiful figure and made her look gorgeous. He thought he was falling in love with her.

Cherry, wearing a light-blue gown, studied herself in the mirror and was satisfied. Then she turned to

Stephen, who was sitting nearby, and asked,"Stephen, what do you think?"

As they were leaving, Sally He silently stared at Cherry's back, her eyes glinting with hatred.