Ice and Fire

Watching the happy couple go inside, John, standing at the door, felt distressed. With tears in his eyes, he turned away in utter disappointment.
In the evening, Jackson lay in bed, holding Cherry in his arms. He felt very happy.
"Didn't you say that you would stay in the barracks for a month? How come you are back today?" Leaning into Jackson's arms, Cherry asked.
"My wife was suffering at home, how could I be at ease outside?" said Jackson, in an indifferent tone.
"I didn't suffer much. I have been pretty good these days." said Cherry. Everything was fine except what had happened this morning.
"Pretty good? Does that include you getting slapped by Lucia?" said Jackson, sternly. The woman was so defenseless, that she did not even know
how to protect herself.
"It was just an accident. When I went to the Chu residence this morning, I did not know Lucia would be there." said Cherry.
"But you were slapped by her! I will never allow anyone to hurt my woman," announced Jackson, barking it out like an order.
"Jackson, are you protecting me?" asked Cherry. She was touched. Was she now feeling a wave of happiness wash over her? She did indeed feel
happy.
"Yes, you are my wife and of course I have to protect you," said Jackson, holding Cherry tight. Though he couldn't speak out that he loved her, she
had completely swept away his heart.
Cherry didn't say a word, but she felt warm. She hadn't felt this way for a long time and she had almost forgotten what happiness was like. John had
been very good to her, but that had been long ago. Wilson also treated her very well, but he had not been beside her for a long time. Nowadays, it

was Jackson who made her feel warm and happy. Cherry was wondering whether she should open her heart to him now.
"Another thing." A thought had occurred to Cherry and she asked,"Why did you cancel John's application for governorship? He is your nephew."
"Because he kept bothering you." Saying that, Jackson suddenly lowered his head, looked into Cherry's eyes and sternly warned her,"You mustn't go
with him. You are my legal wife and you shouldn't go anywhere out of my sight."
"Jackson! What do you mean when you say that I shouldn't go anywhere out of your sight?" said Cherry, angrily. How haughty this man was!
"What do you think?" Saying that, Jackson turned over and pressed himself upon Cherry.
Cherry knew what Jackson wanted to do to her, but she still asked,"Jackson, what do you want?"

"What else can I do in the evening?" Jackson retorted.
"Jackson, you bastard."
The moment she finished saying these words, Jackson took complete control of her and she had no chance of resisting.
The whole room was filled with the scent of love.
Next morning, when Cherry opened her eyes, she saw Jackson staring at her, seriously, like a devil.
"What are you doing?" asked Cherry.
"Looking at you. How could you look so ugly while you are sleeping?" Jackson joked. But his heart was full of warmth and happiness. He had never
felt so warm, as he did with this woman beside him.
"Then why do you stare at me? Get out of here!" Cherry pretended to be angry and turned her back to Jackson.
Jackson took advantage of the situation to hold Cherry from behind. He said,"No matter how ugly you are, I will stare at you because you are my

woman."
"Jackson, do you need to emphasize that every time?" said Cherry. Since she had married Jackson, she had decided to be with him her entire
lifetime. Though there might be no love between them, they were now a couple.
"Remember my words. No contact with John!" said Jackson, sternly.
"Okay, I promise you." said Cherry, decisively. But she suddenly turned over, looked into Jackson's eyes and said, seriously,"Then will you stop being
hostile to John and not reject his application for governorship?"
"Are you interceding on his behalf?" said Jackson, in a glum tone.
"No. I just think it is unnecessary. Since I have nothing more to do with John, you needn't go ahead with your order. If you do it, others may think I still
have something going on with John," replied Cherry. She really didn't want to have anything to do with John.
Looking into her eyes, Jackson could tell that she did not have John in her heart anymore.
He did not say a word.
From his silence, Cherry knew that Jackson had agreed to her request. So she smiled happily and said,"So you don't have to go back to the barracks
today?"

"I can stay at home these days," replied Jackson, wondering what this woman was going to do.
"That's good. Today is weekend, so how about going shopping with me? Emily is quite busy these days, so you are the right person to accompany
me, okay?" It sounded both like a request and an order.
"Women are really troublesome," said Jackson.
"Jackson, are you already disliking me? asked Cherry, in an angry tone.
"Of course not." Seeing that Cherry was angry, Jackson hastily replied,"I will go with you. And I will buy you whatever you want."
Hearing this, Cherry smiled.
"But, before that, let's go take a bath together."