Ice and Fire novel Chapter 198

The call was quickly connected, and she heard John's voice. He said, "Hello, Cherry!"

"Hi, John! Why did you call me earlier?" promptly asked Cherry.

"Yes, " replied John. He continued, "I heard that you're going back to the military's residential compound to meet with Great-Grandpa."

Cherry was a little surprised, and asked, "How did you know that?"

"Great-Grandpa called me today and also asked me to come together with my family on Saturday; he said that you'll also be there with Joe." John felt somehow bitter when he mentioned Joe.

"Yes, " calmly replied Cherry. "I haven't seen Grandfather yet since I returned to the city, and I was planning on taking Joe to meet him this weekend."

John's tone was very calm, with no sort of impulsiveness in it whatsoever. He said, "Well, I'll see you on Saturday then. I also haven't seen you in quite a while either."

"Okay, " said Cherry.

After she hung up the phone, Cherry felt somehow complex in her mind. She had no feelings anymore for the person whom she had once loved with all her heart and soul, but his calmness and understanding made her feel that he had learned a lot over the years. She thought, 'Is he more open minded? Did he experience something in these past years that drove him to be like this?' She let bygones be bygones, because the past would never come back.

Cherry then dialled Jackson's number.

The call was soon connected, and Jackson anxiously answered her, "Baby, why didn't you answer my phone?"

"I was busy at work today, but I just finished, " said Cherry.

"You were busy all day? Ask Selina to give you less work." Jackson was a little worried about Cherry, because if she was too tired, then he would be sad.

"No, I'm Selina's secretary, and this is my job!" said Cherry. She asked him, "Where are you now?"

"I'm at the barracks, " said Jackson, "I told Bill to pick you up from the JS Group after work."

"Okay, I knew that you would do that, " said Cherry. She then continued to ask, "Will you be coming home tonight?"

"Yes, but I'll be late. Eat with Joe first, don't wait for me, " said Jackson.

"Okay."

After Cherry arrived back home she saw that Joe was watching cartoons in the living room. With a bright smile on her face, she said, "Joe, Mommy's back!"

"Oh!" said Joe in a low voice.

Cherry saw that there was definitely something wrong with his son when she heard his dull reply. She went over to him, and asked, "What's wrong? Why are you talking to Mommy like this?" She then sat next to her son, and judging from his expression, she could tell that Joe was upset about something.

Joe knew that he couldn't hide anything from his Mommy. He looked at her, and with a serious look on his face, said, "Mommy, do you think that Daddy is a good person?"

Joe's question suddenly left Cherry speechless, and she didn't know how to reply to it. Was Jackson a good person?

"Why are you asking that?" said Cherry. She wanted to know why her son asked this question.

"I heard my teacher talk with another one about Daddy today, " said Joe, but without telling her any of the details.

Cherry immediately guessed what had happened. She had also heard many rumors about Jackson, and it didn't surprise her that Joe also heard some of them.

Cherry then put her hands on her son's shoulders, and as she looked at him, she asked, "Joe, can you trust your Daddy?"

Joe nodded without hesitation, and seriously said, "I can! Daddy is a good person."

"Yes, he is, " nodded Cherry. She continued, "Then we need to keep believing in him."

She went on even further to say, "Joe, you know your father, so please don't listen to those rumors. You're your Daddy's son, and you live with him in the same house every day. You have to believe him."

"Okay, Mommy, I know!" Joe's mood then seemed to become much more better.

Cherry wasn't worried anymore when she saw that her son was happy again.

Joe then asked, "Mommy, if things keep going on like this, are you going to make up with Daddy forever?"

"Joe!" Cherry's face suddenly turned red because her son was talking about her love affair.

"Mommy, " said Joe seriously, "If Daddy doesn't treat you well, we'll leave the Chu Family and this house! I can't let you suffer!"

Cherry felt warm when she heard her son's kind words. She touched his head and gently said, "My silly Joe, I know."

"Okay!" said Joe as he smiled adorably.

Then, Cherry helped her son to do his homework as she usually did until ten. After she tucked him in bed and saw him fall asleep, she left his room.