Ice and Fire novel Chapter 494

It was easy to understand Jackson's behaviour. He was always one to put up even the most desperate fight for the person he loved.

"Afterwards, Mr. Andrew sent out his people for information. They found something much more serious that could attract the public's attention. Using this information, Mr. Andrew directed his spearhead at the An Family, leaving Stephen's parents in the firing line. Military command relaxed their hold on the He Family case and Mr. Andrew used all his connections to exploit loopholes and legally saved Sally, " Derek continued.

"Sally was free? She got the chance to run?" Cherry asked, on the edge of her seat.

"Yes, sort of. Unfortunately, both her parents and Stephen's parents were still sent to military court. After that, the remaining He Family and An Family members vanished."

It had never occurred to Cherry that something like that was what had turned Sally's childhood into tragedy and completely changed Stephen's as well.

"Mr. Andrew made a flawless arrangement with Sally in the beginning. He sent her to en extremely remote and small place. If at all possible, she would never return to this city again. However, everyone overlooked one crucial yet small point, " Derek paused again to allow Cherry time to process.

"It was Mond, right?" Cherry guessed.

Derek nodded in confirmation. "Mond had already been watching the whole event as it unfolded. He used it to devise his revenge plan and Sally would be one of the people he would use in his plot."

Sitting quietly as Derek spoke, it became clear to Cherry that she didn't have that wistful longing to know all the details. At least she now understood what actually happened that year.

"After the accident, Stephen had been taken in by one of his relatives. By the time you and Jackson got married, we had found out Stephen had returned, with a likely profound hatred of Jackson in his heart. If Jackson hadn't been so desperate to protect Sally, the An Family wouldn't have been implicated and Stephen's parents would have escaped. So, we understood his feelings, but it never occurred to us that Stephen would be with Mond. We think Mond was making his detailed plan the whole time. He was aware that he could use both Sally and Stephen against Jackson. He's quite a brilliant man!" Sometimes Derek even admired Mond for his intelligence. He was younger than Derek, and raised without his parents. How could he take so many possibilities and events into account? It must be difficult.

"Everything is possible for him, as Grandpa Andrew gave him a large sum of money, " Cherry added when Derek fell silent.