Ice and Fire novel Chapter 68

The Chu family, along with Derek, then ate together. From time to time, Andrew and Derek told silly jokes at the table to cheer Cherry up because she was almost mute. Jackson looked at her, filled her plate with delicious food, and hoped that she would be happy.

Andrew and Derek understood Jackson, and they tried their best to put a smile on Cherry's face.

The jokes she heard at the table considerably relieved her distress and brought light to her face. She felt better after lunch, and realized that if she stopped immersing herself in her painful thoughts, she wouldn't suffer so much.

Jackson saw Cherry staring out on the balcony. He walked towards her and hugged her from behind, and whispered in her ear, "Baby, what are you thinking about?"

His question broke Cherry's musing. She said, "Nothing, I just feel a bit tired."

After he heard her answer, Jackson carefully replied, "How about we go in our bedroom?"

Cherry nodded. She was indeed sleepy, and resting in the bedroom was an ideal choice.

Inside the bedroom, Jackson put a quilt on Cherry, and didn't leave until she fell asleep.

He then went to the parlor, and found Andrew and Derek sitting there. Jackson could tell from Andrew's eyes that he wanted to ask him something.

Jackson sat down on the sofa.

Andrew was worried, and asked, "Jackson, how's Cherry?" He noticed that Cherry was in a weak condition, and that she didn't eat much at lunch.

"She's fine. She said she was tired and needed to take a nap, " said Jackson.

Derek stared at Jackson, and said, "Jackson, I can't help but ask you, but are you sure about your decision regarding Jean Shen?"

Derek couldn't let it go, and wanted to persuade Jackson to reconsider, because he didn't want to sentence Jean to death.

Jackson seriously looked at him, and said, "Do I need to repeat myself again?"

"But she, she's…" started Derek again, but Jackson quickly got angry before he finished his words.

Jackson suddenly roared, "Derek Lu, are you trying to lecture me?"

Derek didn't dare to speak again, and instead turned to Andrew.

Andrew pondered for a while, and he knew what his grandson wanted to do with Jean. Would Jackson actually stand by and do nothing, when Jean caused both Emily's death and Cherry's depression? That wasn't Jackson if he answered yes to that question.

"Jackson, are you sure? After all, she's just a woman. Don't you think that's too much?" asked Andrew.

"Grandpa, " said Jackson, firmly, "What would you have done if your own grandson's wife had died?"

Andrew was rendered speechless. He thought that it wouldn't have ended well for anyone if Cherry had been the one killed. There was a price to pay for provoking people coming from the Chu family.

Derek also stopped talking.

After some time, Jackson turned to Derek, and ordered, "You have three days to make her disappear."

Derek then looked at Andrew and slightly nodded, because Andrew didn't oppose Jackson's decision.

Then agreed on this, and then Andrew asked, "Well, Jackson, how about Sally?"

Jackson was shocked when he heard the word Sally. He hadn't seen Sally in a long time, because none of them had ever tried to contact each other, and he didn't think of her, because he cared for Cherry.

Jackson told Andrew and Derek the truth, because he had nothing to hide. "We haven't kept in touch, " he said.

Derek also said, "I haven't seen her recently, either. Does she still live in the city?"