Ice and Fire

Chapter 405 A Reunion (Part One)

Mond smiled, noticing how surprised Cherry looked, "What? Did you think I was there for Andrew? No,

I was looking for you at the time."

Cherry still hadn't figured out what was going on. She glared straightly ahead as she asked herself,

'What on Earth does Mond mean by that?'

Cherry suddenly turned to Mond, looking at him with a puzzled look on her face, and asked, "Why do

you and Jackson hate each other so much?"

Mond found it difficult not to reveal the truth to Cherry now that she was looking at him; with that

engaging puzzled expression. He shook himself mentally, reminding himself it was too early for her to

know. If Cherry knew the score, the game wouldn't be fun.

"You really want to know why?" Instead of giving a response, Mond asked.

Cherry nodded vigorously, because she hadn't been able to figure it out, and she really wanted to

know.

"You will. One day, you'll know." Mond said cryptically.

Cherry was too impatient to his nonsense and asked another question, "Mond, did you get close to me,

just to use me as part of this vendetta you have against Jackson?"

Mond shrugged casually, as if there was no blame or guilt, "Maybe. But, it's a tactic I learned from

others."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Cherry continued asking her probing questions, "No one ever

befriended me, as a means to an end, like you did."

Mond chortled as he stared into Cherry's eyes, "Really? Not even Stephen?"

Cherry shot back, ardently defending him. "Stephen is my friend and helped me in the past." She knew

Stephen and Jackson hated each other, but Stephen was her friend, and Cherry knew Mond was

wrong; Stephen wouldn't take advantage of her like that. He had helped her many times, and never

turned her down, not five years ago, not yesterday. He had always been there for her whenever she

needed a friend.

Mond inquired, "You honestly regard him as your friend just because he helped you at some point?

Well, I saved you in the elevator, does that make us friends now too?"

Cherry was speechless and mulled it over. It was true, Mond saved her once. If not for him, Cherry

might have been seriously injured.

Cherry looked back to Mond when she finally decided what to say, "Even though I am grateful for what

you did, you should admit that you got close to me only to use me as a part of your plans for revenge

on Jackson."

Mond was quite sure of his choice. "Yes, if I hadn't, then Jackson wouldn't have paid attention." Mond

had laid odds that Cherry meant the world to Jackson. So, at one point, he even contemplated killing NôvelDrama.Org copyrighted © content.

Cherry, since Jackson treasured her. However, Mond became enthralled by Cherry and her unique

allure, which clouded his mind. Instead of following through, Mond found himself wanting to get closer

to Cherry. Her charm and appeal were so different from other women, and it was that grace that

worked its magic on Mond, until, in the end, he decided against harming her.

Cherry took a deep breath and exhaling slowly she asked, "What on Earth is between you two, that

would cause such hatred for each other? I don't understand! Andrew is dead, and you are culpable for

his demise. I now know what the Chu Family did, and what had happened to Sally, but I just don't

understand, why you hate Jackson so much? What could Jackson possibly have done to make you

hate him so much?"

"Everything! He does everything wrong!" Mond's temper was rising and he spouted off, "Cherry! You

will never understand this hatred. I have a score to settle with Jackson and it won't be squared until one

of us is killed by the other." His tone grew more sinister with each words.

"That's really what you want?" Cherry stared perplexed at Mond as she went on, "Mond, I admit that I

don't know you. Well, but you seem to have a good life. Jackson and I have a good life together too.

Wouldn't it great for us to all remain living good, happy lives? We can all live our lives, respectively, and

not interfere with the other's presence. Doesn't that sound peaceful? It's a good idea."

"No, it isn't." Mond said flatly, without hesitation, "Cherry, you have been a part of the Chu Family for a

long time now, and I thought you were smart, but you are foolish offering such advice."

Cherry was hurt, and just stood there, staring at Mond, not knowing what to say to his biting remarks.

After a while, Cherry huffed and asked, "Why did you come here to see me today?"

"I just wanted to see how things are for you. Oh, by the way, why did you move out of the military

residential compound?" Mond responded with a question and continued, "To me, it looks like Jackson

has kicked you out of the Chu Family, but you are still with him, so, it seems I was wrong."

Cherry tried to hide the fact that she was becoming emotional, "I don't think that's any of your business.

If there's nothing more to discuss, I think you should go now."

Cherry spun on her heel and gracefully left Mond standing there alone.

Mond didn't intend to stop Cherry this time. Instead, he stared after Cherry, ogling her curves, the way

she sauntered until she was out of sight.

When Cherry got back to her office, she sat down. Thoughts of what transpired between Mond and

herself persisted long after he left. She had been able to guess a lot about Mond. But she found herself

wondering, what kind of person he was? Was he good, or was he a bad man? She thought he was

good, but, If he was a good man, why did he keep coming after Jackson? Jackson and Mond quarreled

every time they met. Then again, if he was a bad man, why had he saved Cherry? Moreover, Mond

tried apologizing to Cherry for his wrongdoings. A bad guy wouldn't think anything he did was wrong.

Just then Cherry's phone rang. Cherry shook herself visibly, to get her mind off Mond. Picking up her

cell, she saw it was from Selina.