Chapter 423 The Meeting Of Two (Part Two)

"Well? Here I am. SO just spit out what you wanted to talk about." Jackson wasn't ready to listen, even if he had implied to Stephen he was.

"It is difficult to sit here together like this, and just chat, isn't it." said Stephen. He tried recalling if they ever had, and he could only conjure up vague memories. But, he didn't think they had ever chatted like this before.

"What the hell is it you want to say?" Jackson's patience was already being sorely tested.

Stephen stared out of the window as he thought, and said lightly, "Do you think, if things hadn't happened the way they did, all those years ago, that we could have carried on a comfortable conversation with each other?"

"Stephen!" Jackson snapped in a warning tone. He was becoming more puzzled by the minute. He couldn't understand what Stephen wanted to talk about.

"Actually, you know, I never blamed you. Even though the events that year nearly destroyed me, I didn't blame you, " Stephen said bluntly while he watched the scenery outside the window. "Because, I always knew my parents deserved what they got. No one was to blame for it."

Jackson's agitation lessened, and he calmed down as he listened to Stephen's confession. A deafening silence fell on the private room.

Stephen turned his head slowly and looked at Jackson.

"I was jealous of you. You lived such a comfortable life while I had to scrape and work hard just to eke out a living. No matter what I wanted, I needed work so much harder, " explained Stephen, in a tone that bespoke of depression. Stephen had never gotten the opportunity to tell Jackson how he really felt; he did now, though, it might be his last chance.

"That year....I didn't put much thought into things. All I wanted to do was save Sally's life. It was the only g

"You're my wife in name only, on paper only. My heart and love will never be yours."

Edward made it clear to Daisy that she was nothing to him. They were both victims of family greed -- the marriage was arranged for them.

Six years passed. She remained quiet, gaining a reputation in the army as a tough-as-nails colonel. When she walked into his life again, Edward fell in love with this woman...

"You befriended her at first though as part of your revenge on me, didn't you?" Jackson prodded further while he wondered, 'In the very beginning, I thought Stephen wanted to take advantage of Cherry as part of his revenge on me, so I did my best to keep Cherry away from him. I was afraid Cherry might be hurt, and I was much more afraid Stephen would divulge everything to her. I didn't want Cherry involved in any of it, and I didn't want her to know any of it.'

"No!" Stephen said sternly, "At first, I did try to get closer to her, because I wanted revenge on you, but I never told her anything that happened. On the one hand, I was afraid of your reprisal, on the other hand, I thought it best for you to tell her yourself."

Stephen's voice echoed through the room, "But what happened after that was out of my control. Gradually, I discovered what a special woman she is. She's so innocent, sweet and nice. I found myself attracted to her. All my ideas and plans were shaken, and I started to appreciate her unique qualities. I wanted to be her friend, and found myself wanting to protect her from evils in the world."

Jackson listened quietly to Stephen without interrupting.