Ice and Fire

Chapter 948 A Delightful Family Reunion (Part Two)

"Because telling you is like telling the whole world, Selina. Cherry didn't want to bother anyone.

Besides, we wanted to come back discreetly and it wouldn't help if all of you met us at the airport

yesterday. So, we decided not to tell anyone," Jackson explained. He didn't mean to offend Selina in

any way, but he fooled around with her to unmask her bluff and make her self-conscious. Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"All right then, if that's the case then I would just zip it," Selina said as she gestured zipping her mouth

shut. She had never won a word fight with Jackson anyway so it's better if she just backed down.

Wilson approached Jackson with a warm smile and asked, "So, do you have any plans on going

abroad again soon?"

"Well, China is our home so we would probably stay here for good now," Jackson answered confidently.

"Wilson, why don't you welcome us to your home?" Cherry joked as she approached Wilson and gave

him a hug.

"Of course. Where are my manners? You're very much welcome here," Wilson replied. He hugged

Cherry back as tightly as she did.

"Sure," Cherry chuckled. "Because I'm just thinking that if you don't, I'll ask Mom and Uncle Jacob to

come and live with us instead. And you'll never see them again," Cherry continued to tease Wilson as

she loosened her hug.

"Oh, Cherry! I missed you so much!" Selina exclaimed as she hugged Cherry. She glanced at Jackson

and smirked at him, "Oh Jackson, please don't be jealous. Let me just hug your wife a little longer."

"You are still so naughty," Jackson chuckled. He didn't know how to respond to it.

"Cherry, where are Lawrence and Violet? Why aren't they with you?" Elsa asked curiously since she

had not seen her grandchildren for a long time.

"They'll be here by noon. Lawrence's just finishing some work at the office. Violet is with Greg, but they

are on their way," Cherry said, holding Elsa's arms as they walked into the villa.

"Let them be. These kids are busy as bees," Jacob said.

"That's absolutely true. Lawrence inherited those works from Jackson. His father wouldn't be here if

Lawrence doesn't do all those stuffs," said Selina.

"Selina, look at you. I was only gone for a few years and now you're wise." She meant it as a praise but

wanted to sound sarcastic at the same time to tease Selina more.

"So you mean I wasn't wise before?" Selina chuckled.

"Of course you've always been wise. Being the queen of the business circle in this city and the

Executive Director of the JC Group at the same time, you've pretty much outdone any woman of your

age. I will dare anyone who will say you're not wise or smart," Cherry replied.

"You both have children of your own, but you still banter at each other like children," Elsa said with a

helpless smile on her face. She enjoyed these chatters with her family. It's been a while since they've

been together in one place.

All of them headed straight to the living room and each got their comfortable spot on the elegant round

sofa. As soon as everyone settled in, house maids started serving hot tea and cakes for the family.

"By the way, I heard Austin already graduated. But why hasn't he come back to China yet? What

country is he currently at now?" Cherry suddenly asked, thinking about his nephew who always had fun

abroad.

"I really don't have any idea where he is and I prefer not to talk about him now," Wilson replied in an

upset tone.

"I'm sorry. What's wrong?" Cherry followed through. She was worried that something unfortunate had

happened to Austin from the look on Wilson's face.

"Apparently, young people nowadays prefer to do what they're passionate about instead of taking after

their parents' businesses," Jacob chuckled. "We've been persuading Austin to come back and take

over the H King Group so Selina and Wilson can retire. But he chose to stay abroad to start his own

business. Small profit with big risk. He prefers to start from nothing that continue a stable business his

parents started," Jacob continued to tell Cherry.

"I see," Cherry nodded.

"Well, we all know how Austin wants to live his life. He loves all sorts of adventures and risks. But he's

very independent to the point that he didn't want to ask for money from us. And this breaks our heart

seeing how hard his life is abroad. He didn't want to take over the H King Group and just obey us,"

Selina complained helplessly. She remained silent for a moment, sighed then continued, "Cherry, what

should we do? How can we change him?"

Cherry reached for Selina's hands and tried to comfort her in a gentle voice, "Selina, I understand what

you meant. You know how hard it is to start a business because you've been there. And I know you

love Austin very much that you don't want him to live a hard life. But why don't you consider letting him

try?"

Cherry looked around the room and said, "They're now grown ups and can decide for themselves. As

parents, the only thing we can do is giving them our unconditional love and support. They must know

that we're here for them whether they succeed or fail and make them feel welcome to always come

back home."

After hearing what Cherry said, Jacob and Elsa nodded in agreement.

"You're right," Wilson agreed with Cherry as well.

"Let Austin try to live his own life and hope for the best with his own business. I'm just proud that the

two young men in our family are both capable and successful in their line of business," Jackson said

with conviction.

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm thinking. The girls are also settled down and stable. Violet is starting her

own family with Greg. Alice and Tim are happily married. Natalie and her mother are now living abroad.

So, if the Lawrence and Austin can be both successful, then there's nothing for us to worry about. We

can rest and enjoy our retirement," Elsa calmly said.

"I agree, Mom. You can enjoy your life at home," replied Cherry with a smile.

"Now that you're all back in the city, I can peacefully enjoy my life. You know how worried I was when

you all left for Hong Kong. I didn't know whether you're living a good life there. There was this time

when I thought Lawrence would live with us because of Violet. But when he came back to China, Violet

left," Elsa finally said what she had in mind. There were a lot of things she wanted to say but never had

the chance because the whole family was usually away. But now that they were all at home, this was

the best time to let them know how she felt. "I am glad that you're all here. But I'll be happier if I can

see my great-grandchildren soon. Cherry, you need to talk to you children," she continued, looking at

Cherry with a sly smile.

"No, Mom. I can't tell my children to foster a baby that fast. Why don't you tell them yourself later

today?" Cherry said, refusing her mother's request.

"Yeah, Mom. Perhaps they'll listen to you because they won't listen to us about the matter. But you

know what, maybe we'll hear about the baby news from Violet later. But as for Lawrence, he can't

simply produce that baby in an instant, but you can try to talk him through." said Selina.

Jackson, Wilson and Jacob laughed hysterically after they heard what Selina just said. They

sometimes appreciated Selina's humor which lightened the mood in the room.

They continued talking happily about everything – family, business, and life in general. Sounds of

laughter could be heard from the living room from time to time.