My ears were ringing . In that moment , all I felt was pure rage , a desire to tear both of them apart . All the bodyguards snapped to attention , bowing their heads towards the tall , imposing man at the center of the crowd . Chloe , seeing this , instantly shed theviscious expression she'd worn facing me , switching to a pitiful , victimized look . She flung herself into the man's arms , weeping dramatically . " Jacob , you're finally here ... If you hadn't come , I would have been bullied to death by these awful people ! " She lifted her face . " Look what they did to my face ! " Jacob held the woman in his arms gently , his brow furrowing deeply upon hearing her words . He cupped her face , his heart aching . " There , there , don't be cry . I'll get justice for you . " Watching him protect another woman - the same way he had once protected me - I felt only absurdity and profound I felt only a bitter sense of absurdity and profound sorrow . Yet the lingering wounds in my heart kept bleeding , drop by drop ... Jacob's sharp gaze instantly shot towards the security captain , whose legs were trembling . " What exactly is going on here ?! " The security captain flinched , hurriedly stepping forward to explain . " These two ... these two insolent women violated restaurant policy . Ms. Delaney politely asked them to leave , but they they started a fight without any warning ! " " They insulted Ms. Delaney , and they slapped her ! " " You instructed us to protect Ms. Delaney . We had no choice but to ... retaliate . " Chloe gave him an appreciative look . This captain knew how to play the game . Jacob's eyebrows knitted together tightly . Seeing the aggrieved look and swollen cheek of the woman in his arms , his anger intensified . Just then , Emily , having broken free from the guards , stamped her foot in fury . She yelled at the man , " Jacob ! What on earth are you doing ?! " Jacob turned , finally noticing his sister's injured and disheveled state . He stared for a long moment , sucking in a sharp breath . " Emily ? Who did this to you ? " Emily burst into loud sobs , crying so hard she could barely catch her breath . Jacob was frantic- 62.50 % Chapter 5 she was the family's little princess . Chloe , beside him , jolted . Her ears buzzed . " Dar - ling ? " She tugged at Jacob's sleeve . " This woman is your ... sister ? " Hearing the term " darlingt , " Jacob glanced at Emily and instinctively wanted to correct Chloe . Before he could figure out what was happening , a voice filled with anger , disappointment , and icy coldness exploded in his ears from the edge of the crowd . " Jacob Kingsley , perhaps you should explain to me when exactly you started cheating ! " The word landed like a bombshell , shaking the room to its core . Everyone present - diners , bodyguards - froze as if petrified , watching this sudden turn of events . Jacob stiffened instantly . The moment his eyes landed on me , the blood in his veins seemed to turn to ice . His lips parted slightly , but he was too flustered to form any words . After a long moment , he abruptly pushed away the woman clinging and whining beside him and walked towards me . " H - oney ? You ... what are you doing here ? " Then he noticed the bloody wound on my back , and horror dawned on his face . " You're hurt ! Let's get you to the hospital ! " He reached out , intending to scoop me up . I stared directly at him , avoiding his touch , and instead delivered a stinging slap across his face . " Jacob Kingsley , why would you do this to me ? " I closed my eyes desperately , my breath trembling and uneven . The stifling anger in my chest threatened to suffocate me . " If I weren't here today , just how long did you plan to keep her ? " Perhaps the emotion in my eyes was too intense . It made the man too guilty to meet my gaze . He you think . " could only speak in a pleading tone . "Scarlett , please let me explain . It's not what " Not what I think ? Then what is it ?! " I demanded angrily . " Jacob , ten years ! We've loved each other for ten years ! And this is how you treat me ... " The disappointment in my eyes sent a chill through the usually composed and strategic man . He suddenly realized I had always been someone who could never tolerate betrayal .