Chapter 10 Couldn't Hold Back Tears

Normally, Jacob would just ignore strangers. His short reply was the most he could make for Sherry's words.

Then, he turned and took a look at Sara's bowl before letting out a mocking laugh. "Who'll want to eat that food?"

Sara took a look at her bowl, which was piled up high with the dishes that Thompson had kept for her, and knew that Jacob was ridiculing her.

Thompson smiled, taking Jacob's words in stride. "I noticed that Sara has lost some weight recently, so I wanted to help her get her strength back. With all the work she's been doing, she must have forgotten to eat on time."

He then looked at Sara affectionately.

Jacob narrowed his eyes at him and retorted, "Giving her food isn't going to help. Whether she puts on weight or not, she'll still be ugly."

The coldness of his voice and his cutting words naturally provoked Sara, who gritted her teeth and muttered, "Mr. Jacob, I have to speak up for myself here. I may have lost some weight, yes, but I am not unattractive! Of course, unless your standards for beauty have somehow changed recently?"

When Sherry saw all the commotion, she couldn't help but tug at Sara's sleeve and ask, "Hey, what's happening here?"

"Nothing. It's just that some people here will stop at nothing to ruin my day," Sara said grimly.

Her voice was neither too loud nor too low. Everyone at the table had heard her just fine.

Sherry turned her gaze to Jacob and saw him giving Sara an icy stare.

Alice also took a look at the food on the table in front of her and exclaimed in disgust, "I don't like the food here. It looks cheap and unappetizing."

Although she said those words in a very low voice, Thompson heard her clearly. He narrowed his eyes at her and thought, 'Cheap?

The food at this restaurant might be ordinary, but the chefs are greatly skilled. Every single meal they prepare is delicious, making people drool for a bite. How could she call it cheap judging by its ingredients? She hadn't even tasted it yet. Such a judgmental woman!'

Thompson was puzzled. He had always admired Jacob for being a refined and decisive man. But how could someone like Jacob possibly fall in love with a woman like Alice?

Jacob stroked Alice's hair dotingly and smiled. "This food is not fit for you to consume. Why don't you drink some water? I'll take you to a nice restaurant for some good food later, okay?"

Then, he turned and cast a cold glance at Sara.

Since Jacob had spoken in her favor, Alice was happy. She drank the water and said to Sara smugly, "Sara, do you usually eat this kind of food?"

As she glanced at the green beans in Sara's bowl, a trace of contempt flashed in her eyes.

Sara raised her eyebrows and replied, "Yeah, in fact, I grew up eating this kind of food. Thanks to that, I didn't get spoiled and pampered like someone."

Then, she gave Alice a strange look, as if she was that "someone" in her words.

The truth was, she was too tired to deal with this drama. Alice's hypocrisy and cocky attitude was the last thing she wanted to handle at that moment.

As Alice clutched Jacob's arm, Sherry stared at her and commented, "This food is delicious. Who wouldn't want to eat it? Don't you eat what humans eat, Alice? Tell us, we're curious to know... what do you usually eat?"

Sherry had always been a good person. She wasn't the type to offend someone on purpose. However, she had noticed that ever since Alice stepped into the restaurant, all she had done was look down on the food, the people, and the decor. It bothered Sherry so much that she couldn't help but speak up.

Tears sprang to Alice's eyes, and she was too furious to even reply.

As Sara looked at Alice, she felt like she despised her now more than ever. How could Jacob settle for a woman like her?

Although Sherry had insulted Alice, Jacob didn't say anything to her. Instead, he turned to Sara and said with a disgusted look, "If you have a problem, bring it up to me. Don't humiliate Alice."

Sara tightened her grip around the wine glass. Her fingertips turned pale and her lower lip trembled. She had been his wife for four years! She hadn't expected him to walk over her like she was dirt.

"The same goes for you," she retorted with a snort.

Sherry felt uncomfortable after seeing their exchange. She somehow regretted insulting Alice, which provoked Jacob into hurting Sara in return.

However, she couldn't stand the tyrannical look on Alice's face. 'Why does the victim have to accept all kinds of verbal attacks from the perpetrator?' she thought to herself.

Upon hearing Sara's words, a trace of disappointment flashed on Jacob's face as he squinted at the woman he'd been with for the past four years. 'When did she become so eloquent?' he wondered. During those four years, Sara had never once disobeyed him or talked back to him. She had always been respectful and caring. Had she lost all her respect for him after their divorce?

The thought of this enraged him. It was as if the air around their table had suddenly turned dark and gloomy, like a prelude to a storm.

Alice tugged at Jacob's sleeve. She already knew that no matter what happened, Thompson would defend Sara. It seemed pointless for her to get worked up about some silly argument. She knew it'd turn out for nobody's good if they stayed. Besides, she'd given Sara enough humiliation. There was no need to fall out completely.

"Jacob, let's act like the grown-ups here and ignore her petty insults. If this goes on forever, I won't be able to have my dinner in peace." Then, she turned to Sara and gave her a triumphant smile. "You really are good at making a scene."

After that, she glanced at Sherry as well, making sure to remember her face. She was determined to get her revenge on these two women, sooner than later.

Noticing the smug expression on Alice's face, Sherry gave her a scornful look.

Alice's expression darkened in return. 'How disappointing! Even after everything that's happened, people still want to defend someone like her, ' she thought to herself.

When Thompson saw that Sara had finally calmed down, he tried to smooth things over.

"Jacob, it's been such a pleasant surprise seeing you here today! We must get together some time," he said with a smile.

Jacob's expression turned grim. 'What does he mean by that? Is he trying to make me leave?' he wondered.

At the same time, Sara raised her wine glass and clinked it against Thompson's, pretending as if Jacob didn't exist.

Jacob felt a wave of annoyance come over him.

'Are all women like her? Dating other men right after their divorce papers have been signed?' he pondered bitterly.

"Sara, you are still my wife. So, don't behave recklessly in public. You'd do well to watch your manners and not embarrass yourself," he snapped.

However, Sara was tired of hearing those same words over and over again. 'Can't he say something else for a change? For example, "I won't allow it."'

As soon as that thought entered her mind, she mocked herself for still believing in their marriage. She was about to reply, but she swallowed her words when she saw Jacob move towards Alice.

He softly caressed Alice's cheek and wiped away a tear. "Let's go someplace nice to have dinner. Don't waste your time crying over their words. Today is a wonderful day. You can't let your mood turn sour because of them.

And after we have dinner, we'll go shopping. You told me you wanted the fifty carat diamond ring we saw at the jewelry store yesterday, right?" he said in a soft voice, as though he deliberately intended to hurt Sara. The moment Sara heard him say "diamond ring," a nameless dread engulfed her.

She was shocked, but she tried her best not to express how she felt.

Only a year ago, Jacob had promised to take her to the jeweler to order a custom-made diamond ring for their fourth wedding anniversary.

Now, their fourth wedding anniversary came, and he had broken every promise he had made to her. He had left her without a second thought just because Alice had come back.

He had thrown her away like she was a scrap piece of paper, like their whole marriage had meant nothing to him. He had ended their four-year-long relationship by telling her that he didn't have the patience to deal with her anymore. And now, Alice was here to remind her how much he didn't need her.

Feeling powerless, Sara hastily gulped down the wine. She didn't know if all this was happening for real or if she was just dreaming.

Was she having a nightmare? Maybe Jacob was still in love with her; he had to be. Everything had been perfect until the day Alice came.

A teardrop trickled down Sara's cheek. Even words like "heartache" and "despair" couldn't begin to describe the kind of pain she had been through lately.

She was usually so good at keeping her cool, but now, she couldn't hold back her tears.