Chapter 611 Jacob, This Time I Really Want to Love You 2
Jacob's voice was flat and matter-of-fact. "Yes. I am worried about her."
Chloe couldn't believe it.
He was actually protecting Serafina this way. She hadn't even done anything to her yet, and he was already this concerned.
Chloe's face crumpled with pain as Jacob turned to Serafina and said gently, "You should go home. I'll have a word with her and then come back."
Home?
Chloe felt even more disoriented.
Jacob was calling Serafina's place home. What did that make her—his former fiancée? She watched Serafina leave, noting how Jacob even offered a supportive gesture, barely touching her arm. How desperately he wanted to touch Serafina, how precious she was to him!
What was she to him now?
After Serafina left, Jacob's attention returned to Chloe. Since smoking wasn't allowed in the café, he placed his cigarette pack on the table as he sat down. His gaze fixed on Chloe with particular coldness, a stark contrast to his gentle demeanor back in Evergreen City. Clearly, Chloe's trip to Crystal City had crossed a line.
"What are you doing here? We've already called off our engagement. We agreed to go our separate ways. Why are you bothering Serafina?"
"Are you worried about her?"
For some reason, Chloe stubbornly asked the same question again.
Jacob's answer remained unchanged.
Back in Evergreen City, his gentle treatment of Chloe had perhaps given her false hope. Now he didn't want to leave room for her imagination. He decided to be completely honest with her.
"You're not wrong. I intend to reconcile with Serafina. She may not have accepted me yet, but someday she'll come back to me. So Chloe, stop this pursuit. All I can say to you is I'm sorry."
Chloe laughed softly.
In that moment, she lost all reason and blurted out, "Aren't you afraid I might hurt her? And your daughter is so adorable, barely a month old, so fragile!"
The words had barely left her lips when Chloe's face stung from a sharp slap.
Jacob had struck her. He had never hit a woman before, but Chloe had crossed his line—and that line was Serafina and Abigail.
Chloe was stunned.
Jacob didn't want to waste another moment on her. He leaned forward, bringing his face close to Chloe's, his voice dangerously low. "Chloe, if you so much as lay a finger on Serafina or my daughter, I'll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life."
Chloe's lips trembled uncontrollably.
Jacob was truly ruthless with her.
Serafina returned home just as Abigail woke up crying for her feeding. Since Serafina's milk supply was abundant, she rarely used formula. She unbuttoned her blouse and settled on the sofa to nurse Abigail.
The afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows.
Abigail curled contentedly in Serafina's arms, nursing peacefully. The quiet room filled only with the soft sounds of suckling, a sound that melted the heart.
Serafina gazed down at Abigail. At twenty days old, she had transformed from her newborn pink complexion to delicate, porcelain skin. With her jewel-bright eyes and perfectly formed nose and mouth, she was absolutely beautiful. Serafina could never tire of looking at her.
Today, however, she was troubled.
Chloe's words had unsettled her. She wanted to speak with Jacob when he arrived to clarify things once and for all.
As Serafina was lost in thought, the bedroom door opened. Jacob entered, and she instinctively turned away to shield herself, her voice low and trembling slightly. "Please step out until I finish feeding Abigail."
Jacob clearly had no intention of leaving. After a year of marriage, he knew exactly what she was thinking—she simply wanted to maintain boundaries between them.
He quietly closed the bedroom door and approached her, gently stroking Abigail's head.
Abigail was tiny, with sparse hair that made her look like an adorable little peach. As he caressed her, Serafina shifted uncomfortably, which drew a soft chuckle from Jacob.
His voice was rough with emotion. "Serafina, we're husband and wife."
Serafina turned away. "Not anymore."
Jacob moved to sit beside her, gently embracing her from behind in the tender way a man holds his woman. "Still angry about Chloe? I've broken off our engagement. Don't take her words to heart—there's nothing between us now. There never was anything physical between us, either."
Serafina instinctively tried to pull away.
But Jacob held her firmly, one hand playing with Abigail in her arms, making Serafina's cheeks flush with warmth and stirring feelings she couldn't control.
They had been married, intimately familiar with each other's bodies and desires.
Jacob pressed his handsome face against the nape of her neck, murmuring seductively, "Serafina, you're not entirely unaffected, are you? Can you honestly say that during our separation, you never once thought of me? We were married, after all. We made love."
His words grew increasingly inappropriate.
Serafina couldn't help but push him away, but Jacob chuckled softly and knew when to stop. He took the satisfied Abigail from her arms and looked at Serafina with gentle eyes. "Go freshen up in the bathroom."
Serafina felt somewhat disheveled.
She clutched her clothes and retreated to the bathroom, turning on the faucet to clean herself.
In the bedroom, Jacob played with Abigail. Well-fed and content, she was in good spirits, smiling broadly in Jacob's arms and babbling incomprehensibly at him. One moment Abigail was all sunshine, the next her face crumpled and she began to cry—then she promptly wet all over Jacob.
His expensive shirt and trousers were ruined!
Abigail wailed briefly, then suddenly cheered up again, excitedly kicking her little legs in Jacob's arms. Jacob was both exasperated and amused, giving her bottom a couple of light pats.
When Serafina emerged from the bathroom, she caught Jacob disciplining Abigail, who was now crying.
She shot Jacob a reproachful look.
Jacob defended himself. "Children shouldn't be spoiled."
Serafina took Abigail and changed her diaper, speaking softly, "Abigail is so young—how can you talk about spoiling her? You should go change your clothes next door."
Jacob had no intention of leaving.
He had fresh clothes delivered and changed right there in Serafina's bedroom, dressing in front of her without any attempt at modesty.
Serafina said nothing more.
Jacob's intentions were crystal clear—he was making himself at home.
And so Jacob completely invaded her life.
Every weekend he would fly over for two-day visits to see Abigail. Though he had purchased the house across the street, he always stayed at Serafina's, claiming it was more convenient for caring for Abigail.
Serafina consistently made him sleep on the sofa, maintaining boundaries. They never crossed lines—not even a kiss—but she was aware that Jacob had needs and wasn't seeking other women. He took care of himself during the late-night hours.
In the deep quiet of night, she would lie with her head against the pillow, her thoughts racing.
She wondered what she was holding onto!
So much time had passed, and Jacob had been nothing but devoted to both her and Abigail, yet she still couldn't overcome the barrier in her heart. Isadora said she still harbored resentment.
Isadora smiled knowingly. "Where does hatred come from without love?"
Serafina felt dazed.
Love? She still loved Jacob.
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