Chapter 166: Her Too?
Not in Jacob’s wildest dreams would he have imagined Caleb stepping up for a bunch of strangers like this.
Andrew made perfect sense, since his personality wasn’t anything new to the group, and Ariana, at times, including Jacob, had always been the voice of reason to curb his over-the-top altruistic tendencies.
As Jacob watched his arch nemesis through his rectangular glasses, the only thing he could think of was that Caleb must be playing at an angle.
What angle exactly was still not clear to him, and he needed to find out.
It became glaringly obvious to him that Caleb wasn’t a good person and was himself a similar predator to him, after what he saw him doing to the one he loved.
And with his eyes now fully opened, he began to see clearly just how much this person’s influence had grown in their little friend group...
Jacob saw Caleb as a cancer that kept on spreading, and he was of the mind that he needed to cut out that cancer for not just his revenge, but also to free his beloved.
But first..... He needed to expose him for what he truly was, and then he would kill him very slowly.
Though Caleb might be a little impressive, he had only managed to accomplish all this because Jacob had let his guard down and was taken by surprise.
Well, not anymore. Now he can easily see whatever Caleb was planning from a mile away, and he would no longer be had like a while back.
With him being prepared and ready, he would make sure that Caleb is destroyed.
That Caleb would support such an illogical action still concerns Jacob a bit as to what he might be planning, because he was certain it had nothing to do with concern for the strangers that had just arrived.
Jacob had spoken up to abandon these people, because just like Urasmus had said....they would all probably die if such a beast were to come and attack them, he was only trying to preserve his own safety..... Since he had to stay alive and watch Caleb draw his last breath by his own hand.
And as he predicted, as soon as Caleb spoke, the expected heroes began to suddenly see the wisdom in the suicidal act of helping these strangers.
First was Ava, not much surprise there. Jacob already knew the love of his life had been brainwashed.
Then there was Erica, the next to see the suicidal action of facing a paragon realm territory beast as ’very noble’ ..... Mimicking the exact same words as Caleb.
The next one was Broddy, his former lackey, now in the service of his arch nemesis.
Roberto came in full support as well, though Jacob was certain this one did so of his own volition without external influence since he felt the world somehow revolved around him.
Julia strongly kicked against the idea and was even forcing Roberto to see reason... and of course, Lilly also supported Caleb, which is to be expected because of the mission he had assigned her.
Usually, Lilly would be the one indirectly antagonizing Caleb at this moment, making valid points why he would dare render an input when he was practically useless to the team, though she put the words more subtly; she mostly insinuates this.
But with her on a very important mission given by Jacob, she cannot afford to antagonize her target currently.
Jacob had seen this exact scenario play out in his mind the moment Caleb had decided to take a stance in this matter.
Jacob had thought that’s about where Caleb’s current influence stopped... but what he would have never imagined in a thousand years....
Was that the next person to agree with him and take his side as well, would be....Ariana.
’Impossible.... Her too?!’
Jacob’s thoughts were frozen for a moment in shock.
Ariana was not just another member of their friend group; most would argue she was, in fact, the actual leader instead of Andrew.
Her personality was beyond reproach, with quite the stubborn mindset when it came to compromising her views and beliefs to suit those of others.....
And with their current situation, Ariana should most definitely be the one against this stupid Idea.... But she, too, was nodding at the unrealistic noble sentimentalities Caleb was spewing out as to why they should save these strangers.
’He has her too....how?....when?!’
Jacob struggled to maintain his composure as these thoughts ran through his mind.
The more members of their group Caleb manages to brainwash, the harder it will be to kill him.
Jacob realized he was running out of time; he had to move faster. Faster than he had planned.
This person might be the weakest of them all.... But every lady around was behaving as if they were hitching for his approval....
Even Ariana, whom he’s had fantasies about and was even the first lady Jacob had his eyes on before Ava came along.
When the image of what Caleb had been doing to his Ava suddenly flashed across Jacob’s mind....
He had the scary thought that all these ladies must have also experienced something like that.
And the size of this person was simply inhumane when Jacob recalled what he saw.
’Is that the reason?..... Will Lilly be safe?’
Seeing what was happening, Jacob’s thoughts went straight to Lilly, as his imagination ran wild with images of Caleb’s monstrous thing, doing to her the same way he did to Ava.
’No....that will never happen.....she loves me too much.’
Even though Jacob had no such feelings for Lilly, he knew just how much she loved him, so she would never fall for whatever tricks Caleb might have up his sleeves.
And he also cares about her in his own way....
For something similar to what happened with Ava to happen with Lilly again.... Jacob couldn’t imagine just how he would recover from that.
But he knows that will never happen.
Even though Caleb had managed to turn the situation in Andrew’s favor for saving these people, Jacob still couldn’t afford to go with this suicidal plan....
And most importantly, he couldn’t allow Caleb to get a lead over him any longer.
And he knows just the right way to use his superior intelligence to corner the novice, Caleb.
Adjusting his glasses with his black leather-gloved hand, Jacob said calmly to Caleb.... "Being altruistic is one thing, Caleb...."
"But the notion of altruism does not alter the facts of reality." He added, shaking his head a little.
"Sorry to say this....But I think you are being a little naive...same as Andrew...."
"How do you plan to face this beast?"
