Yonah was in this situation because of him. This mishap would have been prevented if he hadn't walked out on his father. The former would have stayed in the VIP room, and she would not have needed to head to the kitchen to order food.
She was only concerned about his welfare, having had no lunch yet. Now, she was in such a dreadful state, and he couldn't forgive himself if the worst happened to her.
Both of Yonah's cheeks received deep wounds from scrapes from a sharp object, and if they did not do something about it, her career might suffer, and she might be forced to undergo plastic surgery.
"I'm sorry you suffered this much. It's my fault." Ross gently patted Yonah's back, offering comfort and sincerely apologizing. He immensely regretted it. Everything would have remained fine if he hadn't let his temper get the best of him.
"Don't blame yourself, Kuya Ross. It's not your fault at all."
Yonah continued sobbing, and Ross let her be. Though she tried to stifle her sobs, her trembling body revealed the depth of her emotional pain.
"They were just jealous of my sister and could not accept that you didn't choose them. I pointed out what they lacked, and they were infuriated at me." Yonah shared between sobs. She added, "I don't understand. They claim to be from prominent families, and we sisters are not a match for the Varga family. But the way they act, I think the vendors on the street are behaving better than them!"
"I'm sorry to hear that. Let me help you teach them a lesson. I promise to make them pay for what they did to you."
Ross seethed with anger as he listened to Yonah's story. Inwardly, he made notes in his head. He would not let off every person present at the scene but do nothing and watch while chortling!
"Hush, now okay? I learned you signed up for a contract to be a host of the cosplay festival in Singapore. Don't worry. A specialist to treat your face will check on you first thing in the morning, so please stop crying."
"Okay. Thank you," she said.
Ross felt Yonah's head nod against his chest. Subconsciously, he tightened his arms around her back as he comforted her.
He utters, "Don't mention it, alright? Now, please rest. I'll return after I speak with my lawyer and check on the Johnston family. I heard their daughter has no remorse for what she did to you. I won't let their family off. I promised that."
Hearing that, Yonah parted from Ross's embrace and searched his face for something. She forced a smile, but immediately, tears welled up in her eyes when she felt a searing pain from her wounds.
"Nana…" He gently dried Yonah's face with a clean tissue. His heart ached to see her like this.
Then he notices Yonah's countenance, but she looks hesitant to speak. This gives him the idea that Celia must say something that angers and disappoints her.
"Nana, whatever Celia has told you, it wasn't true. So forget what she told you, okay?"
"Okay..." Yonah replied in a low voice, but this did not make Ross happy.
'What Celia told Yonah, and she seems wary of me now?'
This assumption caused him concern. He didn't want Yonah to overthink or have the wrong impression of him.
"Nana, I never had a relationship in the past. I don't have flings, either. If rumors are circulating about me, I never get myself involved with any woman. Mom was strict with me because she only considered you and your sister as her daughter-in-law. "
Upon hearing that, Yonah's eyes glimmered. She looked relieved, which also made him feel at ease. He doesn't want Yonah to misunderstand him. He was loyal and faithful to the one he loved.
'Wait, am I really faithful? Who are you kidding, Ross Michael?' Ross scolded himself inwardly. He almost forgot that the person he loves and his present girlfriend are different women.
He wants to assure Yonah that he has no other woman. But he was actually only lying to her and denying it to himself. He cheats on Shenna without realizing it because he covets the younger sister.
Meanwhile, oblivious to Ross's dilemma, Yonah felt reassurance from the thought that he was faithful to her sister. Unbeknownst to her, she was the woman he had feelings for.
"I'll head out now," Ross said as he stood on his feet, and before he realized it, he had already bent his back and kissed Yonah's forehead.
"Kuya Ross…"
Ross was astounded by what he did, and Yonah didn't see it coming either; her face flushed, and the surprise was evident.
"I…" Ross swallowed. He was having a hard time looking for an excuse. He was unable to explain how it was only an impulse of his emotion that caused it.
"Nana, are you up?" At the door, Shaun knocked and pushed it open, but to no avail. 'Why is it locked?'
Shaun was about to pound the door when it was pulled open.
"What are you doing, Shaun?"
"Brother?"
~ ~ ~
That evening, Ross met with his legal team at the restaurant. He also invited his most trusted friends from the police department to help him investigate and solve the case as soon as possible and proceed with the lawsuit he will file against the Johnston family.
In a private room, they watched the footage and determined that Celia had intentionally attacked Yonah when the latter used the ladies' room.
Celia speaks to her friends before she follows Yonah inside. They could tell the group was planning something the way their bodies responded after Celia instructed them.
When Celia entered the ladies' room, her friends guarded the door, and their intention was obvious: they were preventing other customers from using the toilet.
"From here on, someone should watch any of the restrooms!"
In the middle of the viewing, everyone was startled when Ross slammed his palm on the table and exclaimed.
The two restaurant managers nodded in fear while wiping the beads of sweat that appeared on their foreheads.
"You!" Ross pointed at the female manager.
Flashing her life before her eyes, the floor manager must not guess what the boss says. Now, she realized how stupid she had been to forget that Ross Varga was a formidable young tycoon in this country, and crossing his path could have ended someone's future.
"Si—sir..." Karen Sandoval lowered her head as Ross scrutinized her with a piercing look. She felt like the King of Death was about to sentence her.
Ross narrowed his gaze as he confronted the woman. He may look calm, but he was on the verge of beating up the woman before him.
"I know you and Celia were friends. It was you who often tipped her when I dined here. Miss Sandoval, I just let you go because you are an excellent restaurant manager. But for you to keep clinging to Celia to curry her some favors? There is an end to that, especially when what you touch is my bottom line."
"Mr. Varga, sir!" Karen kneeled and opened her mouth to plead for her life, but Ross ignored her and said,
"Anyone who lays a hand on the Villegas sisters will face my wrath!"