Chapter 109: A Beautiful Thing
The earlier incident had unfolded so suddenly that Deborah was left stunned, unable to react in time. Seeing Caleb gripping his belt, seemingly prepared to strike the man who had raised him for over twenty years, she hurried forward.
“Caleb, you must never raise your hand against your father! He’s just deeply concerned about Jesse, afraid that he might lose his life on his sickbed!”
With a mocking glint in his eyes, Caleb retorted, “So, Jesse’s life is valuable, but mine isn’t? Ever since Jesse returned, you’ve never treated me like a son!”
Deborah’s face was full of sorrow. “Caleb, how could you say that? We care deeply for Jesse, that’s true, but our love for you is just as real!”
Overcome with anger, Caleb tossed the belt aside and pulled out an agreement. “Mrs. Quixall, please, open your eyes wide and take a good look at this agreement! It says that after my death, my heart will be donated to Jesse. Do you think I’m a fool?”
A look of guilt crossed Deborah’s face, leaving her at a loss for words. “Yes, we have such intentions.”
During Caleb’s five-year imprisonment, Jesse’s future had flourished. This is his moment to shine on the stage. By donating his heart to Jesse, Caleb could not only prolong his life but also share in his achievements, redeeming himself and leaving his troubled past behind. Isn’t this the right choice for everyone?
Reflecting on this, Deborah gently said, “Caleb, we truly do love you. You’ve carried the weight of a tarnished past during your time in jail, and it’s unlikely that bright opportunities lie ahead for you. But Jesse, as a pop star, has the ability to take your heart to the stage and shine, filling the voids in your life. Isn’t that a beautiful thing?”
Caleb cast her an incredulous glance. She has gone mad! She has truly lost her mind! She truly believes so. Two bodies, one heart? In the realm of fiction, perhaps it’s a story worth telling, but in reality, it’s nothing short of a nightmare. I can’t believe they would forsake the promising life of one son to save another who’s sick in bed!
Throwing me in prison wasn’t enough. Now they even want my life. Caleb felt a faint ache in his heart. “You really are the best parents. Fine, I can’t fight you, but I can still escape, can’t I?”
He flung open the second-floor window and leaped out. Deborah let out a sharp scream and rushed to the window, her eyes darting downward in panic. Below, a pool of blood marked the ground, and a figure limped forward. It was Caleb.
Deborah quickly turned around, calling out to her husband, “George, you need to check on Caleb. He jumped from upstairs. It could be life-threatening!”
George remained unruffled. “Life-threatening? Even better! If he dies, Jesse will be saved!”
Deborah was so anxious that she was on the verge of tears. “Caleb is our child too! The doctor said Jesse could hold on for a few more days, but Caleb won’t make it! If no one saves him, he’ll die alone on the streets with not even a soul to collect his body!”
Unable to ignore his wife’s urgent plea, George reluctantly buckled his belt and set off to look for Caleb. As he walked, he mumbled, “I really don’t get it. He’s going to die anyway, so why save him?”