Chapter 178: Raise a Hand Against the Vulnerable
The voice was unmistakable. Without thinking, Caleb lifted his gaze, a dry chuckle escaping his lips. “Hah!” It was Joseph. This brat isn't even trying to hide his relationship with Raquel. How shameless to show up in public with her!
His smirk turned cold as he addressed Joseph. “Yes, I hit her. What’s it to you?”
Joseph was irked by Caleb’s presumptuous attitude. “Caleb, you’re unbelievable! Raquel didn’t think twice about saving you. She rushed to the hospital to give you a blood transfusion! And what do you do in return? You’re not just ungrateful. You even have the audacity to slap her in front of everyone! Do you even have the slightest shred of decency left? What kind of man does that?”
Though Joseph was aware of the rumors and knew that Raquel’s hands had been destroyed by Phillip, he didn’t know why Phillip would go to such lengths. But in his mind, the pieces fit together: Gianna must be the reason. He fully believed that Phillip had crippled Raquel for his daughter’s sake—because Gianna was in love with Caleb and couldn’t stand Raquel.
At first, Joseph had been eager to help Raquel exact revenge, but Terry had always been strict. He never even spared Joseph extra pocket money, let alone help him retaliate against the Sherman family. Phillip was far too powerful for Joseph to challenge, so confronting him was out of the question. However, manipulating Caleb was a different story.
As luck would have it, Caleb had practically delivered himself to Joseph’s doorstep. Not only had he shown up, but he also had the audacity to strike Raquel in public, a move that would surely provoke a public outcry. This was Joseph’s golden opportunity; a chance to turn the tables. He could now use Caleb’s reckless actions to manipulate the situation and sway public opinion. Once the dust settled, Caleb’s reputation would be in ruins.
The surrounding crowd, unaware of the full story, began to openly criticize Caleb. “This guy is the worst! Why even bother saving someone like him?” “Hitting a woman is unforgivable. Didn’t your parents teach you not to raise a hand against the vulnerable?” “Typical. You can tell he’s an orphan—poorly raised. He has no business being out here causing trouble.”
Initially, the onlookers had been intimidated by Caleb’s fierce presence, too afraid to intervene and help Raquel. But when Joseph arrived, they noticed his confident air, which made them believe he could control the volatile man. This newfound sense of security emboldened them to speak out, rallying behind what they perceived as a call for justice.
For Caleb, however, this was nothing more than another round of baseless accusations. He had faced online storms and false rumors before; this was just another day, and the crowd’s judgment meant nothing.
Caleb shot them a cold, lethal glare. “What do you think you know?” he sneered. “If I hadn’t stepped in, she wouldn’t even be standing here, let alone spouting nonsense.”
Having spent time in prison, he exuded a raw and intimidating aura that set him apart from others. The spectators, all ordinary folks, had never seen someone as scary as him. They shrank away from him, their earlier courage wavering.
Joseph immediately stepped forward to counter Caleb’s chilling words. “Don’t let him deceive you! Five years ago, this man killed someone while driving drunk, but he insisted it was all a set-up. Now that’s real nonsense!”
“H-He’s right! It’s second nature for criminals who have been in prison to twist the truth!” A young man in the crowd spoke up confidently, sparking a ripple of agreement among the onlookers. “So, he’s a criminal after all! No wonder he’s so shameless!” someone else chimed in. “He caused trouble the moment he got out! He should be locked up for another ten years!”
The crowd was now filled with righteous indignation. It seemed as though they were ready to play the role of prison guards, ready to administer their own form of justice.
Caleb, however, stood unmoved, his gaze sharp as he turned to Joseph. “Tell me, Joseph, did you help her out of some sense of justice, or is there something else going on here?”
Joseph’s expression darkened immediately. “What are you implying, Caleb?” Joseph felt a flicker of unease. There was something in Caleb’s tone that made him nervous, as if those words carried a hidden meaning.