Chapter 258: That Moment of Tenderness
If Chelsea hadn’t previously mentioned the house’s current occupants, Casey would likely have believed the negative comments, assuming Caleb was responsible. However, ever since witnessing him bury the kitten, she began to feel that the online comments weren’t entirely accurate.
Netizens loved to paint others as villains while portraying themselves as innocent. It seemed the only way they could highlight their supposed purity and flawlessness. It was as if they were saying, “See, I’m not like you. I’m not wicked enough to be verbally and publicly criticized.”
Those who’ve never experienced cyberbullying can’t truly comprehend the victims’ agony. It was only after being attacked by Jesse’s fans that Casey understood this. Nowadays, she wouldn’t casually judge an event; only when the truth is revealed would she express her feelings.
She still wasn’t sure about the truth of Caleb’s situation, even to this day. But she chose to believe in that fleeting moment of tenderness. Back then, he was completely unaware of being watched; hence, there was no need for pretense. Only in such a moment would he reveal his true self.
Upon seeing the harsh comments, Chelsea’s face immediately fell. Online, one can freely unleash malice without consequence—the reason behind such outrageous behavior. Chelsea picked up her phone and rose. “You guys can continue eating. I’m going to make a phone call.”
Caleb’s gaze was complex. “Ms. Yardley, you don’t need to worry about me. I’m used to it. A little foul language is nothing; I just listen to a song and forget about it.”
Chelsea frowned. “No way! Since you’re staying in my house, you’re under my protection. I won’t allow anyone to bully you!” She quickly walked away, not giving Caleb a chance to stop her.
Caleb held his fork, staring blankly at the delectable dishes. His appetite seemed to have vanished. Seiren looked at him with worry. “Mr. Caleb…”
Unfortunately, she wasn’t present when the incident happened, so anything she said lacked credibility. Engrossed in his own thoughts, Caleb didn’t respond. Casey had been staring at him for a while when she suddenly whispered, “Hey.”
After calling out several times, Caleb finally came to his senses. “Were you calling me?” With a hint of annoyance, Casey retorted, “If I’m not calling you, then who am I calling?”
“Ms. Rose, could you please show a bit more respect? I have a name, and it’s not ‘hey’,” Caleb said, his gaze indifferent, his words icy. He showed no preferential treatment toward Casey because of her gender.
Casey pursed her lips. “That’s not important. Listen—” Caleb stressed, “It is important. If you aren’t willing to respect me, then there’s nothing left to discuss.”
Feeling helpless, Casey softly called out, “Caleb.” Even though her voice was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, Caleb still responded. “What’s the matter?” His attitude had clearly softened.
Casey was inevitably taken aback. Whenever Caleb conversed with her, he always had an undertone of hostility. She had wondered if their relationship would always remain tense. Yet, this rare display of gentleness subtly tugged at her heartstrings, causing a slight tremor in her heart and a gradual warming of her cheeks. Her face flushed, and her voice softened.
“I wanted to ask, do you really not care about the comments from those netizens? Don’t you plan to retaliate for all they said about you?”