Chapter 22: A Little Blood
Before the test results were revealed, Caleb was forced to kneel in the living room as punishment. George held a whip in his hand, his face full of anger. "Jesse is your younger brother. How could you lay a hand on him?"
Caleb, feeling exhausted, chose not to respond. George was consumed by a burning rage. “Very well, since you’re so eager to leave the Quixall family, I’ll send you away in a few days!”
Caleb’s expression shifted. “I can leave right now,”
A sneer crossed George’s face, his disdain evident. “Your coming and going is for us to decide.”
Just then, the doctor approached. “Mr. Quixall, the examination is complete.”
George’s manner softened as he asked, “How’s Jesse?”
The doctor cast a glance at Caleb, hesitating for a moment. “Don’t mind him. Just say what you have to say.” George was getting upset again, and it was quite intimidating when he lost his temper.
The doctor hastily responded in a hushed voice, “Mr. Jesse’s condition is a bit complicated. The drug he ingested dissolved immediately upon contact, affecting his nervous system. Thankfully, this was his first exposure. Had it been discovered later, he might have spent the rest of his life bedridden.”
The idea was absurd—completely laughable. Drugs that dissolved instantly upon touching the tongue were unheard of. It was clear the doctor and Jesse were working together, spinning tales that were as fragile as they were false. Yet, somehow, there were still those gullible enough to believe such easily debunked lies.
George’s whip cracked through the air with a sharp thwack. Caleb’s back arched, but he stood resolutely in place. George’s rage was unrelenting, his fury reaching its peak as he struck Caleb repeatedly. “If we hadn’t caught it early, Jesse could’ve been paralyzed! How deep does your hatred run to drive you to such cruelty?”
Fueled by anger, George didn’t stop until his frustrations were spent. By the time he was done, Caleb’s back was bloodied and torn. His shirt was stained red with blood, a shocking sight.
A flicker of hesitation crossed George’s face. “Go back to your room, get it treated, and then make sure to check on Jesse right away!”
Caleb spat out blood, then brushed past Raquel. Raquel covered her mouth, her eyes filled with pity. “Caleb, if only you hadn’t insisted on being with Gia, wouldn’t have—”
“It’s done. Spare me the pretense.”
Without so much as a glance in her direction, Caleb quickened his pace and headed straight back to his room. Raquel clenched her fists tightly for a moment before relaxing them.
“I will never admit my mistake! It’s all Caleb’s fault! He’s only in this situation now for helping that b—tch!”
With resentment in her heart, she visited Jesse with George. “Jesse, are you okay?” She held onto Jesse’s large hand. “It was all my fault. I shouldn’t have revealed his whereabouts…”
Jesse shook his head and responded softly, “Raquel, don’t blame yourself. I should have noticed Caleb’s unusual behavior earlier and taken precautions…”
George’s heart ached. “Why do you think this has anything to do with you? Don’t worry, I’ve already taught that rascal a lesson. He won’t dare to lay a finger on you again.”
Jesse’s eyes flickered. “How’s Caleb doing? I think I’ll go check on him.”
He struggled to prop himself up, his legs still trembling. He wanted to get out of bed. George firmly pushed him back. “Just stay still and don’t worry about him. He’s not badly hurt. He’s been in prison before. A little blood is nothing to him!”
Raquel nodded in agreement. “Exactly. Caleb is ruthless and cruel. Such a person is nothing but a menace when alive. It would be better if he were dead?”
Just then, there was an unusual sound coming from outside the door. Caleb turned the handle, his expression unchanging.