Chapter 25: Feel Free To Eat More

Caleb left. Raquel and Yelena exchanged glances, unsure of what to say. Yelena tucked the corner of the blanket around Jesse.

“Go to sleep. Once Caleb has had enough rest, he’ll come to take care of you.”

Jesse nodded, then peacefully drifted off to sleep.

Raquel thought it was only right for Caleb to take care of Jesse. They had no reason to feel guilty. If he failed to do a good job, they would hold him accountable.

At night, after a full day’s rest, Caleb finally felt a slight decrease in the pain he was enduring. For an entire day, no one came to check on the head injury. He wondered why George and Deborah had called him back. Were they expecting him to play second fiddle to Jesse?

Deborah busied herself in the kitchen, crafting an elaborate feast. Jesse claimed to be feeling unwell and secluded himself in his room to sleep. Almost all the dishes Deborah prepared were Jesse’s favorites, yet without him at the table, the spread of tempting food seemed to lose its charm.

George rapped the table with his fork. “Caleb, go bring Jesse some food.”

Caleb looked up. “Why should I? He has legs. Can’t he come out by himself?”

“You’ve got some nerve saying that!” George slammed down his fork, his eyes ablaze with intense fury. “If it weren’t for you, he wouldn’t be stuck in bed! You’ll deliver the food to him, whether you like it or not!”

Caleb let out a scoff. Jesse’s words alone were enough to ignite George’s fury. He had served five years in prison on behalf of Jesse, yet no one showed him any sympathy. Jesse had brought trouble upon himself, yet he expected others to clean up his mess.

He randomly picked up a few dishes and was about to bring them to Jesse’s room when Deborah stopped him. “Take the shrimp too. Your brother loves it, and it might help him regain some strength since he’s unwell.” Caleb fixed Deborah with a steady gaze.

“It’s not suitable for someone who’s ill to consume.”

Deborah chided, “Why are you arguing with me? After decades of taking care of your dad, don’t you think I know what’s best for someone to eat? Now stop being difficult and just do as you’re told.”

Yelena, her tone dripping with sarcasm, chimed in. “You just can’t stand seeing others enjoying good food, can you? That’s why you’re always throwing obstacles in their way.”

As usual, George was quick to react to the slightest suggestion. “Why shouldn’t Jesse eat seafood? It’s not as though he’s battling some incurable illness. You just can’t bear to see him in good spirits, can you? You’re not allowed to eat tonight! Your only priority is to take care of Jesse!”

Caleb, uninterested in wasting energy on their pointless arguments, silently picked up a bowl of shrimp and carried it to Jesse’s room. Since you love it so much, feel free to eat more. After all, this is a “great thing” for nourishing the body.

When Caleb arrived, Jesse let out a weak cough, his hands resting over his stomach.

“Caleb, thank you for bringing me food.”

“I know you’re not…”

Caleb, uninterested in indulging his theatrics, replied bluntly, “Eat up.”

Jesse, seemingly oblivious to Caleb’s words, continued in a pitiful tone, “I’m too ill to get up. Caleb, could you help me?”

The door remained slightly ajar, with George and Deborah watching from outside. Unable to decline without causing a scene, Caleb reluctantly helped Jesse sit up. Once seated, Jesse wasted no time reverting to his playful antics.

“Caleb, I can’t lift my hand. Would you mind feeding me?”

Pushing boundaries when given the chance, Jesse watched as Caleb, with visible patience, pushed the shrimp and pasta toward him.

“You’re not incapable. You can feed yourself.”

Jesse coughed lightly. “If you won’t feed me, I’ll have no choice but to ask Mom and Dad. They’re not young anymore, and I’d hate to trouble them.”

The situation had spiraled far beyond reason. Stilling his irritation, Caleb reluctantly lifted a spoonful of food to Jesse’s lips. “Open up.”

Jesse smiled triumphantly.