Chapter 52: Not a Word
Before long, the car pulled up outside the hospital. Joseph and Deborah got out, but George remained seated. Deborah furrowed her brow in confusion. “Why aren’t you getting out? Jesse is still inside, waiting for you.”
George spoke in a calm, measured tone. “You all go ahead. Caleb and I need to have a word.”
“Oh… okay.” Deborah, followed by Joseph, entered the hospital first.
Caleb paused in his tracks, knowing he was in trouble again. Before he could say anything, a sharp slap landed across his face, the force of it making his head turn to the side. “You rebel!”
Despite the sting, Caleb remained defiant, his voice cool. “So, I’m a rebel now just because I was sold off and managed to escape?”
George’s face flushed with anger, his voice rising. “Do you have any idea how much trouble you’re causing for the Quixall family? Madam Yardley has already called me. She said you’ve stabbed her!”
Caleb stood his ground, unbothered. “So what? Are you going to hand me over?”
“It’s too late to hand you over now!” George snapped, his voice thick with frustration. “Because of your actions, Madam Yardley is going to drag our entire family into this mess!”
His temper flaring, George leaned heavily on the front of the car, his chest rising and falling with every ragged breath. Caleb watched him silently for a moment, observing his father’s rage, before calmly speaking, “You brought this upon yourself.”
It was George’s own choices—his decision to use unscrupulous methods to secure benefits—that had led them here. It was only fair that he now faced the consequences. George, however, was adamant that he had done nothing wrong. His eyes narrowed, burning with fury.
“Jesse is in the hospital because of you,” George seethed. “I traded your life for a chance to save him. Is that wrong?”
Caleb, anticipating this line of reasoning, couldn’t help but offer a sarcastic smile. “Is that not wrong? Ask yourselves honestly—did I not warn you? I told you Jesse shouldn’t eat too much seafood. But you all brushed it off, thinking I had ulterior motives. Your refusal to listen is what led to this.”
Each word Caleb spoke rang true, but George refused to hear it. His anger only deepened. “Just stop. Regardless of whose fault it is, the fact remains—Jesse’s life is hanging by a thread. That won’t change.”
Caleb quickly understood what George meant. He was looking for someone to extend Jesse’s life, and it wasn’t hard to figure out who the “destined sacrifice” was.
The atmosphere grew unbearably cold as the two of them entered the hospital. The door to the ward was slightly ajar, and at the sound of their approach, Jesse turned his head. “Dad,”
George smiled warmly. “Jesse, do you feel any better now?”
Jesse coughed a few times before managing to speak. “I’m much better now. Seeing Caleb return, I feel a lot better.”
George’s smile faltered, and after a moment of silence, he nudged Caleb. “Go on, apologize to your younger brother.”
Caleb didn’t even flinch. “I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?”
Joseph, who had been silently observing, finally spoke up. “Caleb, no offense, but you’ve hurt Mr. Jesse, and you haven’t said a word about it. Do you really think that’s right?”
Caleb shot him a cold, sidelong glance. “Back then, everyone pointed their fingers at me, accusing me of causing the car accident. You know the truth in your hearts. I couldn’t clear my name of that false accusation, and I’ve carried it all these years for Jesse. By your logic, should I have forced those people to vouch for my innocence in front of the media?”
Joseph’s face flushed with embarrassment after Caleb’s sharp words, and he fell silent, no longer daring to speak. The members of the Quixall family, too, lowered their heads in shame. They couldn’t deny the guilt they carried from the incident five years ago. After Caleb was released from prison, they had decided to keep the truth hidden, all to protect Jesse. Caleb’s words struck them where it hurt most.
Revenge Forged in Prison