Chapter 43: I Had No Other Choice Either

Caleb let out a humorless chuckle. Kathryn’s attitude actually put him at ease. If she’d helped him without reason, he would’ve been suspicious.

“Tell them whatever you want. I’ll be long gone by then anyway,” he said.

Kathryn paused, then snorted. “See that you keep your word.”

The mansion’s front door closed behind her. Five minutes later, Caleb heard the door open again. Had Kathryn returned? He went to check, only to freeze at the sight of someone who shouldn’t be there.

“Raquel? What are you doing here?”

Raquel jumped at the direct confrontation but quickly regained her composure. “You’re asking me? I should be the one asking you!” She pointed an accusing finger. “This is Sherman family property. What gives you, an outsider, the right to shamelessly squat here?”

Caleb countered coolly, “Gianna told me this is her private mansion. Aside from family, I’m the only one who knows about it.” He added, “Showing up uninvited, Ms. Levinson—now that’s shameless, don’t you think?”

A flicker of panic crossed Raquel’s eyes. She had indeed come over secretly. After spotting Kathryn by chance, she’d followed on a whim, hoping to get lucky. Never did she expect to find Caleb—the very man she’d been searching for days—right here!

Cornered, Raquel’s bravado wavered. “I—Gianna’s my best friend! Of course she’d tell me about this place! Don’t give me that ‘only told you’ nonsense. You’re just the Quixall family’s castoff. She’d have to be an idiot to value you that much!”

As she spoke, a sharp pang shot through her chest. It was a familiar pain she hadn’t felt in years. She dismissed it as anger-induced and plowed on. “Father even complained to your dad about it.”

Raquel’s jaw clenched at the reminder. “So what? We made up. Got a problem with that?”

Caleb held up his phone. “Should I call and ask her?”

Raquel’s pupils constricted as she exclaimed in disbelief, “You even have her number?”

“You got a problem?” Caleb’s gaze was glacial.

“When everyone else chose to abandon me, she was the only one who showed me kindness. I trust her. She wouldn’t stab me in the back or use me as a scapegoat,” he said.

A bitter taste flooded Raquel’s mouth. Her heart sank. “Caleb, I had no choice back then. You’d have done the same in my position.”

Without looking at her feigned distress, Caleb said flatly, “Whether I would or not—you know the answer better than anyone. Stop making excuses, Raquel Levinson.”

Hearing her full name from the man who once loved her shattered something inside Raquel’s chest, drawing blood. She couldn’t help but let out a sob. “Cale, you can’t treat me like this…”

He let her cry, watching impassively. When no comfort came, Raquel wiped her tears unwillingly. She began to change the subject. “Mr. and Mrs. Quixall searched for you all night. Jesse is still hospitalized. How could you just leave?”

Caleb smirked. “Should I have stayed and waited for you all to kill me?”