Chapter 452

Jude Granger… Not Doing Well

Rapid footsteps sounded from inside the house.

The door slammed shut with a bang.

Hannah Morse clicked her tongue lightly. "That kid is really guarded."

Marcus Lawrence frowned slightly.

When they entered the village, many villagers had stood at their doors watching them.

Their gazes turned particularly odd when they saw them heading towards the Watson house.

They huddled in small groups, whispering amongst themselves.

The distance was too great to make out their words.

But their expressions were full of suspicion and scrutiny.

The door opened again.

This time, it was Caleb.

He had heard his sister call out that classmates were here.

His first thought was Sophia Sullivan and the others.

He was so startled he dropped and broke a bowl.

Opening the door, he found it was indeed them.

"What are you all doing here?" Surprise flashed in his eyes.

It quickly turned to astonishment and worry.

The journey from the city to this village was long and arduous.

He knew exactly how difficult it was.

He didn't approve of them coming.

Because he felt he wasn't worth the trouble.

"Are you okay?" Sophia Sullivan looked him over.

All limbs present, spirit seemed alright.

But he only wore a thin cotton jacket in the bitter cold.

His hands were red and raw from the chill.

Not even a scarf around his neck.

Hannah Morse's eyes widened. "Aren't you cold?"

Caleb scratched his head. "Used to it."

He finally remembered to invite them inside.

The three of them entered the main room.

Caleb turned on the light.

So it had been dark before.

Sophia Sullivan glanced around.

An old rural tiled house.

One main room, three bedrooms.

The backyard connected to a kitchen.

Upstairs was a wooden loft for storing odds and ends.

"School started two weeks ago. Why haven't you returned?"

Sophia Sullivan's tone was serious. "Your phone is off. We thought something had happened to you."

Prolonged absence could lead to expulsion.

He was gambling with his future.

He should have at least called the school to explain.

"And Jude Granger. He hasn't returned either. Can't reach him. What's going on with you two?"

Caleb offered a bitter smile and was about to explain.

The little girl who opened the door earlier rushed out.

She spread her arms protectively in front of Caleb.

"Don't blame my brother! He has no choice!"

The girl was just over ten years old, but spoke clearly.

"Chloe Sullivan, they're my friends."

Caleb patted her head.

The girl then stepped aside, lowering her head to pick at her fingers.

"Sorry, I can't leave home. My phone broke."

Caleb's smile was strained.

"Don't your parents have phones? Is it hard to borrow theirs?" Hannah Morse asked bluntly.

It sounded harsh, but it was a fair point.

Caleb scratched his head awkwardly. "I... I don't remember your numbers…"

"What about Jude? His phone broke too?"

At the mention of Jude, Caleb's eyes dimmed.

"He's in the hospital. In a coma. Can't use a phone…"

"A coma?!" All three were shocked.

Sophia Sullivan: "What happened to him?"

"It involves both our families. It's…"

A cough came from one of the bedrooms.

Caleb suddenly remembered something. He turned and rushed into the kitchen.

"Please, sit. Chloe Sullivan, get some water."

Chloe Sullivan Watson brought three earthenware bowls and poured hot water.

Hannah Morse quickly waved her hands. "No need, really!"

Chloe Sullivan still poured a bowl for each of them.

Sophia Sullivan thanked her softly.

"Don't mention it. You're my brother's friends."

Chloe Sullivan pointed to a sofa in the corner. "Sit. I'll go check…"

She headed towards the kitchen.

Sophia Sullivan had noticed the smell of herbal medicine the moment she entered.

An earthenware pot sizzled over the fire.

Caleb used a cloth to hold the hot handle and poured out the medicine.

The scalding liquid was divided into three bowls.

This was his mother's medicine for the day.

Brewed together to save firewood, taken in three doses.

Caleb cleaned the pot of dregs.

He picked up one bowl of medicine and carried it through the main room into a bedroom.

"Mom—the medicine is ready. Time to drink it."

"Okay."

Hannah Morse couldn't help but follow to the doorway.

A frail, elderly woman lay on the bed.

Her hair was streaked with white, buried under a faded, thick quilt.

The air was thick with the bitter scent of herbs.

But it couldn't mask the stale, deathly stillness of the room.

Caleb carefully fed her the medicine.

He tended to her, wiping her mouth and hands.

He helped her lie back down and tucked the quilt tightly around her.

Only after finishing all this did he leave the room, closing the door behind him.

He turned to face the three in the main room.

And his sister, who was watching him anxiously.

In that moment, he felt a profound sense of helplessness.

He had so much to say, but didn't know where to begin.

Hannah Morse and Marcus Lawrence had never witnessed a scene like this.

They were both shocked and somber.

They tried to control their expressions, staying silent.

"I want to go back to school. But my mother's health is poor. I'll have to delay a while longer. I'll call the academic affairs office to explain. Please don't worry."

Sophia Sullivan felt there was more to the story.

"What about Jude? What really happened to him?"

"Jude, he…" Caleb paused, pain flickering across his face. "He got caught up in my family's troubles."

Caught up?

Caleb took a deep breath and began to explain slowly.