Chapter 22

The fact that Victor had Caleb read to Marcus was no secret among the correctional officers.

Marcus got to start work half an hour later every day, and some correctional officers even brought his strawberry jam to the mailroom—all because of the warden's favor.

Though some inmates knew about this arrangement, they were not many. Caleb deliberately mentioned in the library that Marcus was under Victor's protection. He did it so Princess would know it would be best not to cross Marcus.

However, information often got distorted, and people always enjoyed a juicier story.

As the gossip spread, even those who originally knew the truth began to believe that there was indeed an unspoken deal between Caleb and Marcus. For example, some said Caleb was interested in Marcus' body and had promised to keep him safe in exchange for sleeping with him.

"Do you know what the inmates are saying about you?"

When Hector called Caleb into the infirmary, Caleb had initially thought it was just for a casual chat and a smoke. But as soon as he walked in, Hector started lecturing him.

"Princess taking an interest in Marcus only means that Marcus had bad luck. There's no reason for you to get involved."

Caleb wasn't interested in Hector's words. He walked over to the small balcony, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it.

As he exhaled a plume of smoke, he muttered, "So Marcus running into me must mean he's lucky."

"Hey, Officer Johnson." A head poked out from behind the computer. "Is it true that you're interested in Marcus?"

If Lucas hadn't passed the gossip along to Hector, Hector wouldn't have known that Caleb had publicly supported Marcus in the library.

"Why are you here again?" Caleb asked.

Usually, Hector would bring up such matters directly in the library. So, when Caleb was called to the infirmary, he assumed it was just an invitation to smoke and chat. He hadn't realized that Lucas was there, and Hector had to stay in the infirmary to keep an eye on him.

"I've got a migraine," Lucas said with a grin, "Just came for some medicine."

He didn't look like he had a migraine at all. Clearly, he was using it as an excuse to hang around the infirmary.

Caleb didn't respond further but turned his gaze towards the window, trying to brush off the topic of Marcus. However, Hector wasn't going to let him off the hook. So, he pressed on, following Lucas's lead.

"Is it true that you're interested in him?"

"Absolutely not," Caleb said, feeling frustrated.

He could explain to Hector that Marcus was being wrongly accused, but at this point, Hector would likely think he was being stubborn or irrational.

Caleb could also detail the whole situation—how Marcus was his neighbor, how he had seen a black-clad figure attack Marcus, how William had appeared, and so on.

But explaining all that would take a lot of effort, and since he hadn't mentioned Marcus being his neighbor from the beginning, he missed the best chance to be honest. If he started explaining now, Hector would only focus on why Caleb hadn't said anything sooner and would suspect he was hiding something.

As for why Caleb didn't speak up earlier, it was simple—Marcus was his secret voyeuristic interest. Naturally, he didn't want to reveal the connection between them.

"You're acting pretty suspicious, Office Johnson," Lucas said, his fingers tapping away at the keyboard as he looked at Caleb. "You're not really that easy, are you?"

"Easy? What are you talking about?" Caleb asked, puzzled.

"Lucas said there was a vote among the inmates," Hector said, taking over from Lucas. "And according to the results, you're the most desired correctional officer among them."

Caleb was speechless.

"They're even calling you a man-whore," Lucas added. "Apparently, anyone with a bit of charm can get in your pants."

Caleb hadn't expected that helping Marcus would lead to such gossip. It was as if his simple act of assistance had turned him into the subject of outrageous rumors.

What was this—some kind of pent-up frustration being unleashed?

Caleb had heard such rumors about himself before—that he was a lewd man who slept with anyone he wanted.

It was a common type of gossip, akin to how a beautiful single woman might be the target of lewd and baseless stories. The inmates lacked any moral boundaries, so they would fabricate tales about Caleb to fit their fantasies.

But Caleb wasn't that kind of person. Those who tried to take advantage of him had ended up with regrets, and the rumors faded away as time passed.

However, Caleb's special treatment of Marcus seemed to have rekindled the old gossip. It was as if the repressed had found their "evidence", and the once-dormant rumors were circulating again, with added credibility.

"You can believe them if you like," Caleb said, taking a drag on his cigarette and speaking nonchalantly to Lucas.

"I'd rather trust your word," Lucas replied, giving Caleb a mock salute before resuming his furious typing.

"Why are you doing this?" Hector asked Caleb. "It wasn't even your business. Why stick your neck out for Marcus?"

"Just a moment of madness," Caleb said.

He wasn't brushing off Hector's words. When Caleb looked back, he realized he had been a bit hot-headed. Seeing Princess constantly clinging to Marcus really got under his skin.

"You're definitely not acting like yourself," Hector said, crossing his arms and sighing. "Is it because you've been single for too long? Maybe I should introduce you to a tennis coach?"

True to form, Hector, Caleb's former lover, had a knack for hitting the mark. The lawyer from the previous blind date was competent. This time, a tennis coach would have the physique Caleb found appealing.

It was clear Hector knew exactly what kind of person Caleb was interested in.

"Have you taken up matchmaking?" Caleb said flatly. "You're more annoying than my relatives."

"Do your relatives understand your preferences as well as I do?" Hector replied.

Caleb knew Hector was concerned and didn't want him to go astray, but he really didn't need Hector to worry about him. Compared to Hector, Lucas was the one who caused more headaches.

Thinking of this, Caleb motioned toward Lucas and asked, "What's he doing over there? Why is he pounding on the keyboard so furiously?"

The infirmary was filled with the keyboard clatter. Hector seemed to just realize what was happening, and he walked over to Lucas.

He grabbed Lucas by the scruff of his neck and asked, "What trouble are you causing now?"

"I'm not causing any trouble," Lucas said, stretching his arms to reach the keyboard. "I'm about to succeed!"

"Succeed at what?" Caleb asked, extinguishing his cigarette and walking over with curiosity.

"I traced the Chess Wizard's IP address, and it's located in our city," Lucas said excitedly. "Give me a little more time, and I can pinpoint his exact location!"

"Are you just bored out of your mind? Even if you find him, what then? You're in prison. Do you really expect your idol to come visit you?" Hector said with a sigh.

"This isn't just about me!" Lucas said passionately. "Something must have happened to the Chess Wizard. His latest IP is different from his previous ones. If I find out where he is, I can hand over the follow-up to others on the forum."

"Follow-up?" Hector slapped Lucas on the back of the head and turned off the computer monitor. "Just serve your time and stop causing trouble."

Lucas rubbed his head and pouted. "You're so merciless, Dr. Lewis."

"I could be even worse. Want to try?" Hector said.

Lucas fell silent, his eyes filled with protest.

Caleb once again felt a bit out of place. After exchanging a few more words with Hector, he returned to the library.

-

That afternoon, Princess came to the library again.

Caleb thought that after hearing his comment about Marcus being under Victor's protection, Princess would back off and stop bothering Marcus.

However, Princess did indeed restrain himself somewhat. He no longer called Marcus "cutie" in that cutesy manner. Instead, he looked at Caleb with a provocative gaze.

His expression seemed to say: "Your man looks so appealing. Let me have a taste too."

Since Princess wasn't disturbing others, Caleb found it difficult to reprimand him. Moreover, with the rumors about him and Marcus spreading throughout the prison, Caleb felt it was best not to have Marcus sit beside him again.

He stared back with a blank expression. Then, Princess stuck out his tongue and mimed the act of licking Marcus' face from a distance, all the while keeping his gaze fixed on Caleb.

Marcus kept his eyes fixed on the comic book in his hands, his brow furrowed and his face filled with irritation. It was clear he had noticed Princess's disruptive presence.

Caleb's frustration grew with every passing moment. Just as he was about to speak up and stop Princess, Marcus, who had been silent until now, suddenly stood up and said, "Come outside with me for a bit."

Princess raised an eyebrow in surprise, his eyes quickly lighting up with interest.

Caleb immediately realized that Marcus intended to handle Princess himself.

But how would he do it?

The young thug who Samuel had beaten up had already been sent to an external hospital. Caleb shuddered to think what Samuel might do if Marcus were to confront Princess physically.

Marcus and Princess left the library through the front door, and Marcus headed directly toward the recreation room.

Caleb quickly accessed the recreation room's surveillance footage and put on his wireless earbuds. He saw a few inmates playing cards inside the room. But as soon as they noticed Marcus and Princess, they moved aside and made a point not to eavesdrop at the door.

"What exactly do you want?" Marcus faced the camera, and Caleb could see the impatience on his face.

"What do you think?" Princess approached Marcus and placed a hand on his chest. "Let me have a taste of you."

Caleb clenched the mouse tightly, struggling to suppress his rising anger.

Even though Marcus wasn't exactly a close acquaintance—barely more than an acquaintance, really—Caleb had made it clear that he was looking out for him. Yet, seeing Princess so brazenly flirt with Marcus showed just how little he seemed to care about Caleb's warning.

Caleb expected Marcus to push Princess away. But what happened next on the screen shocked him.

Marcus tilted his chin downward, his eyes half-closed as he said to Princess, "Fine, go ahead."

Princess giggled and crouched down in front of Marcus.

Caleb's eyes widened in disbelief, his breath nearly catching in his throat. Just then, Marcus suddenly looked up and stared directly at the camera.

Through the screen, he mouthed the words, "Come here."

Caleb's heart tightened painfully. For the first time in his life, he realized how terrifying it was to be caught spying on someone.