Yk what would make this chapter better?
If in previous chapters, we saw the mc play with Caleb.
If in previous chapters, we saw her getting hurt in his game-hell, show me a bruise or scratch that came after the game if you don't have pages to spare showing the game.
If in previous chapters, we saw him dragging her away like some sort of villain.
But we don't.
We only see her brush off his invitations to come play every time and ostracize his effort, even when they're the kindest out of the three.
We only see her complain about how she would get hurt in the her first life, but is never specific nor can we get a flashback to show what happened.
We only see her play mind games with him whenever they have a chance to interact, and lead him around by his noes like a puppy.
Caleb, or Cabel, isn't perfect. He's a kid and they can be monsters. But the mc is not innocent.
What would make this chapter better is making it consistent with the rest of story. Either by actually showing why playing with Caleb is such a big no no or by letting the mc admit that she wants nothing to do with him. No need to play both fields and say "oh, but she does engage with him" when she clearly doesn't.
But as I keep reading, I get the feeling that the story doesn't want to be without an excuse. That it just throws information in at the last minute to cover its ass.