Page 48 of Shattering

"But I never kissed her. And I have never slept with her....or anyone else but you , Cadi. I swear to God."

Cadi said nothing.

Gray stepped closer, voice barely above a whisper.

"Now tell me, Cadi. Tell me what that conversation with Callum really meant."

Cadi stood frozen.

Then—

She laughed.

Soft at first, then louder—until the laughter morphed into sobs.

Her entire body shook, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

"If only you had come to me," she whispered. "Why didn't you justaskme, Gray?"

Gray stared at her, his own breath unsteady.

Cadi let out a shaky, humourless exhale, then reached into her pocket.

She pulled out her phone.

Dialled a number.

Lifted it to her ear.

"Callum," she said, her voice flat, exhausted.

A pause.

Then—"I think it's time for that chat."

Chapter 25

The wait felt interminable.

Cadi sat on the soft beige couch, her elbows resting on her knees, her head in her hands. The fire flickered in the single stone fireplace, casting shadows against the walls lined with books and plants.

Gray sat opposite her, his leg bouncing—a tell-tale sign of his fraying nerves. Every few minutes, he stole a glance at her, but she was lost in her own world, her fingers rubbing slow, mindless circles against her temples.

The silence was unbearable.

After a while, Gray let out a long breath, got up, and walked into the kitchen.

A moment later, she heard the clink of a mug as he placed it on the coffee table in front of her.

Cadi stared at the steaming cup of tea, her expression unreadable.

She didn't thank him, didn't acknowledge it—but she did wrap her fingers around the warmth, holding it between her hands like a lifeline.

Then came the knock at the door.

Gray and Cadi moved at the same time, but she got there first.

She pulled it open to find Callum standing in the doorway, looking nervous, his hair sticking out at odd angles, as though he had been running his hands through it the entire drive over.

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