Page 57 of Shattering

He looked desperate.

His beautiful storm-grey eyes were bloodshot, rimmed with red, reflecting a vulnerability she had never seen before.

"Please..." His voice cracked, a whisper rough with exhaustion, grief, and something else she couldn't quite name.

"Please don't leave me."

The words shattered something inside her.

She knew Gray didn't beg. Ever. Even as a small boy, he would rather suffer in silence than ask for help.

Gray and his mother had always been closed off about their past. It was like he was born a five year old boy. Cadi had tried to broach the subject before but it had always ended with Gray grabbing his keys and going for a ride. Then, he would pretend the conversation never happened. Over the years, she had tried to start a conversation about Callum many times. But Gray always found a reason to escape. For some reason, Gray had always been friendly but distant with Callum. Cadi regretted notexposing the secret the moment Callum told her. She had been four months pregnant at that time.

Little did she know how heavy the secret actually was.

Cadi hesitated for only a second before she placed her hand on his shoulder and pushed him back down onto the couch.

He collapsed into the cushions, his body slumping like he had been drained of all strength.

She turned and walked into the kitchen.

For a moment, she simply stood there, gripping the edge of the counter, trying to ground herself.

Then, she made a fresh cup of coffee and carried it back into the living room, placing it in front of him.

Gray hadn't moved.

His head was still bowed low, his shoulders shaking slightly.

"I must have hurt her so badly..." he whispered, his voice so low she almost didn't hear it.

Cadi sat down across from him, silent, letting him talk.

"Sometimes I hated her," he admitted, his voice raw, broken. "I thought she cheated on David. I thought—" he exhaled sharply, running his hands through his hair. "I thought I didn't have a proper family because of her. I thought he hit me because of her. I didn't know... I didn't realize..."

His breath hitched, and for the first time since this conversation began, tears slid down his face.

"Do you know I look exactly like Finn?" His voice cracked, and he pressed his palms against his eyes as if trying to push the tears back.

"More like him than his own son."

Cadi felt a sharp ache in her chest. If only she had forced the conversation between Callum and Gray instead of respecting Callum's wishes. If only Callum had told her the entire story instead of a conveniently small portion of the whole .

"It must have been excruciating," Gray whispered staring at nothing in particular, his eyes unfocused "Having to love a son who wore the face of her rapist."

He covered his face with his hands. A tear escaped through the gaps of his fingers, landing soundlessly on his joggers.

Cadi hesitated. Her eyes were wet with tears. She had never expected this.

She hated what he had done to them. Hated what he had accused her of. But she wasn't innocent either. The vague story Callum told her gave her the impression that there had been a misunderstanding between the half brothers which was never resolved. She never expected the actual truth would be so horrific.

She couldn't leave him like this.

Before they had been lovers, they had been the best of friends.

And before everything else, it had always been Gray and Cadi.

She shifted as if to move away, but Gray got onto his knees in front of her in one swift motion.

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