Page 90 of Shattering

Cadi sighed, shaking her head. "Whatever it is, just say it."

Regan's throat bobbed. "I'm sorry." She looked down, fingers twisting together. "I'm so sorry. I never meant for this to happen."

Cadi let out a slow breath, stepping away from the car. "I always saw you as my sister. Why did you do this?"

Regan let out a shaky laugh, one that held no humour. "Because I was jealous of you, Cadi. I always have been."

Cadi's brows furrowed. "Jealous?"

Regan swallowed hard. "You had everything. You were everything. Smart, capable, perfect. People liked you. Respected you."

Her voice grew more quiet. "And me? I was always the messy one. The one who got things wrong."

Cadi stared at her. "That's not true."

Regan huffed a short, humourless laugh. "You don't see it, do you?" Her gaze flickered, ashamed. "And then I thought you'd cheated on Gray. And for a moment... for a moment, it felt good. Like the mighty had fallen."

Cadi's expression did not change.

Regan's voice cracked. "But when I told Gray... it wasn't what I thought it would be. It wasn't satisfying. It just... made everything worse. And I kept trying to fix it, but the more I tried, the worse it got."

Cadi let out a slow, controlled breath.

She was furious.

She was tired.

And she wasn't going to pretend to forgive.

"Maybe I should thank you," she finally said, voice level. "Because of you, Gray and I are talking about things we should have talked about years ago."

Regan's lips parted, surprised.

"But don't mistake that for gratitude." Cadi's voice turned hard. "Because I can never trust you again. Ever."

Regan's eyes burned.

Cadi opened the driver's door. "I'm not ready to even look at you, let alone be civil."

She got in, shutting the door with a sharp finality.

And as she drove away, she didn't look back.

Chapter 42

Cadi drove home, half-listening to Tomos grumbling in the backseat.

"Didn't even get t'stay for five more minutes," he huffed, arms crossed.

Cadi hummed, giving him nothing.

Undeterred, Tomos leaned forward, spotting something ahead. "Ooh! The Red Balloon!" His voice perked up. "Can we stop? I want ice cream."

Cadi didn't even blink. "Ask your dad."

Tomos groaned dramatically, flopping back against his seat. "You never buy me anythin'."

Cadi bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling as she turned into their street.

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