Page 30 of Shattering

Tomos blinked up at her. "He's not going' anywhere?"

Cadi forced a small, reassuring smile, her chest aching.

"No, sweetheart. He's not going anywhere."(She hoped.)

Tomos yawned and nuzzled into his blanket, his little hands clutching the fabric tightly, his breathing slowing as sleep finally took him.

Cadi stayed for a few minutes, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest, before she finally pulled away and stepped quietly out of the room.

She walked down the stairs, feeling heavier with every step.

Callum was sitting in the dimly lit sitting room, a book in one hand, a cup of tea resting on the side table.

He barely glanced up as she entered, but as soon as he took in her expression, he set his book down and wordlessly disappeared into the kitchen.

When he came back, he placed a steaming mug of tea in her hands.

"You should eat something."

Cadi didn't argue, but she didn't eat either. She just held the cup with both hands, her palms like ice despite the warmth of the house.

Callum waited patiently, his hazel eyes steady, his presence grounding in a way she hadn't realized she needed.

Then, finally, she spoke.

"Callum..." Her voice cracked. "I didn't believe it. Not really."

Callum's expression didn't change, but his throat worked like he was bracing for what came next.

"...until I heard it from him."

The words felt like glass shards in her throat, and then it happened.

The floodgates broke.

She sobbed, ugly, wracking sobs that she had held back for too long, her shoulders shaking, her breath coming out in gasps.

Callum didn't say a word.

He just let her fall apart, piece by piece.

And in between those fractured, uneven breaths, the story came out—in bits and pieces.

The accusations.

The confrontation.

The things Gray had said.

"I am going to need a lawyer." Cadi's voice was grim. "I'm taking Tomos for a DNA test tomorrow. Gray can arrange it."

She let out a short, humourless laugh, wiping at her swollen eyes.

"He thinks Tomos is yours."

Callum stiffened.

A beat of silence stretched between them.

---