Page 78 of Shattering

"Millions."

Her stomach twisted.

"I never wanted to touch it," Gray admitted, his voice quieter now. "I felt... using it meant accepting what they did. But Mam always told me it wasn't their money—it was hers. And she gave it to me, for when I needed it. And there is her house. She said I should use it when Tomos goes to uni or when we want to buy a house."

Cadi remained silent, letting him speak.

"I'd like to buy the house outright," Gray said, his voice steadier. "Put it in both our names. No mortgage, no stress. I know you worry about money. And I know..." He swallowed. "I know I can't fix what I've done overnight. But if I can make life even a little easier for you—for us—then I want to."

Cadi looked at him for a long time.

Finally, she sighed. "Let's talk about it later."

Gray nodded. "Alright."

Gray's fingers dug into his knees. "Cadi..."

She shook her head. "I don't know, Gray. I just don't know."

The fire crackled in the silence between them.

Cadi inhaled, steadying herself. "For now, I need space."

Gray's head snapped up. "What do you mean?"

She met his gaze, unwavering. "You're moving into the guest room."

Gray's jaw tightened. "Cadi, come on—"

"I need space, Gray," she repeated. "I need to breathe. I need to feel... like I can think without you hovering over me, waiting for answers I don't have yet."

Gray exhaled harshly, not happy but knowing better than to argue. "For how long?"

"I don't know."

His fists clenched briefly before he forced them to relax. He hated it. Hated every second of this conversation. But she was right.

So he nodded. "Alright."

Cadi looked at him for a long moment, then stood. Without another word, she turned and headed upstairs.

Gray stayed behind, staring at the flames in the wood burner, feeling like the floor beneath him had just shifted.

Chapter 37

Gray had taken extended leave from work after speaking with his GP. He hadn't wanted to—had fought against the idea of stepping back from surgery, even for a little while—but deep down, he knew he needed this. They all did.

He had attended his first session with Dr. Sloan that week and had been working with him ever since. It was hard. Harder than he had expected, digging through the past, unearthing things he had locked away so tightly they had begun to rot inside him.

But for once, he wasn't running from it

There were glimpses of light.

Session: The Past That Shaped Him

Gray sat across from Dr. Sloan, arms crossed, his jaw tight. The man was unflappable, watching him with quiet patience.

He looked nothing like the men from his past.

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