Chapter 48
The evening was quiet, the soft hum of the music from the radio filling the kitchen as Cadi wiped down the counters and Gray loaded the dishwasher.
It had become a routine, something small but steady, a rhythm they had fallen into.
Gray was telling Cadi of the day's events "And so, I had to go to Burton with the tape and get my manager and the anaesthesia lead involved."
Cadi paused, looking over her shoulder. "He actually let you off for recording Vanessa?"
Gray nodded, placing a plate onto the rack. "Aye. Thought it was best to escalate it. Ya know the rules about recordin' conversations with colleagues, but since she threatened me—and my family—he said this was different."
He shut the dishwasher door with a quiet click, wiping his hands on a towel before turning to face her.
"He let me borrow it for the night, so you could hear it. Unofficially. I have to return it tomorrow."
Cadi turned off the tap, drying her hands carefully before taking the dictaphone Gray handed her.
She pressed play.
Vanessa's voice filled the room—low, silky, full of venom.
"You know that. And I know that. But will Cadi believe it? The woman is always right. Just a small allegation of sexual misconduct and boom—there goes your life, Gray."
Cadi's jaw clenched.
Then, without hesitation, she hissed, "That bitch. I wish I could smack her stupid face."
Gray leaned against the counter. "Aye. Get in line."
Cadi shook her head. "She always seemed so sane."
Gray chuckled darkly. "She's off her rocker, that's for sure."
Cadi exhaled sharply, pressing stop on the recording. Hearing it out loud made it real. How easily Vanessa could have ruined their lives. A stain like that does not wash away.
She turned back to him, crossing her arms. "And since we're talkin' about Vanessa... why exactly did you tell one of the board members that she was best for the diversity post? I know you are entitled to your professional opinions...but not in this. I am your wife. Who does that?"
Gray let out a deep sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Regan again?"
Cadi narrowed her eyes. "Of course."
Gray crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "She should have told you the whole conversation."
Cadi raised a brow. "Go on."
Gray exhaled. "It started with, 'Your wife is up for the role,' to which I told him that ye would be the best at it."
Cadi's lips twitched slightly, but she stayed silent.
Gray continued, "Then he asked a leading question about Vanessa, to which I gave him a diplomatic answer—'Yes, Vanessa is also very good.'" He held her gaze, his voice calm but firm. "I couldn't just say, 'Choose my wife and only my wife.' It would have been weird. And ye know I'd never interfere with somethin' like that. I would never do that to you professionally."
Cadi let out a breath, tension easing from her shoulders. "Well... I'm still glad I didn't take it."
Gray tilted his head. "Ye would have made an amazin' diversity lead."
Cadi folded the dishtowel. "I'll just work behind the scenes."
Gray arched a brow as he reached for the next plate. "Ye're too brilliant to be in the background, a ghrá."
Cadi rolled her eyes, and put on a long-suffering expression. "I just can't take the stress. I think you're enough stress and melodrama for the both of us."
Gray let out a mock gasp, placing a hand over his chest. "Excuse me? I am a very low-maintenance husband."
Cadi snorted. "Sure, Gray. Whatever helps you sleep at night."
Gray watched her carefully before reaching for her hand. "Come sit with me."
She raised an eyebrow. "We've got dishes to finish."
He ignored that completely, tugging her gently toward the sofa. "Sit. The dishes can wait."
She sighed, allowing him to pull her down beside him.
Gray turned, face serious now. "I feel like we're not movin' forward, Cadi. Be straight with me—what's the problem?"
Cadi just looked down at her hands.
Gently, like she was made of the finest gossamer, Gray took her hand in his.
His fingers flexed on her hand, his eyes searching hers. "Ya know I'm have the emotional intelligence of a five year old. I wish I could read yer mind and make everything alright, ya know. Wipe the board clean." His voice dropped, rough and serrated. "But I can't. So ya need to tell me."
Cadi exhaled slowly. "I'm worried about being helpless again."
She stared at him for a moment, then hesitated before saying "I'm struggling with trust."
Gray's chest ached that he had put that note in her voice, but before he could say anything, she added, "But let's be honest—you must be as well, with what I hid from you."
Gray studied her, then nodded slowly. "Maybe just a little. But ya didn't know the whole story."
She continued, voice carefully even. "You lost control, Gray. You let your jealousy, your insecurity, your pride—everything—turn you into someone I didn't recognize. And what scares me is... what stops it from happening again?"
Gray's chest ached at the weight of her words, but before he could answer, she added, "And why didn't you ever tell me she was flirting with you?"
Gray let out a long breath, running a hand through his hair. "I ignored it. Frankly, she wasn't the only one. I just made sure everyone knew I was married. Thought that'd be enough to keep them off."
He ran a hand through his hair, his voice quieter this time. "I should've told ye sooner. About Vanessa. About all of it."
Cadi swallowed. "Yeah. You should have."
Gray nodded, accepting it. "I thought if I ignored it, it'd go away. That if I kept me head down, kept wearin' my ring, people would back off. But ye were right—it wasn't enough."
Cadi's eyes darkened. "It wasn't."
He grimaced. "No, it wasn't. Usin' her to make ye jealous was a stupid, reckless mistake. I lost me fuckin' mind. If I could go back, I'd kick me own arse for it."
Cadi crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "And why? What were you trying to prove?"
Gray let out a humourless chuckle, shaking his head. "That I mattered to ya as much as ya mattered to me."