“Sandra. Please. I think we're past formalities." Sandra takes a shaky breath. "I came to apologize. And to tell you something you need to know."
The back door opens. Carlos enters, still covered in sawdust, his expression wary when he sees our visitor.
"What's going on?"
Jessica's voice is calm, but I can feel her tension through the bond. “Sandra was just about to tell us something."
Sandra's hands twist the tissue again. Shredding it. "Callum's been arrested."
The words drop into the room like stones.
Jessica's voice is barely above a whisper. "When?"
"A week ago. In New York." Sandra's eyes are wet. "There was a girl. An omega. She was at a bar near his apartment. He bought her drinks. She was barely conscious when he took her back to his place. The neighbors heard her screaming….” Her voice breaks. “Police came.”
My stomach turns. Clinical detachment fails me for a moment. I've treated rape victims. I know what that girl is facing. The physical trauma, and the long road to recovery.
Carlos makes a sound low in his throat. Jessica has gone pale. Her pulse is visible in her neck. Elevated heart rate. Stress response.
Jessica whispers. "The settlement letter. He wanted me to sign something saying he never hurt me. That our relationship was fine. That I left because I was confused, not because he was abusive."
Sandra's voice is flat. Statement, not question. "You didn't sign it."
"No. I shredded it." Jessica's hands curl into fists. "He was trying to build a defense. In case someone came forward."
Sandra's tears spill over. "Multiple someones. The police started investigating after they arrested him. They found other women. Incidents at parties. Spiked drinks. Aggressive behavior. Unwanted touching. Nothing that went to trial because my husband paid them off."
She chokes on the words.
Jessica's voice is hollow. "He made it go away."
Sandra's face crumples. "Yes. I didn't know the extent of it. I knew Callum had a temper."
Carlos's voice is hard. "That's not a temper. That's abuse."
Sandra looks at him. "I know that now. My son is a monster, and I helped create him."
She turns back to Jessica.
"You tried to tell me. At the rehearsal dinner, when you said you weren't sure about the wedding. I could see it in your eyes. You were terrified. And I told you it was just cold feet. That every bride feels nervous. I sent you back to him."
Jessica starts. "Mrs. Morrison..."
Sandra cuts her off. "I sent you back to a man who would have hurt you. And I did nothing."
The room is silent except for Sandra's quiet sobs.
Jessica stands slowly. Crosses to the couch. Sits beside Callum's mother.
Her words are soft. Simple. "I forgive you."
Sandra stares at her. "How? How can you possibly..."
"Because holding onto anger is exhausting." Jessica's voice is steady. "Because that girl in New York is getting justice, and that matters more than what happened to me."
"You deserved justice too."
Jessica glances back at me, at Carlos standing in the doorway. "I got something better. I got away. I got a pack that loves me."
