She waited, breath held. Finally, Gabriel spoke. His voice was calm—too calm.
"Felicia…"
She straightened immediately. "Yes?"
"You've apologized several times today."
"I know… but I mean it."
Gabriel closed his eyes on his side of the line. "The problem isn't that you apologized." He paused for a long moment. "The problem is… I don't think you understand what you're apologizing for."
The words struck her harder than any physical blow. Felicia froze.
"I…"
"You still think this is about Elena. It isn't. You still think this is about your family. It isn't."
He drew a slow, steady breath.
"Our son… spent years being hurt. He came home carrying bruises. He was afraid to go to school. He cried himself to sleep. And neither of us saw it."
Silence filled both rooms like a living presence.
"I can forgive many things," Gabriel continued quietly, his voice cracking for the first time. "But I don't know how to forgive myself for failing him."
