Chapter 87

Cassandra’s adoptive father sank into the stiff-backed chair, his shoulders heavy under the weight of grief. His eyes, rimmed with red, met Thomas’s steady gaze for a moment before his lips curved into a sad, weary smile. “We know what happened,” he began, voice low and trembling, “and it was excruciating for all of us.” He paused, swallowed. “That’s why my wife—” He corrected himself with a wry gesture. “My husband can’t bring himself to forgive Cassandra. The anger he harbors… it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Please forgive my wife’s blindness in this.” He rubbed his temples as if to ward off a headache. “When we went to see Cassandra earlier, we didn’t mean to start any trouble. We only showed her the video we received—hoping, rather naively, that she might recognize the sender. We didn’t want that ugly footage to get out, to fuel public derision over what was done to our daughter. In our minds, we meant no harm. But the moment she saw it, she just… broke down.” He paused, th