Page 47 of Before I Say I Don’t

I paced slowly; dress trailing behind me.

“Now, Exhibit A—” I let the phone dangle in my hand, flipping to another screen.

“These late-night text threads between Angelo and Miss Taryn herself are clear as day, premeditated, intentional, and leaves no room for reasonable doubt.” I turned my eyes on Taryn, voice calm but cutting.

“Now, I would ask you to come take the stand but judging from the way you’re sitting there and how these messages read, you didn’t even know I existed—not before you got pregnant, anyway.

So unlike others , you weren’t plotting against me; you were just living in the dark like me.

So your trial isn’t about tearing down another woman.

You didn’t betray me. Nor did you owe me loyalty.

That man”—I nodded at Viangelo—“owed you the truth. And he didn’t give it to you… or me.”

Taryn’s mouth quivered. Her fingers twisted nervously at the hem of her dress and her shoulders folded in like she was trying to make herself invisible.

I softened my tone, though the mic still carried.

“Again, I’m not here to drag you. In fact, I’m here to give you some advice. Be careful who you date and who you let inside your life, your body, and your home. Because some men treat women like motels—just checking in and out whenever it suits them. That’s not love; that’s vacancy.”

The crowd erupted in snaps, claps, and a loud, “Whew!” from the auntie section.

I kept my tone steady, clinical. “So no, you’re not my enemy, Taryn. You’re just proof of his lies. And honestly? I wish you the best… truly. So since you’re innocent in all of this, we won’t spend too long on this case.”

Danica stepped forward, chin high, voice booming like a judge. “The court finds Taryn not guilty on all charges. Her sentence is a lifetime of better love, better choices, and better men. Case dismissed.”

The crowd applauded , some even shouted “Amen!” like they were in church.

I shifted my stance, pacing slowly like I was circling a witness stand. “Next case on the docket: Kamira vs. Zaria: Exhibit Ex —W h en On e Of Your Bridesmaids Is His Old Flame, ” I announced, voice ringing clear.

A low flutter of oohs skimmed the room.

“Her charge? Failure to disclose prior relations with the groom while smiling in the bride’s face and still carrying ex-girlfriend privileges.”

All eyes cut to Zaria, who smirked, unbothered. She tilted her chin at me, defiant and flawless, like she was about to testify with style.

“Zaria, we’ve never had a real conversation. ‘Mutual friends’ isn’t a biography. But I’m a big believer in clarity, so here’s mine. It took me longer than it should to realize you weren’t a guest here; you were a strategy.”

Her mouth tightened.

“Now, I’m not here to blame you for any man’s choices.

When women argue, people call it catty. When men coordinate, they call it a crew.

I’m uninterested in both. I’m building a table where loyalty is a chair you earn.

So, what I don’t get is how you’re so comfortable standing up here in satin, smiling for photos, holding flowers in my wedding…

knowing damn well you had previous relations with my fiancé.

Care to explain to the court why you thought that was acceptable behavior? ”

The room hummed—low gasps, whispered sidebars, and one lady fanning herself double-time.

Zaria snickered, head cocked. “Kamira, you really think I’m standing up here ‘cause I still want him? Or just to be messy?” She shook her head, eyes cool. “Trust me; this is way deeper than you think.”

My chest stilled. I paused, thrown for a beat.

“Deeper?” I echoed, eyebrows raised. “And exactly what do you mean by that?”

Zaria’s smirk faded into something sober. Her voice dropped low, almost pitying.

“Let’s just say, you got lucky.”

The crowd shifted—chairs creaked and whispers hissed.

I caught the way Viangelo’s head snapped toward her. His glare was razor-sharp, and his eyes screamed shut up.

Zaria caught it, too. She let her lips curve into the faintest, defiant smile and looked straight back at me.

I tightened my grip on the mic, scanning between them. My instincts as a lawyer itched—the kind of itch that said there was more under that testimony than what had just been said.

“Well,” Danica said, clearing her throat, “looks like we’ll take a recess on that one. Court will reconvene at a later date.”

Laughter bubbled in the aisles, nervous but real.

I turned, sharp to the next defendant.

“Case number three on the docket: Kamira vs. Kendall: Th e Cas e Of The Counterfeit Kinfolk. She’s being charged with being a fake sister-in-law who knew damn well her brother had a baby—hell, by her best friend —and still smiled in my face like she deserved a placement in this wedding.

But that’s not all. Kendall is also being charged with running her mouth to my so- called best friend, Jayla, talking about me like I wasn’t supposed to ever find out.

Newsflash: I always find out. And this evening, so does everybody else. ”

Kendall froze, bouquet slipping just slightly.

Danica handed me the remote. I pressed a button like a prosecutor about to drop the hammer.

The projector hummed to life, casting its glow across the wall.

Then— bam —the enlarged screenshots lit up behind me, every line of text, every heart emoji, every “lol” blown up in high-definition betrayal.

The room shifted; it felt less like a wedding and more like a courtroom, the evidence towering over us like closing arguments no one could escape.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury—Exhibit A! More phone receipts… different case.” I paced the aisle like it was the well of a courtroom.

“These are messages between Kendall and Jayla—clear evidence of them dragging my name through the mud, thinking their little side conversations would stay hidden.”

Somebody blurted, “Lord, she got the receipts blown up!”

I turned back to the guests, raising my phone one more time for emphasis. “Now, people in the back, if you squint, you can even see the little heart and laughing emojis. Evidence enough to convict in any courtroom.”

I shifted, fixing my eyes on Jayla and Kendall. “I’m sure you’re both wondering when I gathered this particular piece of evidence.” I tilted my head. “Does my bridal shower ring a bell?”

Both of their expressions held blank and confused looks.

I chuckled into the mic. “Let’s just say… you can’t leave your phone out in the open in too many places. There are some very curious, might even use the term nosy, people in this world…” I leaned forward, letting the crowd catch every word. “…me being one of them.”

Kendall’s mouth dropped open in realization, her hands trembling around her bouquet. Jayla covered her face, shaking her head as the guests recorded every second.

I leveled my gaze at Kendall. “So tell the court, Kendall—how do you plead?”

Kendall’s lips parted like she wanted to speak, but nothing came out. Her eyes darted toward Jayla, to Viangelo, then back to me.

I tilted the mic closer. “We’ll give you a moment to gather your defense… but make it quick. The jury’s patience is running thin.”

The silence stretched until her shoulders slumped and she finally spoke.

“Fine. I admit it. I knew!” Kendall looked right at me, then flicked her eyes toward Zaria. “And like she said… consider yourself one of the lucky ones, Kamira.”

Kendall just smirked; lips pressed together like she’d already said too much.

Viangelo glowered at her like, damn, you too?

Kendall lifted her chin, wearily. “So yes, I plead guilty—for putting family first all these years and keeping my mouth shut to protect mine.” Her eyes hardened. “Girl, you don’t even know half of it.”

Before I could cross-examine further, Danica stepped forward, hand raised like she had the gavel in her palm. Her voice was steady, commanding, and almost amused.

“The court thanks you for your testimony, Kendall. However, seeing as we have three more cases on the docket, we must move on.” She paused for effect, scanning the room like a real judge.

“Therefore, I sentence you to immediate removal from the bridesmaid line… and a lifetime of side-eyes at every family function.”

The audience hollered, even a whistle was heard. The energy in the room shifted like they were at a play, waiting for the next act.

“Alright, people,” I said, my lawyer voice back in full effect. “Next case on the docket…”

The crowd hushed, already bracing themselves.

“ Kamira vs. Jayla: The Case of the Best Friend Betrayal. ”

Gasps rolled through the room.

“Jayla,” I began, tone low but deadly, “you stand charged with betrayal in the first degree. Violation of Best Friend Code, Section One: Thou shalt not sleep with your friend’s man. ”

The crowd roared, and someone yelled, “Facts!” and folks laughed.

I didn’t crack a smile. I stepped closer.

“You’re guilty of possibly harboring a fetus that belongs to the defendant while wearing my bridesmaid dress.

You’re guilty of conspiracy to commit trifling, with intent to destroy friendship.

And most of all? Guilty of fraudulent sisterhood—posing as family while plotting as a foe. ”

Jayla’s eyes filled, tears sliding fast. “Kam, please?—”

I cut her off, voice sharp. “Save it! You pled guilty the second you let him touch you. And don’t cry now; crying won’t turn sin into sympathy.

” My voice dropped lower, no theatrics that time.

“Jayla, you were one of the people who knew the cracks in my heart and still chose to shatter it. The one who knew more about me than I sometimes knew about myself. And what did you do with all that access? All that trust? You went and slept with my fiancé. Not a stranger, not some random on the street— him. And you think that’s love?

No. That’s treason in the court of loyalty! ”

The audience murmured, chastising her openly.

“Damn shame!”

“Messy!”

“That’s low!”

“Unbelievable!”