Page 74 of Betrayed By Sin

I can’t. The words die in my throat. The silence stretches, suffocating.

Bria closes her eyes, exhaling softly, relief washing over her face.

Cameron, on the other hand, laughs. Sharp. Bitter. Filled with something I can’t place.

“Of course you did.” He shakes his head, running a hand through his hair. “Of fucking course you did.”

I take a hesitant step forward. “Cameron…”

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” His voice rises, anger finally cracking his calm mask. “Do you have any clue what this means?”

My chest tightens. “I did what I had to do.”

“No. You did what hewantedyou to do and that, my dear sister, is what is going to get you hurt.” His gaze snaps to Sin, burning with fury.

“You manipulated her,” he spits.

Sin steps forward, expression deadly calm. “She made her own choice.”

Cameron’s jaw ticks. “No. You backed her into a corner and convinced her this was the only way out.” He exhales sharply,turning back to me. “You think this is freedom, Magnolia? Tying yourself tohim?”

I lift my chin, chest swelling with stubborn certainty. “It’s my choice.”

Pain flickers across his face. “And you chose him.”

I don’t answer. We both already know.

Cameron exhales, dragging a hand down his face. When he speaks again, his voice is low, almost defeated:

“This was a mistake.”

The words slice through me, precise and cold. He turns to leave.

“Cameron, wait!” Panic bursts from me, voice cracking. I don’t want to lose him, to lose my family.

He pauses at the top of the stairs, doesn’t turn.

“You made your choice, Magnolia. Now live with it.”

EIGHTEEN

Cameron’sfootsteps fade into the distance, but his words stay behind, echoing in my chest.

You made your choice, Magnolia. Now live with it.

My throat tightens.

It shouldn’t hurt.I knew this would happen.I knew Cameron would never accept me choosingSin.

But knowing doesn’t make it easier.

The second he disappears into the house,swallowed by the throngs of people decorating, the weight of everything crashes down on me.

“I cannot fucking believe…” Bria walks to me, lifting my hand delicately to study the ring. “You got married without me.”

I smile, “We will have a big wedding, we just had to rush it because of this.” I gesture around to the workers buzzing on the property.

“Oh my God, I couldn’t believe it. Cameron called me this morning, said it was urgent that I get here, that you needed me today. I rushed over and went to wake you up, but the bed was empty and Cam about lost his shit.”