My Brother's Betrayal, My Lover's Lies

ra Hoff

tact that made my stomach clench. Then, with a curt nod to Hanson and a dismissive glance at me, he muttered, "I' m heading

dn' t get away fast enough. The air he left behind felt thin, poisoned. Something was terribly wrong. My gut screamed at me. Jaxon, usually so

y mind. He knew something. He was hiding something. The question wasn't if, but what. And with whom. The image of

d to know. I had to see. I had to confirm the horrifying suspicion that was now screaming in my head

desperate, terrifying thought formed. I needed to follow him. I needed to see where

d. "Sarah, have you seen Jaxon? He just left," I asked, trying to k

st told me he had an urgent business matter to attend to. Said he'd be back late

own my spine. Urgent business? When the rehearsal dinner was just hours away? His dismissal had been too quick, too

It was shock. A premonition of despair. The air felt thick, suffocating. I pressed a hand to my mouth, trying to stifle the r

hing darkness. I needed to be strong. I needed to see for myself. Dou

lickering lights, the hushed silence of the underground parking lot-it all contributed to a growing sense of dread. Each

sound I recognized, a sound of raw, uninhibited passion. My breath caught in my throat. It w

e pillar, my eyes scanning the rows of parked cars. And then I saw it. Jaxon' s black SUV. The

ld sha

My hands flew to my mouth, trying to hold back the scream that threatened to erupt. But

axon, his face contorted in an expression of raw lust, his hands tangled in her hair. It was a scene of utter, brutal betr

"Jaxon, darling, are you sure about this? Marrying Hanson? What

Karla. You know Hanson's just a means to an end. It's always bee

Not just for Karla, but for Hanson, for his entire family. And for me. Wh

, and I crumpled behind the pillar, tears streaming down my face. My breath came

nights, the sudden business trips. All the excuses. They were never about work. They were abo

ned by this horrifying revelation. He had looked me in the eye, told me he loved me, while secretly building a life with another

ice, a little strained, a little rough. "We need to be careful, K

No one will suspect a thing. Especially not poor, clueless Alex. She' s too

er me. Clueless Alex. That was m

. "No. You need to end things with Hanson after the weddi

se years? I've given you everything. I've waited for you. Are you just going to throw me away

He reached out, gently stroking her cheek. The si

risky. We need a clean break." His voice was laced with a tenderness

t a fling. This was a parallel life he had built, a secret world he had shared with her, my

embling fingers, hitting the concrete floor

my hiding spot. Karla gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Their

s a ragged whisper, a mi

enying it now. No hiding. The raw, ugly truth was laid

d bolted. Out of the parking lot, towards the main exit, away from their horrified faces,