The Altar, The Lies, His Penance

Housto

nd the lucrative alliance, barely batted an eyelash before turning to me. "You'll do i

a fiancé I had secretly yearned for my entire life. It felt like a cruel joke, a twisted fairy

wap, or chose to ignore it. Except for Carter. He knew. I could see i

long. Carter' s family, prim and proper, maintained polite smiles. Carter himself was a ghost, barely speakin

n the terrace, bathed in moonlight. My conscience, a litt

ds catching in my throat. "If you don't... If you don't want this, I understand. I don't want to trap you. I don't want t

me, truly looked at me, for the first time since the engag

honor it. I will marry you." He took a small step closer, and my b

known existed. My heart, a small bird in a cage, fluttered wildly. Marriage. The word, once so distant, n

my tongue, but I couldn't push them out. Fear, or perha

of his skin sent a jolt through me. For a fleeting second, I was transported back to t

e would never betray me. I clung to that conviction, forgetting that my

al arrangements. I chose every detail, my heart stirring with a h

like a hurricane, her usually immaculate hair disheveled, a bruise blooming on h

he ran a hand over the shimmering fabric, her eyes hard. Then she spotted the delicate,

eered, her voice dripping with disdain. "First my fiancé

apped. "He was never yours, Camilla," I spat, my voice shaking. "You threw

r. You think you' ve won? You think you can keep anything that truly belongs to me?" He

The sound echoed in the silent room. A red welt bloomed

Then, a theatrical wail tore from

ck and fury. My mother rushed to Camilla, cradling her as if she

tting. He stopped dead in the doorway, his gaze fixed on Camilla, sobbing d

rs stiffened. His face drained of color. He moved, not toward

e low, a tremor running through it.

rade, painting me as the aggressor, the jealous sister. Camilla, sen

ncern. He reached for Camilla, pulling her into his arms. "Who d

milla whimpered, buryin

' ll report this. She'll pay." The words were cold, cutting, aim

d against his shoulder, he didn't even acknowledge my existence. I stood there, bathed in the harsh glare of the