His Ninety-Nine Betrayals, My Freedom

ing 99 times for my manipulative sister. For our 100

to cancel again. But this time, he thre

to marry my sister-a "temporary" arrangement

come back to me. I was his "

it, slapping me when I

a proper wife

eholder, my life put on hold for

d volunteered for a three-year, off-the-grid assignment.

pte

tponement - Urgent." My gaze flickered to the date-our wedding day, now just two weeks away. It wasn't ju

dundancies, no backup systems for dreams. There was just a tradition, a "tight-knit unit" rule th

estament to their brotherhood. For me

ow furrowed with concern. He knew the drill. Everyone at the facility knew the drill. My e

in my mouth. "Just another glitch in the system,

ced. "Seriously, Rigg

-nine times, the reason had been Kendall. My older sister, Kendall, a master manipulator who wiel

ack that required her to be hospitalized just days before the ceremony. A sudden, debilitating bout of depression tha

fell for it. Every single time. He saw himself as her savior, her protector, a noble knigh

g with a resolve I hadn't known I possessed. "We are getting married on the first o

at familiar, weary concern that always signaled troub

I had downplayed my own needs, my own hopes, to appease Kendall, to a

ndall's 'fragility' any longer," I' d stated, the words tasti

iced through my resolve. "Don't be dramatic, Ames. Of c

tood the years I' d wasted, the dreams deferred, all because he prioritized Kendall' s manufactured crises over my actua

loped a sudden, severe allergy to the venue's flowers. Postponed. The following fall, her new boyfriend, an aspiring musician, unexpectedly moved to Nashville, sendin

d, my dress hanging in the closet, a white shroud of broken promises. I had dared to hope this time. Real

ame th

physical ailment, not for an accident, but for "emotional distress." Her latest bo

t was Bryce. I kne

news for me, good news for Kendall. "Kendall's in the ER again. She's inconsolable.

a whisper. "What about fair to me, Bryce? What about all the pr

elie, you know I love you. But Kendall needs me. She's th

what then, Bryce?" The question hung in

tain values. If you're going to make this difficult, if you're going to put your personal desires above family responsibility, I'm af

ther delay, to cater to Kendall's latest performance. The air left my lungs in a painfu

y. It wasn't about his duty. It was about control. His control over me. He believed I w

r. They were talking about Kendall, and an exclusive psychiatrist-a family friend of the Hunters-who only took on patients who were married to someone within their trusted circle. And then, Bryc

ccess to a therapist. And then he would divo

ying our wedding; he was planning to marry my sister to solve her problems, with the full intention of re

y shock, laced with impatience. "Are

tasted like freedom, b

steady, devoid of the tremor I expected. "The engag

d by a sputtering protest. "Amelie, you can't be seri

my voice unwavering. "There'

final, definitive. The wedding was

eering for the three-year assignment," I stated, my voice echoing wi

lled again. His voice was frantic, desperate. "Amelie, please. Don't do this. My unit, they're al

e flat. My heart felt hollowed out, but strangely light

es? What about your security cl

m off, my voice chillingly calm. "And it didn't

his is hard for you. But... Kendall really needs me. She's been asking for you too. Says she feels aba

e villain. My own sister's distress, a carefully orchestrated performance, was still his primary concern. T

e around with Kendall, supposedly 'helping' her, what will people say about me? Tha

would think that. I'd make sure... I'd make sure everyone understood

boiled, a searing heat that quickly turned to ice. My hands clenched at my sides. I wanted to scream. I wanted to tell him ever

weight of his expectations, my family's demands, Kendall's endless needs. It was suffocating. I had spent so long trying to make them hap

my ambitions, saying, "Why bother, Amelie? Kendall needs more attention. Your work is just a hobby. Focus on being a g

id of emotion. "Let you play the hero for Kendall, and then, whenever you de

a soothing tone. "Protect you. You know I always want t

nding, my sacrifice. Never his. Never Kendall's. Never my parents'. It was alway

." It wasn't a question, it was a statement of fact. I knew then, with absolute ce

mean?" he demanded, his v

isper of defiance. "I'll go to the project. And you can do wha

knew you'd understand. This is for the best. You'll see. We'll get through t

h churned. Pick up right where we left off? As if I was a book he could sim

l, Bryce." My voice was laced with a venomous sarcasm he was too self-absor

eved I would