Chapter 18
EIGHTEEN
Cameron’s footsteps 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 choosing Sin.
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.”
I let out a broken laugh, I’m sure they were terrified, but I had too. I had to make my own way. If they wanted family unity they got it, just not in the way they imagined for me.
Bria continues, “He told me why I was really here. That you were marrying Zeik!” She cackles. “Sin would have fucking killed him, I think Cameron has literally lost his mind.”
“I know!” I sigh. “Sin told me last night, that’s why all of this happened.”
She smiles, “Yeah, he told me you didn’t know. I figured that wouldn’t have gone over well.” She shrieks, pulling me into a hug. “Well, we’re sisters now!”
The air smells like sweet flowers and broken promises.
This could have been for Sin and I, if my brother would have listened to me. My chest aches as I walk through the space.
Axle barrels towards Sin. “Hey boy.” Sin coos, petting his soft fir. His left hand is ringless, and I make a note to go out with Bria later to choose the perfect onyx ring for him.
I don’t know what I’m doing here, but this is my family home, although this will be awkward, I need to see my mother.
Axle stays close to Sin’s side, wagging his tail happily. He doesn’t care about the heavy stares of the staff or the tension curling through the air.
Sin’s fingers press against my back. “Ignore them.”
Easy for him to say.
Bria walks beside me, arms crossed. “What are we doing?”
“I don’t know.” I admit. “I need to see my mom, and Zeik.”
The thought of facing him now, of seeing whatever judgment lingers in his eyes, makes my pulse spike.
Sin must sense my hesitation because his fingers press slightly against my back. “He won’t be a problem.”
“We don’t know how he feels with any of this.” I say.
Bria nods, “He just got here right before you two did.”
Sin cracks his knuckles. “I can make him leave.”
I nod toward the stairs, “That is exactly why I’m going to talk to him on my own. I’m going to pack first.”
“Want me to come?” Bria and Sin say in unison.
“No, let me do this on my own.”
I swallow hard, leaving them behind.
I haven’t seen Zeik since this all came to light, before I burned my bridges with my family. But who could blame me? I wasn’t even aware I would be someone’s wife today.
My suitcase is half-zipped, clothes stuffed inside without care. I don’t bother folding anymore. My hands shake too badly anyway. Every second I spend here feels like I’m suffocating, the walls pressing in tighter, the flowers being strung up downstairs like a noose around my neck.
I drag the zipper closed, grab my coat, and slip into the hall.
That’s when I see him.
Zeik.
He’s at the far end, framed by the tall windows that overlook the gardens. His posture is sharp but heavy, hands shoved into his pockets, shoulders drawn tight like he’s holding the world on his back. The morning light through the glass paints him in pale gold, but his face is unreadable.
For a moment, I consider walking the other way. Pretending I didn’t see him. But my feet betray me, carrying me forward, the soft click of my heels breaking the silence. This needs to happen.
His head turns slightly when he hears me. His eyes fall to the suitcase at my side, then linger on the ring glittering on my finger. Something flickers in his expression, gone too fast for me to name.
“You’re leaving,” he says. Not a question. A fact.
“I am.” My voice doesn’t waver, though my stomach twists.
Zeik looks back out at the gardens, exhaling slowly. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this.”
I grip the handle of my suitcase tighter. “You mean me finding out I was just some pawn in another one of Cameron’s schemes?”
His jaw tightens. “You think I wanted this? You think I wanted to trap you?” His voice is low, controlled, but it’s fraying at the edges.
I cross my arms, lifting my chin. “Didn’t you?”
His gaze snaps to mine, sharp and dark. “No. This wasn’t me, Magnolia. This was Cameron. He came to me. He said if we didn’t unite, the Russians would bleed us both dry. He swore binding our families through you was the only way to keep you safe. My parents agreed and that was that.”
Safe. The word cuts through me like glass.
“And you agreed,” I whisper. “Without asking me. Without even giving me a choice.”
Zeik looks away, jaw working, shoulders tense.
“What choice did I have? The Russians don’t care about your name or mine.
They’ll burn through everything, and Cameron, he thought this was the only way to hold the line.
You act like I have choices in this world, we’re not that different, Magnolia. I didn’t want to betray Sin either.”
I shake my head, anger and disbelief tangling in my chest. “You both decided my life without me in the room. You thought you were protecting me, but you were just locking me in a cage.”
Silence stretches between us, thick and heavy.
Finally, Zeik’s voice drops, barely audible. “Maybe. But I never wanted to hurt you. My parents will be here soon,” he looks down at my suitcase, a frown teetering his lips. “I won’t let this fall on you.”
I clutch my suitcase tighter, the ring on my finger burning like fire. “You already did.”
And with that, I step past him. “This won’t end like you think it will.” Zeik warns, shaking his head.