Brandon watched through the one–way glass, trapped and helpless, as Jaxon pres
pressed d me back onto the sheets, claiming every inch of me like it was his right.
Jaxon’s hands moved over me like he knew the map of my skin. He kissed me like I was the only thing that had ever mattered, like no one else had ever touched me.X
And for the first time in years, I let myself feel it–love, hunger, desire.
I arched into him. Smiled against his mouth. Let his hands take what they wanted.
Het Jaxon love me. While Brandon watched, invisible on the other side of the glass;/l
He saw it all,8-
Every breath. Every silent moan.}
Every piece of me he’d broken… healed in someone else’s hands.)
He couldn’t look away. He couldn’t stop it.”
Brandon pounded the glass–feral, frantic–but it held.
Didn’t crack. Didn’t even tremble.-
He couldn’t reach me. Couldn’t stop it. Couldn’t even scream.
And that tore him apart.
The next morning, Jaxon unlocked the door!
Brandon stumbled out, bruised, bloodied, and barely standing. Then, out of nowhere, he dropped to the floor in front of me.! “Camilla!” he choked out, collapsing onto all fours. “I’m kneeling, I’m begging, please. I’ll do anything. I know how wrong I was…”
His eyes were red, wild, pleading. “I failed you. I failed all three of our babies. For six years, I ignored you. I ignored Lyra. I wasn’t a husband–I wasn’t even a man. But I loved you, I still love you. Seeing you with him feels like being torn apart from the inside.”
He fumbled inside his jacket and pulled out a small box. “I made this for you. The ring–it has your name engraved inside. Just give me one more chance. ll be better. I swear.”}
Calmly, I took the ring from his hand and let it fall.
It hit the sand at his knees with a soft, final thud.
“Brandon,” I said, quiet but firm, “how many times do I have to say it? There’s no ‘us.’ I don’t love you. The man I love is my husband,
Jaxon “E
He didn’t speak. He couldn’t.)
man who once played
Everything in him—whatever pride or hope he had left–collapsed. His shoulders caved. His eyes lost focus. The man God with my life was gone, and what was left behind was hollow.
Jaxon turned his head, wiping at his eyes fast before anyone could notice. Then, without a word, he walked up and kicked Brandon hard -in the ribs.!!
“That’s for every goddamn thing you ever did to her.”
He laced his fingers through mine, pulling me close with ease.K
“Camilla,” he said, kissing my cheek in the most obnoxiously dramatic way, “don’t forget what you said today. Because if you ever cheat on me, I swear I’ll come back as a ghost and haunt you forever.”
Behind us, Brandon broke. His sobs filled the air–loud, cracked, desperate.
Ignoring him, I turned to Jaxon, grinning against his mouth. “You brought down Sabrina for me. Flew my ex across the world just to watch us fall in love. A man that dramatic and that loyal? I wouldn’t dare cheat.“1
Jaxon smirked. “Say it again, baby.”
I rolled my eyes, but still said it. “I love you, Jaxon. I love you.”
Then I paused. “Now I’m kind of craving pizzo.“1
He lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. “You’re such a good wife. Pack your bags–we’re flying to Naples. Only the best pizzeria in Italy for you.”
We left the island behind and boarded the private jet waiting on the runway. Once inside, Jaxon pulled me close, his arm snug around my waist as we settled into our seats
As the engines roared to life, I turned to the window. The island shrank behind us–first a blur, then a speck, then nothing at all.
With it, the weight I’d carried for years finally disappeared, too.
The guilt. The shame. The pain.
They were all gone.X
I turned to look at Jaxon, at the man holding my hand like it was the only thing that mattered.
Even when turbulence shook the cabin. I wasn’t bothered
2:41 PM & &
As the engines roared to life, I turned to the window. The island shrank behind us–first a blur, then a speck, then nothing at all.
With it, the weight I’d carried for years finally disappeared, too.
The guilt. The shame. The pain.
They were all gone.
I turned to look at Jaxon, at the man holding my hand like it was the only thing that mattered.
Even when turbulence shook the cabin, I wasn’t bothered.)
The future, in what felt like forever, was wide open–and completely, beautifully mine.
[The End]