Page 106 of Before I Say I Don't
The crowd erupted in hollers and applause, some even chanting, “Order! Order!” like they were really in trial.
I paced slowly; dress trailing behind me. “Now, Exhibit A—” I let the phone dangle in my hand, flipping to another screen. “These late-night text threads between Angelo and Miss Taryn herself are clear as day, premeditated, intentional, and leaves no room for reasonable doubt.” I turned my eyes on Taryn, voice calm but cutting. “Now, Iwouldask you to come take the stand but judging from the way you’re sitting there and how these messages read, you didn’t even know I existed—not before you got pregnant, anyway. So unlikeothers, you weren’t plotting against me; you were just living in the dark like me. So your trial isn’t about tearing down another woman. You didn’t betray me. Nor did you owe me loyalty. That man”—I nodded at Viangelo—“owed you the truth. And he didn’t give it to you… or me.”
Taryn’s mouth quivered. Her fingers twisted nervously at the hem of her dress and her shoulders folded in like she was trying to make herself invisible.
I softened my tone, though the mic still carried.
“Again, I’m not here to drag you. In fact, I’m here to give you some advice. Be careful who you date and who you let inside your life, your body, and your home. Because some men treat women like motels—just checking in and out whenever it suits them. That’s not love; that’s vacancy.”
The crowd erupted in snaps, claps, and a loud, “Whew!” from the auntie section.
I kept my tone steady, clinical. “So no, you’re not my enemy, Taryn. You’re just proof of his lies. And honestly? I wish you the best… truly. So since you’re innocent in all of this, we won’t spend too long on this case.”
Danica stepped forward, chin high, voice booming like a judge. “The court finds Tarynnotguilty on all charges. Her sentence is a lifetime of better love, better choices, and better men. Case dismissed.”
The crowdapplauded, some even shouted “Amen!” like they were in church.
I shifted my stance, pacing slowly like I was circling a witness stand. “Next case on the docket:Kamira vs. Zaria: ExhibitEx—When OneOf Your Bridesmaids Is His Old Flame,” I announced, voice ringing clear.
A low flutter ofoohsskimmed the room.
“Her charge? Failure to disclose prior relations with the groom while smiling in the bride’s face and still carrying ex-girlfriend privileges.”
All eyes cut to Zaria, who smirked, unbothered. She tilted her chin at me, defiant and flawless, like she was about to testify with style.
“Zaria, we’ve never had arealconversation. ‘Mutual friends’ isn’t a biography. But I’m a big believer in clarity, so here’s mine. It took me longer than it should to realize you weren’t a guest here; you were a strategy.”
Her mouth tightened.
“Now, I’m not here to blame you for any man’s choices. When women argue, people call it catty. When men coordinate, they call it a crew. I’m uninterested in both. I’m building a table where loyalty is a chair you earn. So, what I don’t get is how you’re so comfortable standing up here in satin, smiling forphotos, holding flowers inmywedding… knowing damn well you had previous relations with my fiancé. Care to explain to the court why you thought that was acceptable behavior?”
The room hummed—low gasps, whispered sidebars, and one lady fanning herself double-time.
Zaria snickered, head cocked. “Kamira, youreallythink I’m standing up here ‘cause I still want him? Or just to be messy?” She shook her head, eyes cool. “Trust me; this iswaydeeper than you think.”
My chest stilled. I paused, thrown for a beat.
“Deeper?” I echoed, eyebrows raised. “And exactly what do you mean by that?”
Zaria’s smirk faded into something sober. Her voice dropped low, almost pitying.
“Let’s just say, you got lucky.”
The crowd shifted—chairs creaked and whispers hissed.
I caught the way Viangelo’s head snapped toward her. His glare was razor-sharp, and his eyes screamedshut up.
Zaria caught it, too. She let her lips curve into the faintest, defiant smile and looked straight back at me.
I tightened my grip on the mic, scanning between them. My instincts as a lawyer itched—the kind of itch that said there was more under that testimony than what had just been said.
“Well,” Danica said, clearing her throat, “looks like we’ll take a recess onthatone. Court will reconvene at a later date.”
Laughter bubbled in the aisles, nervous but real.
I turned, sharp to the next defendant.
“Case number three on the docket:Kamira vs. Kendall: TheCaseOf The Counterfeit Kinfolk.She’s being charged with being a fake sister-in-law who knew damn well her brother had a baby—hell, by herbest friend—and still smiled in my face like she deserved a placement in this wedding. But that’s not all. Kendall is also being charged with running her mouth to my so-called best friend, Jayla, talking about me like I wasn’t supposed to ever find out. Newsflash: I always find out. And this evening, so does everybody else.”
