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won’t stop until I have it.”
     
    She shook her head. “Why would you do that? Do you have any idea how difficult it is for a child to shuttle back and forth between parents? I never had to live it, but I had friends who went through that hell all the time. I won’t allow you to do that to Cara.”
     
    “You can’t stop me. It seems you are estranged from your parents. Where will you get the money to afford attorneys to fight me?”
     
    Molly gasped, and then a full laugh escaped her. “Is that your big threat? Marrying you was good for exactly two things. Cara, being the first, was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
     
    “And the second?” he asked with a snarl.
     
    “As soon as I was married, control of my trust reverted to me. I can give Cara anything she’ll ever want, and I don’t need to beg a cent from my parents.”
     
    He seemed to deflate. “I see.” His mouth firmed. “We shall be evenly matched. The case will likely drag out for years.”
     
    “I just don’t understand why you’re being so vindictive.”
     
    He cursed. “It is not vindictive to want a place in my child’s life. You owe me that.”
     
    Her laugh had a sharp edge. “I owe you exactly what you gave me: Nothing.” Seeing him flinch, she pressed the advantage. “You walked away. You chose to disregard my attempts to tell you about her. It’s unreasonable to expect to come back and just have me try to fit you into her life.”
     
    Aronne leaned closer yet. “Not just her life, cara mia . I have plans for your life too.”
     
    She shivered when he ran his hand down her arm. “Like what?”
     
    “I think it’s time you acted like a real wife. My wife. We will reconcile, for Cara’s sake.”
     
    “You’re out of your mind.” She tried to push him away as he leaned closer. “I want nothing to do with you.”
     
    “Still lying, Molly?” He clicked his tongue as he cupped her breast, caressing the nipple to a hardened state. “I could have you on your back, legs spread, in less than ten minutes.”
     
    She turned her head, unable to meet his gaze and deny his words as forcefully as she wished. The attraction to her husband had bloomed back to life. His proximity made it hard to think, just as it always had. He was using it as a weapon to control her. Even knowing that, she wasn’t able to remain immune. A gasp escaped her when he unfastened the top button of her shirt. “Stop it.”
     
    “Why should I? We both know it can be incredible.”
     
    Molly summoned all her reserves and turned her head to glare at him. “Maybe physically, but it’s empty. I hate you, and you’ve acknowledged I’m no substitute for my sister.”
     
    Aronne flinched. “Anger overtook me that day, and I wanted to hurt you. I lashed out, but I shouldn’t have said that.”
     
    “Why not? It’s true, right?”
     
    After a hesitation, he nodded. “At the time.”
     
    “I’d prefer to be honest. I can’t be Margot for you, and I have no interest in trying. There is nothing between us. I want a divorce so I can marry Carter.” Oops, there went the honesty. She and Carter were getting serious, but not to that level. “One day,” she added, trying to absolve herself of the accidental fib.
     
    His face twisted into a mask of anger. “Never. You will never marry him and make my daughter his.”
     
    “I’ll do what I want, Aronne. You lost the right to have any input when you left.”
     
    “Perhaps, but I’m back now, to claim my child and my wife.” He moved quickly, picking her up in his arms and striding down the hallway.
     
    Molly fought, but his grip was tight. He didn’t release her until they were in her bedroom, where he dropped her on the bed. “Stop right now. I don’t want you.”
     
    Aronne straddled her, holding her hands above her head. “We both know that’s a lie. You went to such trouble to get me before. Now, you can have me.”
     
    “I don’t want you,” she repeated through