like he was in pain. “You were a virgin.” He leveled the accusation like it was akin to committing murder.
Refusing to answer, she turned her gaze away, meeting Cristiano’s by accident. His sympathetic expression threatened her already tenuous hold on her emotions, and she swallowed thickly.
“You see!” Santo pointed at her. “She was an innocent. You will marry her.”
“Or go to prison,” said Warren, sounding firm.
Molly shook her head. “Stop this.”
Aronne’s expression changed from anger to something else. Defeat? His shoulders slumped. “Very well. I see I have no choice.”
What? He was agreeing with this madness? Molly pulled the afghan tighter around herself and stood up. “Are you all crazy? I’m not marrying him.”
Her father turned his cold gaze on her. “If you don’t marry Aronne, I’ll make sure he’s imprisoned for dishonoring you.”
She gasped. “You wouldn’t. Daddy, please—”
“Well, decide, Molly.”
Her gaze flickered between Aronne and her father, before touching on her sullen sister, and the irate mothers. Coming full-circle, she met Aronne’s gaze, and the naked contempt shredded her heart. Tears streaked down her face. She couldn’t let her dad put him in jail—clearly a plan Santo agreed with—but how could she force him to marry her? She didn’t want to marry anyone, even him.
Completely expressionless, Aronne said, “Given the choice, you are preferable to prison, cara .” The endearment was cold and sarcastic. “Barely.”
Her shoulders slumped, and she somehow managed to say, “Okay,” through trembling lips. Could this really be happening?
♥♥♥
It was, and it did. Apparently deciding not to give either of them a chance to change their minds, both sets of parents made it their task to organize a wedding as soon as possible. Somehow, it all came together within four days. That morning, Molly stood in front of a full-length mirror in her closet, stunned at the sight looking back. The plain white dress looked bridal with the addition of lace gloves. A pillbox hat with a small white veil sat atop her hair, which the stylist had curled and pinned up into a mature, sophisticated style. She looked like a young woman about to get married.
Inside, she felt like a terrified child. Aronne hadn’t spoken once to her since the morning in the study when their parents had decided to ruin their lives. No, she couldn’t say that fairly. She had ruined their lives by misrepresenting who she was, knowing Aronne wouldn’t have looked twice at her if he’d known just how young she was.
It didn’t have to be for long. If he would just listen to her, she already had a plan. They wouldn’t consummate the marriage, and she could file for an annulment as soon as she turned eighteen. He would still hate her, but at least he wouldn’t be trapped in a marriage he didn’t want.
The sound of her bedroom door opening broke her musing, and she looked up, seeing Margot standing behind her. Turning to her sister, she took in the skinny jeans and T-shirt, and her heart sank. “You aren’t going to be my maid-of-honor?”
“Are you insane?” Margot scorned. “I only pretended to go along with it because Mother insisted. I wouldn’t be at that farce if you paid me.”
“I wouldn’t either, if I could stop this,” said Molly softly. It stung to know how little her sister cared for her.
“I was supposed to get married first. It should be my wedding Mother’s planning, not this sham.” Angry tears sparkled in her hazel eyes, making them look greener today. “I’ll never forgive you for this as long as I live, Molly.” She stormed out.
“Join the club,” said Molly softly. She already knew Aronne wouldn’t forgive her. How could she forgive herself? She’d gotten one night with him, but look what it had cost everyone. Feeling sick, she somehow trudged out of her
Refusing to answer, she turned her gaze away, meeting Cristiano’s by accident. His sympathetic expression threatened her already tenuous hold on her emotions, and she swallowed thickly.
“You see!” Santo pointed at her. “She was an innocent. You will marry her.”
“Or go to prison,” said Warren, sounding firm.
Molly shook her head. “Stop this.”
Aronne’s expression changed from anger to something else. Defeat? His shoulders slumped. “Very well. I see I have no choice.”
What? He was agreeing with this madness? Molly pulled the afghan tighter around herself and stood up. “Are you all crazy? I’m not marrying him.”
Her father turned his cold gaze on her. “If you don’t marry Aronne, I’ll make sure he’s imprisoned for dishonoring you.”
She gasped. “You wouldn’t. Daddy, please—”
“Well, decide, Molly.”
Her gaze flickered between Aronne and her father, before touching on her sullen sister, and the irate mothers. Coming full-circle, she met Aronne’s gaze, and the naked contempt shredded her heart. Tears streaked down her face. She couldn’t let her dad put him in jail—clearly a plan Santo agreed with—but how could she force him to marry her? She didn’t want to marry anyone, even him.
Completely expressionless, Aronne said, “Given the choice, you are preferable to prison, cara .” The endearment was cold and sarcastic. “Barely.”
Her shoulders slumped, and she somehow managed to say, “Okay,” through trembling lips. Could this really be happening?
♥♥♥
It was, and it did. Apparently deciding not to give either of them a chance to change their minds, both sets of parents made it their task to organize a wedding as soon as possible. Somehow, it all came together within four days. That morning, Molly stood in front of a full-length mirror in her closet, stunned at the sight looking back. The plain white dress looked bridal with the addition of lace gloves. A pillbox hat with a small white veil sat atop her hair, which the stylist had curled and pinned up into a mature, sophisticated style. She looked like a young woman about to get married.
Inside, she felt like a terrified child. Aronne hadn’t spoken once to her since the morning in the study when their parents had decided to ruin their lives. No, she couldn’t say that fairly. She had ruined their lives by misrepresenting who she was, knowing Aronne wouldn’t have looked twice at her if he’d known just how young she was.
It didn’t have to be for long. If he would just listen to her, she already had a plan. They wouldn’t consummate the marriage, and she could file for an annulment as soon as she turned eighteen. He would still hate her, but at least he wouldn’t be trapped in a marriage he didn’t want.
The sound of her bedroom door opening broke her musing, and she looked up, seeing Margot standing behind her. Turning to her sister, she took in the skinny jeans and T-shirt, and her heart sank. “You aren’t going to be my maid-of-honor?”
“Are you insane?” Margot scorned. “I only pretended to go along with it because Mother insisted. I wouldn’t be at that farce if you paid me.”
“I wouldn’t either, if I could stop this,” said Molly softly. It stung to know how little her sister cared for her.
“I was supposed to get married first. It should be my wedding Mother’s planning, not this sham.” Angry tears sparkled in her hazel eyes, making them look greener today. “I’ll never forgive you for this as long as I live, Molly.” She stormed out.
“Join the club,” said Molly softly. She already knew Aronne wouldn’t forgive her. How could she forgive herself? She’d gotten one night with him, but look what it had cost everyone. Feeling sick, she somehow trudged out of her
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