Deceptive Desires Read Online Free Page B

her room.
     
    When she walked into her bedroom, she closed the door and sagged when she saw Margot sitting in a chair. “Please just leave. I can’t go through more emotional scenes today.” Without waiting for a reply, she reached for a robe and slipped it on over the slip. Her panties and the wedding dress remained in a heap on the floor, beside his discarded suit, in the guestroom. She never wanted to see it—or him—again.
     
    As she sat on the bed, she was surprised when Margot sat down beside her. “Please don’t. I’m sorry I ruined your party and your wedding. I didn’t mean to. Can we please leave it at that?” Her fragile self-esteem couldn’t take another blow right then. It was still trying to regroup in the face of the news that her husband was in love with her sister, and he’d only been attracted to her because she looked somewhat like Margot.
     
    To her surprise, Margot put an arm around her shoulders. “I’m sorry, sis. I shouldn’t have said those things, and I shouldn’t have refused to come to your wedding. I know none of this was your idea. You and Aronne were both manipulated by our parents.”
     
    She couldn’t remember the last time Margot had really noticed her, let alone offered comfort. New tears burst from her eyes, and she hugged her sister. “What made you change your mind?” she asked in a wet voice.
     
    “I’d like to say it was maturity and common sense, but it was Cristiano.” Molly lifted her head. Margot smiled. “I know. He pointed out how ridiculous I was acting and reminded me you were going to need support.” Her smile faded to a frown. “I don’t know how to tell you this gently. Cristiano said Aronne is going to Brazil.”
     
    Molly nodded. “I know. He told me.” She struggled to tame her emotions. “It’s for the best. In two years, we can get a divorce, and it will be like this never happened.” She sounded more confident than she felt. How could she ever forget the night she’d spent with Aronne, or the disastrous fallout? As he’d so eloquently said at their ceremony, at least it couldn’t get any worse.
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    Two years later…
     
    Molly answered the phone on the third ring. “Hello?”
     
    “It’s Margot.”
     
    “What’s up?”
     
    Margot sighed. “Sophia had a heart attack.”
     
    “Oh no.” Molly moved to the couch before her legs gave out on her. “Is she okay?” She superstitiously crossed her fingers.
     
    “We think so, but she wants you both to come to the hospital.”
     
    “Of course.” She smiled at Cara, who was trying to fit a square block in a triangle opening on her shape ball. “We’ll leave in a few minutes.”
     
    “Molly—”
     
    Frowning at her severe tone, Molly said, “Are you sure she’s going to make it? You sound so worried.”
     
    “I’m pretty sure Sophia will be fine, but you should know Aronne is flying in to see her.”
     
    Molly sagged. A plethora of emotions swept through her, but she forced herself to sound unconcerned when she said, “Good. She’s been missing him, and it will give us a chance to start the divorce proceedings.”
     
    There was silence on Margot’s end for a long second. “What about Cara?”
     
    Biting her lip, she fought for control. “What about her? He has no interest in her, and that’s fine. I’d rather keep it that way.”
     
    “If you say so.” She didn’t sound convinced. “We’ll see you when you arrive.”
     
    “Sure.”
     
    As soon as Molly hung up, she gathered up the toys strewn on the floor to toss them in the toy box near the entertainment center. Cara, showing off her newly acquired walking skills, stood up and toddled after her as she went into the kitchen to grab some toddler snacks before refilling the diaper bag, not knowing how long they would be at the hospital, or if Sophia would even be allowed to see her granddaughter. It was unlikely if she was in ICU—unless she was so severely ailing that