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I wanted closure on my Gran. That was one thing he couldn’t give me by destroying the compound.

Étienne’s face dropped at my rejection, his sunken eyes standing out starkly against the tanned skin. His cheekbones were so sharp they looked like they could cut.

My husband had always been almost too beautiful to look at, but a strange, wild mountain beauty, the kind of beauty that’s dangerous, because when he looked at you, you could see that he wasn’t tamed, he wasn’t safe.

But he swallowed hard and stepped aside, gesturing at the crib.

“Look what I’ve made our son.”

It was the same wooden one he’d started a long time ago, and hadn’t quite finished. Because he hadn’t quite been at home enough every day.

But it was beautiful, like he had poured every ounce of his passion into the smooth, beautiful wooden curves, the bright colors, even the carefully drawn trees and animals he had labored over.

“Léonie, I want my family back.”

“What about the DNA test?” I asked coolly around the hole in my chest. “Seemed like up until a few weeks ago you were saying that it showed I was a whore. In fact, you told everyone I was a damn whore. That I’d had another man in our bed.”

He flinched.

“Looking back, I—can’t believe I did that. I can’t believe I thought you would just forgive me easily for it. I took you for granted, Léonie.”

“Yes, you did. I always knew I loved you more than you loved me. But this showed me you don’t care at all.”

“You love me more?” Étienne bit out, and his whole body was vibrating. “I’ve always loved you more.”

His voice was low with barely-suppressed agony.

“You put together this whole plot without ever considering trusting me. I had to find out from Tilly how deep the rivalry between our families went. You kept me in the dark.”

“Let me change that!” he cried passionately.

“You might think you loved me, but really you love power. Much more than you ever loved me.”

“After what I went through to secure your hand,” he growled through clenched teeth. “You couldn’t possibly say that.”

“When have you ever not got exactly what you wanted?”

“Sweetheart, I didn’t even bargain. People talk about Étienne Bastide like he drives a hard bargain. Like he could squeeze blood out of a stone. Not when it came to you. Whatever your father asked for, I gave him.”

“Lies.”

“He had nothing beyond you. Nothing of value. You were the only thing of value in that entire damn household. He drove the Pinoteaux business into the ground and he knew what I feel for you was his only chance out.”

I wanted to say this was a lie, too, but I knew it wasn’t.

“That’s why he guarded me so closely,” I said bitterly. “That’s why my brother was always watching. Because they couldn’t risk giving Étienne Bastide anything less than a perfect, untouched virgin.”

“No! Léonie, I swear that’s not what I care about. I love you. I still would have been at your feet begging for your hand in marriage. All I care about is getting you back and being a family again. Getting to hold my son. Kiss my wife again. Goddamn it, I miss you so much!”

If I just looked at him, I might be tempted to think he was sincere, arms encircling me, his dark eyes boring down on mine.

But I knew he was a liar.

“I don’t believe you. I don’t trust that you won’t do the same thing again, if something happens that means you would get more money. Or more land.”

“Never again, Léonie! I can promise you that. Come with me. Let me show you the business⁠—”

“What I wanted was a husband who wouldn’t use me as bait. A husband who thinks of me first and not as an afterthought.”