Page 57 of How to Break My Heart
“The company pays for that penthouse,” her father quickly informs everyone. “The perks of being employed by the Beaumont Group.”
Across from me, Aston takes the glass and drinks the red wine in one go. His muscles have tensed. Every now and then, he looks my way, but I quickly distract myself. My attention is drawn back to him when Viviana leans over to whisper something in his ear.
“Georgina,” Mrs. Beaumont calls softly, “Viviana’s family owns a lovely property on Martha’s Vineyard. Madelina mentioned you were looking for a place?”
Myles’s mother wipes her mouth with her napkin. “It would be nice to find a place for our future grandchildren to spend time with us on vacation.”
Underneath the table, Maddy’s knee begins to bounce. It happens when she’s anxious. I move my hand to her thigh and squeeze it tight. Maddy wants kids, but I know she plans not to start trying for at least three more years. She wants to do so much before she settles into family life.
Mr. Beaumont rests his fork on his plate. “Quite an investment, Roland.”
“Yes, but like Georgina said, we are thinking about our future grandchildren.” Myles’s father lovingly places his hand on his wife’s. “It’s time for me to retire, Harvey. Pass the reins over to my son. With my own father quite frail, we’re learning to enjoy the simple things.”
I want to laugh, given that a house on Martha’s Vineyard is far from simple, but keep my expression still.
“Once the kids are done with Broadway,” Mr. Beaumont responds condescendingly. “It’s important to keep the family name alive. Is it not?”
“Harvey, please. The kids are enjoying themselves,” Myles’s father informs him.
The answer doesn’t please Mr. Beaumont. He raises his glass to his lips before following with, “A big portfolio to manage, Roland. I can’t see how Myles can continue to focus on Broadway and manage all your investments. Perhaps we can sit down and look at some alternatives. I mean, if Madelina is to focus on bearing and raising children, it’s important Myles also has the time to be around for his family.”
Aston narrows his gaze while his hands sit on the table curled into fists. I’m drawn to the way his knuckles turn so white. He relaxes them, only to reach for more wine. Not that I’ve been counting, but I swear it’s like his third glass in the space of ten minutes.
Then, his eyes reach mine, and something in his tortured stare pulls me in. I knew he wasn’t the biggest fan of his father, but assumed because they worked together, things got better since high school. The more I hear Mr. Beaumont talk, the more I realize their relationship is still strained.
“Enough business talk, and how about we cool it down with the baby plans,” Maddy interjects, a welcome relief. “So, Viviana, are you and my brother getting back together or what?”
I hold back my urge to gasp, instead reaching for the wine to ease my irritation. I’m glad Mrs. Beaumont served multiple bottles on the table. It’s almost like she knew everyone needed a bottle just to get through this damn uncomfortable dinner. Since I’m driving, my one glass is my limit, so I try to savor it even though I desperately want to drink it down in one go, much like Aston.
“Madelina,” Aston mutters, his jaw clenched. “Are you really asking that question?”
Viviana places her hand on Aston’s to calm him down. My stomach hardens. Aston doesn’t move, welcoming the gesture as I bitterly turn away for the sake of my sanity.
“Aston is my date for the annual Cures For Cancer Charity Ball. It’s kind of our thing.”
Our thing?
I force myself to keep my gaze fixated on the plate of roast beef and vegetables in front of me, but the burning sensation in my chest is hard to ignore.Why the hell am I so bothered by this?It’s not like he’s my boyfriend or anything. God, we haven’t even kissed.
Well, recently, anyway.
“Nice,” Maddy says simply, before blurting out, “So, what else is happening with everyone? The weather has been pretty drab, and the roadwork at the corner of Ginger Grove and Butterscotch Boulevard is a real hindrance. Oh, and Eva is dating Dr. Wilde.”
An unflattering gasp leaves my lips. “Maddy!”
“What? It’s not a secret.”
Wow, Maddy will throw anyone under the bus to take the attention off her. Given that this dinner is for her family, I’m taken aback by the overshare of my personal life.
“Dr. Wilde is a respectable physician. Everleigh’s personal life is perhaps not the ideal conversation to have when we’re hosting guests, Madelina,” Mr. Beaumont scolds.
“Better than all the plans for my future,” Maddy mumbles under her breath.
At first I dare not look across the table, but the sadistic side of me slowly lifts my gaze, only to be met with the scornful eyes of the man who warned me last night that no other man could touch me.
But that was before Viviana came into the picture.
“My relationship with Dr. Wilde is private. Besides, his name is Marco,” I correct her while everyone watches me curiously. “He’s notmydoctor. Just for clarification.”
