Page 38 of How to Break My Heart 1

Eager to shift the conversation without seeming too obvious, I tell him a story about a customer who came into our store with quadruplets. In the middle of the story, the hairs on my arms stick up as if a cold breeze blew past me—or a ghost. I stillmy movements, hyperaware of my surroundings while my heart beats erratically.

Then, I seehim.

The green eyes that insist on haunting me, but this time, they’re walking toward us ignited by jealousy.

In just one stare, I have all the warning I need.

Tonight won’t end well for any of us.

CHAPTER 11

Aston

Alawsuit was the last thing I expected to deal with on a Saturday night.

I barely slept, maybe an hour at best, and only at my desk when my eyes couldn’t stare at my laptop screen a second longer.

It was call after call, and when my father got involved just before ten this morning, he demanded I deal with it. He’s at the country club with his buddies, smoking cigars and drinking aged whiskey as if the business world around him isn’t burning to the damn ground.

The infuriating thing is—this ishisfuckup.

He insisted we invest in a brokerage company to get back at some rival, only for us to inherit lawsuits. I warned him to stick to what the Beaumont Group does best—property investment. Of course, he didn’t listen because pride was far more important to him.

Our legal team scrambled to resolve the problem before we hit the headlines. All the while this was happening, time was lost on me, and I completely forgot about the breakfast meeting with Everleigh.

Until she stormed into my bedroom, a force of pure determination.

Her cheeks were crimson, her eyes glaring at me, ready tobattle over my lack of consideration of her time. The moment I hung up the business call, Everleigh didn’t hold back.

Her incessant nagging was the last thing I need.

Frankly, I am exhausted.

I need a shower and sleep.

But Everleigh disregarded my need for peace.

The woman is relentless.

She did, however, strike a nerve with her sharp, unfiltered words, each one landing like a calculated blow. Everleigh has no idea what I have sacrificed for Madelina, and I’ve been doing it my whole damn life.

My head swells, tension building as my chest tightens beneath yesterday’s clothes. It’s been a clusterfuck of a day, and if I survive it without a migraine, I’ll be astonished. They have hit me more lately, no doubt induced by the pressure of running this company under my father’s watch.

But if only she knew the truth.

How much I sacrifice for my own blood.

My sister.The only person I would take a bullet in the head for.

My mind rushes back to our interaction, replaying how she stormed out of my room, the fire in her eyes unmistakable. I can’t help but relish her reaction, savoring the satisfaction of finally setting the record straight and watching as my words landed precisely where they were meant to.

It left me hard as a fucking rock.

In desperate need of release, I step into the shower, turning the water to nearly scalding, letting the heat wash over me and melt away the tension. I battle with myself as to whether I should give in to my urges. Closing my eyes, I convince my hand to move away and turn the faucet off.

Then, I pictureherfor the first time. She’s so fucking sexy when she’s angry at me.

And it’s a record finish.