Page 58 of How to Break My Heart 1

“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.”

Maddy rolls her eyes, then sighs. “Is he your plus-one at the wedding? You never told me. I mean, of course you can bring him, it’s just we keep adding people and it was supposed to be only one hundred people.”

“A wedding is a time to celebrate, Madelina,” Georgina interjects. “You only get married once.”

“Exactly,” Mr. Beaumont agrees. “Considering you’re not paying for the wedding, I don’t understand why additional guests should be a problem.”

Beside me, Maddy lowers her gaze to avoid an argument. Despite her earlier outburst regarding my personal life, I can’t help but feel sorry for her. Maddy only wanted something intimate, and judging by the conversations had tonight, this wedding is becoming a bigger event than she anticipated.

My hands twitch nervously beneath the table. “I’ll get back to you about Marco. It depends on a few things, I guess.”

This night is going progressively downhill. I desperately eye the bottle of wine, wishing I could drink all this tension away. The temperature inside the room increases to an uncomfortable level. My breathing becomes much faster, forcing me to reach for the glass of water to calm myself down. As I bring the glass to my dry mouth, I catch a glimpse of Aston staring at me with his lips pressed flat and eyes burning with jealousy.

My head falls, desperate to control the desire consuming me. I’m all shades of fucked-up. How can this man across from me turn me on with his toxic behavior? Everyone knows jealousy is a red flag.

“Excuse me, I need to use the restroom,” I inform everyone.

I wander down the hall to the restroom toward the back of the house. Inside, I wash my hands before resting them on the countertop to gather my thoughts.

The creak of the door catches my attention.

I don’t look up, consumed by my racing heart and the adrenaline running through my veins. Whoever has just opened the door has made their presence known.

My eyes close to control my breathing until Aston’s body presses up against my back, and his lips find their way to my neck.

“Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear yesterday,” he murmurs, placing small kisses on my skin, which drives me insane. “I won’t allow another man to touch you.”