Page 56 of How to Break My Heart 1
Maddy pinches my arm. “Eva is staying.”
I glance at Maddy with wide eyes.
The last thing I want to do is spend the night eating dinner with Maddy’s father, who will no doubt find a way to make me feel small. Not to mention, I woke up early to open the store and spent the rest of the day with Maddy to meet with the photographer. After yesterday’s encounter with Aston, the last thing I need is this forced dinner, given that I’m exhausted.
Maddy pleads with her eyes, and it’s not lost on me.
I press my lips together, then contrive a smile. “Sure, thank you for the invitation.”
Mrs. Beaumont claps her hands. “Excellent. I will have Hildaset the table for another guest.” She walks back to the house while I stop Maddy from leaving.
“Thanks for the peer pressure. This isyourfamily,” I remind her in a huff. “I was going to order takeout tonight and watchLove Island.”
Maddy wraps her arms around me. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”
“You owe me.”
“I know, I know,” she sings playfully.
The lights are on inside the manor, showcasing all the fancy chandeliers. The place looks much more alive than when I visited the other day. The dining room is set up to seat eight people, but I count the plates again, wondering who the extra guests are.
“I thought it was just your parents and Myles’s parents,” I say out loud.
Mrs. Beaumont appears from the kitchen. “Viviana will be joining us. I ran into her earlier, so the timing was perfect.”
“Viviana?” Maddy repeats, only to roll her eyes moments later. “Did you invite her to the wedding?”
“Madelina, she is an old family friend. Of course I invited her.”
Maddy places her hands on her hips. “This was supposed to be a small, intimate wedding. How many guests are we up to now, huh? And, let me guess, Aston is coming to dinner then?”
His name catches my attention.
“Yes, your brother will be here.”
“Does he know you invited Viviana? I mean, she’s his ex, Mom. I would be livid if you invited my ex.”
Mrs. Beaumont releases a sigh. “Your father insisted.”
My thoughts start to cloud, and I’m unable to think of ways to get out of this dinner. Sitting at the same table as Aston and his ex will not be pleasant. I mean, he doesn’t do relationships, so basically, she was a fuck buddy. Maybe not even a buddy, but a quick fuck, and that’s it.
Mrs. Beaumont turns away to head toward the kitchen, withMaddy at her heels arguing over the guest list. My hands twist as I fumble with my excuse, only to yell out, “I’m not feeling the best. Maybe I should head home—”
The hairs on my arms stand while my breaths become uneven. I close my eyes momentarily, addicted to this rush that’s consuming every inch of my body.
Then, a voice whispers behind me, “You’re not going anywhere.”
CHAPTER 16
Eva
Mr. Beaumont takes a seat at the head of the table.
He arrived not long ago, making his presence known like it was such a big deal. Maddy appeared to be the only one who greeted him with a smile, embracing him while he doted on his only daughter.
Mrs. Beaumont retreated to the kitchen to check on dinner, barely saying a word even when he leaned in to kiss her on the cheek. It was apparent it was purely for show—possibly one of the coldest interactions I’ve ever witnessed.
As for Aston, his demeanor changed the second his father gave him a stern look. Something passed between them, the tension mounting in the room. I have no idea why he insisted I stay, given that he hasn’t spoken two words to me.
