Page 116 of Dr. Aster

“I swear to God, this isn’t my life,” he said with some agony in his voice. “So, whatever happens, or however all this makes you feel, please know that?—”

“If we get married, it won’t be in a place with a royal family?” I said with a laugh, but my words changed his expression.

He subtly smiled, “Just try your hardest to know that a life with me will not consist of anything on display here over the next days with my family. This is virtually an arranged marriage between two extremely wealthy families trying to elevate their status even more than it is.”

“Seems pretty depressing.”

“When love is not involved in a marriage, it’s always depressing.”

“It’s tragic, actually,” I said.

“It is,” he nodded, then stepped back. “Listen, I need to run up and get ready, then head to another hotel to confirm a few things there.” He smiled, “You look beautiful, and I can’t wait until this is behind us. I want to introduce you to the Monaco I love, not this place and this way.”

“Okay,” I said. I didn’t know what else to say at this point.

I had no idea why I was even here now. I mean, I wasn’t complaining because it was a trip of a lifetime, but something was giving me a sickening feeling. I’d intended to come only to be supportive of John—he seemed so desperate to have me join him—and now he was telling me I wouldn’t even be seeing him? We weren’t even sharing a room? I hated feeling like a third wheel, and now, I was beginning to feel as out of place as a tractor tire on a Lamborghini.

I hoped I was feeling this way only because I was entirely out of my element, but John was acting weird, too. He’d insisted more than once how he hated things like this with his family, and given this was his brother’s wedding for show, he dreaded it even more. So, it was honestly bad vibes all the way around, and that was easy to see.

One thing I wasn’t going to do was ruin my time in this miraculous place because I was feeling sorry for myself that my boyfriend had all but ditched me. Fuck that. I was in Monaco and was going to make the most of it.

Before I boarded my flight, John told me that after I arrived at my room, the stylist would be here with my wardrobe, something I reluctantly agreed to after I realized what it would cost to buy a trunk full of ball gowns while I was shopping for my trip. So, with nothing else to do, I decided a nice, hot shower would do me good. God only knew what the night would bring, but I wanted to be ready for anything.

Chapter Forty-One

John

I walked into the block of rooms—or rather, the magnificent villa section of the hotel, which made it seem as if this were our second home and we were the royalty who were here to attend the wedding.

These accommodations came as no surprise to me. My parents liked to act like they weren’t the most influential people in attendance, but that was laughable. Everyone here knew the power my father wielded in his vast network of the most influential people in the world. The bride’s family, the Meltons, were expected to be grateful that they had the acceptance of my parents. (After all, they only had a mere three generations of wealth, which basically made them upstarts, in my mother’s opinion).

Despite this being an event that should’ve made the bride and groom the center of attention, it was clear that wasn’t the case. And they would’ve been foolish to expect it. It added to my disdain for these gatherings, but it would be easier this time because I had Mickie.

Even though I was sure this would be overwhelming for her, I knew she could hold her own. I’d watched before as she enjoyed the opera and how the art had inspired her, and I felt that this would be no different. It was all amusing theatrics if you allowed it to be.

I wanted her to be comfortable, enjoying the presentation that would likely blow her mind once the nonsense of these powerful families flaunting their wealth (on the rare occasions they did) came into play.

“Son?” my father’s voice boomed from where he sat at a desk across the room in a high-backed leather chair next to a crackling fireplace.

The way he said son and the curious pitch he used made me know he was talking to me without calling me by name.

“Business on such a beautiful occasion?” I teased, taking one of the leather seats across from his desk.

He’d retired to the library of this suite, mainly to disappear from the orderly chaos that would be involved if you were near my mother and sister-in-law in the main sitting area of this villa.

My father smirked, puffed his cigar, and relaxed back into his seat with a glass of cognac. “If I don’t keep an eye on the new investments Seb insisted we acquire, then we are likely to lose them,” he chuckled, taking a sip, his eyes calculating.

This wasn’t just going to be a fun and relaxed conversation.

I’d been on guard with my family since I got here. I hadn’t forgotten about when the future groom met me at dinner when he came into town, and I most certainly hadn’t forgotten about the spy of a butler in Aspen or my parents’ investments in the hospital.

Every move my family made was calculated when it came to furthering their agenda. I’d been on high alert about what was coming next and avoided any serious conversation up to this point.

“I hear you’ve brought a young lady to this event?”

“I did,” I said directly. “She’s amazing, and though she doesn’t come from any fortune to speak of, she brings me a lot of happiness.”

“Filling a void you never believed you had, I’m sure?”