Chapter 9

Mateo.

​

Dining room of Moretti Mansion.

​

“Oh, the wedding dress is gorgeous. I had the final fitting earlier today. I can’t wait for you all to see me in it. Scratch that, I wish the day could come soon enough.” Lisa, my younger sister, spoke in a dreamy tone.

​

I signaled to the maid, who quickly but quietly rushed over to my side and refilled my glass with some red wine.

​

“You’ve not said anything.” Mother’s stern voice greeted me after helping myself with a couple of sips.

​

“Congratulations!” I mumbled as I gently placed my glass, which still had a little bit of alcohol in it, on the table. I could feel her eyes boring holes into my skin as I was seated directly beside her.

​

“To whom?”

​

“The bride and everyone else involved.”

​

Everyone’s attention on the table was now on me. My mother, Lisa, the bride-to-be, my aunt Jamie, and the little devil, Sammie. Then behind us stood two maids, who were on standby to attend to our needs by the table.

​

“You will be present, right?” Lisa said to me in a hopeful voice.

​

“Why?” I asked her.

​

Lisa scoffed. “Are you for real? You’re my brother.”

 

“I’ve got things to do!”

​

“How long is this going to last?” Mom raised her voice at me.

​

“Claire!” Aunt Jamie tried to caution her.

​

“No one is going to save him tonight. Not even you, Jamie. So kindly stay off this.”

​

“I mean, what in the hell could be more important than attending your sister’s wedding? You were in the country but didn’t show up for the engagement party. And this is the first dinner you are having with us in more than a year.”

​

I folded my arms. “You don’t have to go through corners. I’m live before you, so just let it out. Go ahead!” I challenged, ignoring the glare my mother was throwing at me.

​

Aunt Jamie frowned, looking between us. “What am I missing?”

​

“Matteo should be getting married first as the first child and only son of this family, but his heart is as hard as stone. Mom wants a grandchild, and I also want to be an aunt!”

​

“Sammie!!!!” Lisa cautioned our fourteen-year-old sister.

​

Sammie shrugged. “Someone has to give Auntie Jamie the tea.”

​

“Let’s not misunderstand the situation. Yeah, so much is expected of Matteo, but Lisa getting married before him is no big deal. I’m sure he will introduce us to his woman when the time is right.”

​

Sammie chuckled, then reached for the glass cup before her, which had some juice in it. “I don’t see that happening, Auntie.”

​

“You shouldn’t be saying that, Jamie. Or you wanna tell me you don’t see his face plastered on gossip pages. He’s with a different woman every freaking time. Don’t even get me started about the details of the rumors.”

​

“You claim I don’t show up for dinner, but it’s the same agenda all the time.” I accused.

​

“Hey, don’t take it to heart. Your mom is just concerned!” Aunt Jamie interrupted.

​

“Concerned? Or you mean being obsessive about a grown man's decisions?”

​

“If it’s about a grandchild, Lisa is getting married, and I’m sure she would give you as many as you want.”

​

“I don’t do emotions, weddings are not my thing, I don’t believe in love either.”

​

“But you like parties? There’s going to be loud music, of course lots to drink, and just in case you were wondering, Lisa has very gorgeous friends.” Sammie said to me.

​

Aunt Jamie nudged her.

​

“You should be praising me, Auntie. I’m giving him reasons to show up. Who knows, he might have eyes for one of the bridesmaids.”

​

“The wedding is soon, and I would like for us all to be in great moods. It hurts that my brother won’t be there, but I guess we need to respect his wishes.” Lisa said.

​

“Hell no! We just can’t give up like that. I’ve got friends who are coming because they have a crush on Matt. I can’t afford to disappoint them.”

​

This time around, I glared at Sammy, who shrugged at me.

​

“You would attend the wedding. With a plus one. She has to be the woman you intend to marry.” The tone of my mother’s voice matched the look she was throwing at me.

​

“I knew it was a terrible idea coming here,” I mumbled after exchanging glares with my mother.

​

“And don’t you think you can deceive me by bringing a con artist!”

​

“So you expect me to find love in a few days?”

​

“I don’t care. You’re free to bring anyone you want. But as long as you step into the venue with a woman, bear in mind that she’s going to be the one you are going to spend the rest of your life with.”

​

I rose to my feet.

​

“Claireee!” Aunt Jamie cautioned Mom as she rose to her feet, too

​

“Not right now, Jay!” She said and turned to me just right before I could exit my space.

​

“I have a legacy to pass. Do you know how disheartening it is to hear my own son

tagged as a Playboy? A selfish womanizer?. Yes, the successes are there, but these silly titles just ruin it all? I’m honestly shocked as to why you are still healthy and alive!”

​

“I take care of myself,” I said with gritted teeth.

​

“Of course you do. But all that shit has to end.”

​

“You lived your life. I decide how to run mine.”

​

“I'm your mother, and that means you will do as I say.”

​

“I think we both know the answer to that.”

​

“Well, clearly you do not respect your mother!!”

​

“To waste your life? You call that a decision?”

​

“Don’t you dare walk out on me, Mateo!!!!!”

​

I reached for my phone on the table before me, then stormed out of the dining room.

​

“Come back here! I’m not done speaking sense into your head!!!!!!”

​