Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 15: Chapter 15

ASHTON

I can't believe Asher can be so reckless. What the fuck was he thinking kissing Anna? He even had it filmed? I jam my hands in my pockets to avoid punching something. Tearing my eyes away from Ashal who is trying to calm mom down, I let it sit on Demi. She's been on the phone for a while, mostly listening to her caller and speaking in hushed tones when she responds. That must be Anna calling to explain herself or perhaps Demi's overbearing aunt scolding her for her poor choice of a friend.

Asher isn't back from taking his call. I'm curious to find out what else he is hiding from us. He has a lot of explaining to do for going behind our backs like that and getting the family name smeared with distasteful gossip. He made the fucking rules of quad behavior and now he has broken a vital one. Just as I am about to go look for him, Asher emerges from the hallway, all bright-eyed with a ghost of a smile on his face.

"Mom, I'm handling it. Please trust me." He plants a kiss to our mother's forehead and orders a servant to escort her to her room. Demi hangs up now and turns to us four. Her eyes are red and teary, worse than they looked when I rushed home to find her with mother, steaming over the leaked video.

"Asher?" Her voice is hoarse and raw. Asher turns to her. With mother gone, his eyes are now cold pools, his lips curved sternly.

"Demi?"

A storm is brewing in Demi's eyes. A war of anger and frustration. For a split second, I fear she plans to charge forward and tackle my brother. The tension between them is more palpable than the one between the four of us. To my shock, Demi lumbers forward, her tears pouring. Her eyes skirt across all four of us.

"Anna's been fired."

Not the words I expected to hear. Still, my heart aches at her reddening face.

"I know she didn't mean to get involved with you." She says to Asher now. "I know Anna. She won't risk her job like that knowing it's her only source of livelihood. Please Asher, her family depends on her. She has a sick mom and a kid brother who's still in school. She doesn't deserve the hate she's getting. She's not a whore."

Asher grinds his teeth. Everything about his body language tells me he doesn't want to help but then he goes on to say, "I'm sorry about her situation but right now, saving the family's reputation is my top priority."

"Asher."

Asher turns to look at Ashely who steps forward and stands by Demi. Asher's brows furrow slightly at the show of support. "I don't think Anna can wait. We have a whole PR team and a team of lawyers at our beck and call. Anna only has Demi. I think you should consider helping her since you're not entirely blameless for Anna's present situation."

"I agree." Ashal and I quip in unison. We exchange a small smile. Demi wipes her eyes.

"Right now, her source of livelihood is paramount. If you can just talk to Donna..."

"I will." Asher's hasty response is suspicious but Demi breaks into a sweet, teary smile and even rushes to hug him.

"Thank you so much. Thanks a lot, guys. I'll let Anna know there's hope right away." Seeing her skip up the stairs like a happy child warms my heart until Asher's frozen stare hits me.

"My bedroom. Now!"

In his room, he takes off his suit, loosens his tie a bit and sits cross-legged on the couch. His eyes remind me of father's whenever we have been summoned to his study to get a third-degree. After staring intently from one brother to another, he lets out a short laugh.

"Oh man, she's got you all whipped."

do you

heard. That girl, Demi Branson, is a fine actress and she's got all my brothers dancing to her tune. Unfortunately,

impatiently. "You've got a problem with her, spit it out, Chapter and verse. Don't sit there playing dad. Some of us have better things to do." Asher is so clearly scorched by Ashely's words that he stands to his feet. He's never looked scarier and that's something

I can to get that woman out of our lives.

gets drunk and instead of going home, she commutes a good distance to the Blue Cove where her best friend happens to be on shift

it down like that, it makes a whole lot of sense

and Demi did plan to be at the Blue Cove that very night so she could get married into this family, how does that prove that she intends to harm us and not

my question. "If Demi was merely interested in our wealth and status, she wouldn't have put in a no sex clause in the fucking marriage contract. She'd tire Ashley out with baby making sex and get pregnant to secure her place here. Her

withholding information from us out of a sense of loyalty to her friend. When she fell for my trap and kissed me, I sent Demi the fucking video hoping to

it but

only one I sent the video to so if Billion-Err got

I

to anyone else, not even Anna?" Ashley asks. "Could Anna have leaked it hoping

it. Billion-Err couldn't have supported her with one flimsy video of a kiss with Ash. Demi's case was different, she had a marriage certificate with our signature that couldn't easily be ignored." Ashal leans back in his seat.

knowing it would

give Ashley a pat on his knee. "She was probably mad and

Anna. I think she meant to target us. Demi knows exactly what a video like that would stir. She's newly married into the family and she can't tell us apart. It scares and frustrates her. I see her trying every day to note the differences. She's mastered our fashion preferences. Ashley, how did she try to recognize you when

Ashely but when the behavior didn't match, she tried to leave, saying I wasn't

to know which Ash Rollins is in the video especially because the woman being kissed is Demi's best friend. They rallied in support of Danvarr's latest sweetheart, Demi Branson, the poor, innocent new wife

Ashely shrugs. "None taken."

drama in front of mom knowing fully well she sent the damn video?" Ashal's eyes blaze now. "Oh, she's

your plan here?"

how they can tell us apart. They're more interested in us proving that Ashely isn't the one in video and didn't cheat on Demi with her best

***

expression. "What honeymoon? What are you even saying

her. He doesn't want to give it away that we now know her schemes. I watch

me but I'm trying to understand

to our vacation home in Brellis Island. We'll stay there till everything blows over. Meanwhile, my brothers here will handle the rest and make sure everyone who knows we were

color drains from

sudden." She flinches when Ashely wraps a hand around her waist. "What are you doing?" Her

Asher and I exchange meaningful looks

we're off to our honeymoon. You'll have a lot of role-plays to do if we must put out convincing photos for our fans here. I trust you'll cooperate." He grabs her arm and steers her towards the door while the servants trail behind with their luggage. Demi struggles to pull away and keeps looking back at us and asking if our parents are on

"What about Anna?"

"Asher will handle it."

isn't what she envisioned. In the waning