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 mean

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

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

and whether you all believe me or not, I will do everything I can to get that woman out of our lives. DEMI BRANSON IS NOT THE INNOCENT, NAÏVE WOMAN SHE CLAIMS TO BE! She's got something against our family. I can feel it

replaying the whole story in my head and it's not been adding up. Demi, a seemingly innocent and sweet book seller gets cheated by her boyfriend and decides to drink away her sorrows, right? Now, she allegedly 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 and on a night when one of the Rollins brothers is drinking alone in the VVIP room. Stay with me. It so happens that she arrives on a night when the cameras in the building malfunction. There isn't a single footage of her arriving or leaving." Asher bites down on his lower lip. "This is fucking real life not a web novel and in real life, things only work out that way when it is strategically

he breaks it down like that, it makes a whole lot of sense but

family, how does that prove that she intends to harm us

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

back in his seat and exhales deeply. "But with respect to your question Ashton, the answer is yes. I do have proof. The video. I had someone film the kiss between Anna and I because I was convinced Anna was 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 rattle the foundation of their friendship. I merely hoped Anna, without Demi's guaranteed support, would become more pliable in my hands. Imagine my surprise when the very same video is leaked to the biggest critic of the Rollins Group,

to believe it but

one I sent the video to

herself." I frown

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

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. "If anything, Anna

knowing it would affect her best

on his knee. "She was probably mad and did it in

Asher counters me. "I don't think she meant to target 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.

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

the video especially because the woman being kissed is Demi's best friend. They rallied in support of

Ashely shrugs. "None taken."

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

what's your plan here?"

isn't the one in video and didn't cheat on Demi with her best friend. So, we'll give them sufficient proof without necessarily showing

***

expression. "What honeymoon? What

trying really hard not to snap at her. He doesn't want to give it away that we now know her

defensively. "Forgive me but I'm trying to understand how pretending to be away on honeymoon with Ashley

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 in Danvarr

color drains from Demi's

This...this is all so sudden." She flinches when Ashely wraps a hand around her waist. "What are you doing?" Her eyes

I exchange

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

"What about Anna?"

"Asher will handle it."

she's scared. This isn't what she envisioned. In the waning light of dusk, her moist eyes manage to communicate pain and fear before I look away. I still can't believe she'd do something so wicked to a family that has accepted her. Her innocent