Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Chapter 16

DEMI

I wait with bated breath as the line trills. Anna finally picks up.

"Demi?" Her voice is hoarse. She has definitely been crying.

"Hey." I take a deep breath to steady myself. "Erm, everything is going to be fine, okay? Asher is...."

"Where are you?" The question catches me off guard.

"What?"

"Your in-laws put out a statement that you and Ashley are currently on your honeymoon vacation outside of Danvarr and so he isn't the one in the video. There are pictures of you two together on a beachfront. Ashal did a video apologizing to the public for our kiss, claiming it was poor judgment on his part. You know Danvarr loves him as the least scandalous quad so he's been getting a lot of love. The hate comments for the Rollins family have morphed into hearts and fire emojis. I'm the only one left to hang dry now, Demi." She chokes back some tears. "You said this wouldn't happen, that I won't be out of a job. I need to support my family, Demi."

I can't believe how quickly the quads dispelled the rumors. My head is thrumming. "It's okay, Anna. Asher promised to handle it. He is..."

"Asher?" Anna questions with a sudden stern voice. "Asher is going to help me? Demi, Asher was the one who threatened Donna to fire me or she'll lose her business. Donna wasn't happy to let me go but she couldn't risk losing the Blue Cove." Anna's sobs wracked through my system, breaking my heart in splinters.

"No, that can't be right. He promised..." The moment the words leave my mouth, I realize how silly I have been. How could I trust Asher to have compassion on Anna? He played me. They all played me to get me out of the house. Now, Anna is getting the short end of the stick.

I sense his presence the minute Ashely walks in and hang up while Anna continues to sob and blame me.

"Did you know that Asher never planned to help Anna?"

Ashley huffs. "Of course, I told him not to."

I whirl to him, shocked by his response. His eyes are narrowed to slits. In his billowing shirt and flower-patterned shorts, he looks just as natural and smug as he does in a custom-made suit.

"Why? Why would you stop him?"

Ashley strolls past me, shoves the wide balcony doors open and leans on the rails overlooking a jewel-toned beach. "Because we are not Jesus, Demi. We don't forgive our enemies."

"Anna is not your enemy!"

IS." He yells at me. "She is an enemy of my family! She leaked that video knowing exactly what it would do to our family and business reputation!

the way she hoped doesn't mean she's remorseful!" He smoothed his hair as it flapped in the wind. "If she wanted money, she could have just

"Ashley, please..."

face. I've never seen him this angry. Breath explodes out of my lungs and shudder back in as I sink to the floor. What have I done? Why didn't I think this through? I recall my safety net, surge to

calling mom. She won't help

around the rails as he grits his teeth. I fear to think he knows the truth. Do they all know the truth? Is that why he's been giving me the cold

tries to

"Ash"

look on my face. If I believed any of the quads had a heart, it had to be Ashley. I dry my eyes, ready to appeal to the kindness I know he already possesses. He stands rigid

didn't send

my fingers and press my

shoulders sag as he spins to face me. His eyes right now are not just angry but murderous.

COULD YOU? HOW COULD YOU BE SO INHUMANE, DEMI? WE TRUSTED YOU!" I fall with a thud as he shoves me, grazing my elbows on the floor. "You were supposed to

accusations. Ashely's

"What did you say?"

with my blurry eyes. "Ashton tried to rape me...yesterday, at home." My skin tingles unpleasantly and I look away from his face, because the man that tried to assault me unfortunately looks just like Ashely too. "I-I was in my r-room. I had just f-finished talking to Anna on the phone. When

I mean, no one else would barge in like that. He was dressed exactly like you, smelled like you

that he can't always trust his brothers. They clearly didn't tell him about

wouldn't listen to his accusations, he shoved me

"STOP." Ashley staggers away.

was so scared, Ash." And I was. "I called for you, for mother..." My voice breaks as the sobs take over. I should have told him sooner. I shouldn't have tried to fix things myself. "He threatened

Ashley tore his

in my room. He came in once to wake me for breakfast after the incident with you and Nicola. He calls me Branson, Ashely. That's how I knew it was him. He called me Branson last night

and tries to leave but I quickly grab his arm. I need a brother on my side if I must help Anna. I hate that I have to relive that scary incident but everything about it

and confused. At the time, I feared it was Ashton toying with my mind. I thought he meant to use Anna to blackmail me to keep quiet

so I can better protect myself from Ashton or any of your brothers who impersonates you like that. Please don't hate Anna. It's all my fault. I didn't think

eyes until I feel Ashely's arms

sorry about everything. You didn't deserve that." He pulls me into his chest and wraps his arms around me. We hold on

fails to blame Ashton or promise to confront him over the issue. Blinking, I

that was going to happen to me, Ashely?" His prolonged silence is all

"Demi, please..."

me." My chest hurts with the sting of betrayal. I know I have no right to expect anything from him but given the little I now know of his personality, it's a rude shock to realize Ashely can

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