Four Brothers and a Bride

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!"

to our family and business reputation! She's heartless" His eyes look pained and frustrated. Though he is talking about Anna, it almost feels like

didn't go 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 asked us. She callously attempted to sully our reputation

"Ashley, please..."

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

mom. She won't help you

the corner of his eyes. His fingers tighten around the rails as he grits

to walk

"Ash"

heart, it had to be Ashley. I dry my

didn't send the

and press my

His eyes right now are not just angry but murderous.

with a thud as he shoves me, grazing my elbows on the floor. "You were supposed to be good! I

accusations.

"What did you say?"

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

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

throat as I recall the incident. I hate to do this but he needs to know that he can't always trust his brothers. They clearly didn't tell him about their

ulterior motives and when I wouldn't listen to his accusations,

"STOP." Ashley staggers away.

fix things myself. "He threatened to ruin me and silence me. He said your family would never take my side even if I was innocent, that you wouldn't rat on him no matter what, that the marriage contract was

Ashley tore his moist eyes

after the incident with you and Nicola. He calls me Branson, Ashely. That's how I knew it was him. He called me

if I must help Anna. I hate that I have to relive that scary incident but

recovered from that shock when I was sent the video of Anna and Asher. I was angry 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 about the incident. I should have told you everything." I plop on the nearest couch and bury my face in my hands while

Billion-Err would compel you all to distinguish yourselves but I meant no harm. I just want to be able to recognize you Ashley 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 about her when

flow freely from my eyes

that." He pulls me into his

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

now. "Did you know that that was going to happen to me, Ashely?" His prolonged silence is

"Demi, please..."

him but given the little I now know of his personality, it's a rude shock to realize Ashely can stomach the idea that Ashton was going to treat me that way.