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!"

"She is an enemy of my family! She leaked that video knowing exactly what it would do to our family and business

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

"Ashley, please..."

finger in my 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 my feet and try dialing a number. This

mom. She

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 shoulder ever since we got

to walk

"Ash"

I believed any of the quads had a heart, it had to be Ashley.

send

my eyes shut as the tears threaten

spins to face me. His eyes right now

with a thud as he shoves me, grazing my elbows on the floor. "You were supposed to be good! I defended you every time my brothers grew suspicious. How could

with my hands over my face. That pauses his angry accusations. Ashely's eyes boggle at me. His hands go limp before they slide down my shoulder. I hug my knees as the painful

"What did you say?"

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 turned, you were standing there by my door. I didn't hear you

from mine. "At first, I thought it was you. I mean, no one else would

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 little switcheroo that almost cost me my virginity. Ashley surprisingly remains speechless as

motives and when I wouldn't listen to

"STOP." Ashley staggers away.

tried to 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

sure it was him." Ashley tore his

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

side if I must help Anna. I hate that I have to relive that scary incident but everything about it is true. Hence, I fend

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

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 I leaked the video. I was too preoccupied with thoughts of

flow freely from my eyes until I

He croaks. Tears shimmer in his eyes. "I'm so sorry about everything. You didn't deserve that." He pulls me into his chest and wraps his arms around me. We hold on to each other, sniffling and

apologize for the rape scare but he fails to blame Ashton or promise to confront him over the issue. Blinking, I gently pull away from

My heart is beating rapidly now. "Did you know that that was going to happen to me, Ashely?" His prolonged silence is all the answer I need. Gasping, I crawl

"Demi, please..."

rude shock to realize Ashely can stomach the idea that Ashton was going to treat me that way. Even worse was the way he pretended afterwards like he had no idea why I was

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