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!"

an enemy of my family! She leaked that video knowing exactly what it would do to our family and business reputation! She's heartless" His eyes look pained and frustrated. Though he is talking about Anna, it

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 and now she has

"Ashley, please..."

hear it." He warns with a 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.

She won't help

tremble now. I can't believe I shot myself in the foot. How did this happen? Ashley watches me out of the corner of his eyes. His fingers tighten around the rails as he grits his teeth. I fear to think he knows the truth. Do they

tries to walk

"Ash"

dejected 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.

didn't send the

I flex my fingers and press my eyes shut as

to face me. His eyes right now are not just angry but murderous.

fall 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

accusations. Ashely's eyes boggle at me. His hands go limp before they slide down my shoulder. I hug my knees as the

"What did you say?"

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

"At first, I thought it was you. I mean, no one else would barge in like that. He was dressed exactly like you, smelled like you but his words and

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

me of having ulterior motives and when I wouldn't listen to his accusations, he shoved me

"STOP." Ashley staggers away.

sobs take over. I should have told him sooner. I shouldn't have 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

be sure it was him." Ashley tore his moist eyes

wake me for breakfast after the incident with you and Nicola. He calls me Branson, Ashely. That's how

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

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

sending the video to 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 I leaked the

from my eyes until I feel Ashely's arms

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

Ashton or promise to confront him over the issue. Blinking, I gently pull away from his embrace

My heart is beating rapidly now. "Did you know that that was going to happen to me, Ashely?" His prolonged

"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

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