Chapter 67: Chapter 67

ASHTON

"Are you still there?"

"Yes." Demi clarifies. Her silence isn’t doing her any good right now. How did she come by such sensitive information? Father had spent a fortune hiding as much information about Tobias’ death as he could to protect my brothers and I.

He even paid off some of the other security personnel that disposed the body and killed off the ones he couldn’t trust to take the secret to their graves. The ones who survived continue to get hefty checks from father till date.

"Demi? How did you learn all of this?" I leap off my bed now, dissatisfied with the fact that I can’t even see her to gauge her reaction.

"I’m sorry, Ashton. I didn’t keep this from the family because of I believe it. I just didn’t want Ashley breaking down even more."

"What are you talking about?"

"The box. There were two cards inside. The second one claimed that Tobias had been stabbed in his sleep with a pen knife in his neck seventeen years ago and bled to death before his body was dumped over a bridge."

"What?"

"When I saw how Ashley reacted over the first card with fewer details, I worried for him and ripped the other to shreds before we came home."

"What happened to the pieces?"

"I flushed it down the toilet. I’m sorry Ashton. I should have told you sooner but I didn’t want you, Ashley or anyone else to think I had doubts. Given the seriousness of the issue, it kept replaying in my head and that is why I asked. I don’t doubt Ashley. I know him better now. He could never do something like that. I just want to know why this blackmailer is tying the blame specifically on Ashley."

I stay clam to let my temper simmer down. "Did you ask me the question about the bugs because you suspect I am capable of stabbing a man’s throat in his sleep, even as a kid?"

She gasps. "No...God, Ashton, that’s not what I meant. You know it wasn’t." She goes on to mumble apologies for the misconception. I put her out of her misery by telling her I know she didn’t mean it like that.

"To answer your question, my guess is as good as yours. We as a family have no idea why but we know this is no different from an attack on our family. This person probably knows of Ashley’s mental health struggles since childhood and singled him out as prey. In the end, she wants to cast a slur on our character, reputation and ultimately disrupt our livelihood. We’ve had several flimsy accusations thrown at our doorstep but a murder accusation takes the cake. Tobias was like family to us. He and father were super close and his death took a toll on father. The gory details of his passing were smothered by father at his family’s behest. The media attention on them was so profuse they even had to leave Danvarr to grieve in peace. Whoever is doing this isn’t just trying to ruin our lives but to disrupt the peace the Woodleys have been enjoying all these years."

"We’ll do our best to nab this person and put an end to Ashley’s torture." Demi says.

I’m glad she’s genuinely concerned about him. At the same time, I ignore the quiet tug of jealousy. This is the first time she has mentioned Ashley several times in a row while we are talking. Though it makes sense because we are literally discussing Ash, I still feel some type of way especially given her history of babbling my name more.

"Any more questions about the plan?" I ask just to keep her on the phone a bit longer.

"I’ll let you know during our date, Ashley." She teases me before hanging up. I stare at my phone a while afterwards.

I did feel fuzzy inside at the mention of us going on a date but the reason I continue to stare at my phone is because of the difficulty I am having reconciling Demi’s sweet personality with that of a person trying to uncover secrets that could easily topple everything my family has struggled to build.

I wish I can ask her why she spoke with Eliana and attempted to converse with Olivia without affirming her suspicions. I want to believe that her eagerness to see Ashal’s penthouse is far removed from her attempt to rescue the damsel in distress known as Olivia.

Her question refreshes in my mind. It seems a little too convenient that she flushed the second note down the toilet without showing anyone else, including me. Was there really a second note?

"Mila’s call comes through, distracting me from my thoughts.

"Are you avoiding me?"

"Hi to you too, Mila." She sighs deeply.

"Look, I know I haven’t done anything to upset you. If you’re busy and can’t make the time to see or hear from me, a simple text in response to my call and text to tell me so, would do. Don’t treat me like a nuisance."

"Look Mila, I’m sorry for ignoring your calls. Asher informed me you waited for me at the racetrack that day. You and I made no prior plans in that regard. I had other personal engagements which I took the entire day to pursue. I don’t appreciate your entitlement to my time. We both know we’re leagues from getting there."

"I don’t feel entitled to your time, Ashton. I’m only asking that you extend me the courtesy of respect which I do give to you. If you’re sick of hanging out with me, take a walk but until you make that plain and clear, I won’t tolerate being treated poorly by you."

I suck in a breath. Why is she taking this so personally?

"I’ve got too much on my mind to deal with this right now, Mila. Can we do this some other time?"

this about my dare? Are you pissed

my eyes and threaten to expose it if I don’t dance to her tunes. What did you think would become of this friendship after you did that? And don’t give me that hackneyed lecture about insisting

you know how to tread carefully around her, I’ll drop it. I was really worried about that. I’m sorry for threatening you. I never plan

relief washes over

own end. "We’ll settle this with a car

spend the better part of the night tossing and turning. Sleep refuses to court my eyes. Tired, I head downstairs to grab a bottle

likes to leave his door slightly ajar unless he is discussing a private matter he doesn’t want just about anyone eavesdropping on. I stare at the door as muffled

head back upstairs, father steps out with a hand on Ashal’s shoulder. Ashal nods to something father says before walking

Father calls to me, slightly unsure. Ashal taps my shoulder and mutters, ’your turn’ while

whenever he tries to cozy up to me or do anything to shorten the gap between us. I really wish he

have to keep going back and forth on this." I begin, expelling a

other words, you’re never going to

ones. "You don’t want forgiveness, father. You want me to accept the kind of parent you are and make peace

right about me, and because you’re right about the kind

still don’t understand him or why he is beating

and balances them on his hip to spoon

the cops to investigate the murder of one of my very close friends and my son’s culpability in his death but no, I am a different type of father who does all the dirty work and shields his children from incarceration. That’s the type of father I

hands. "I knew Ashley could not have done that to Tobias. My guess was between you and Ashal because if Asher had done it, he would have announced it to me for bragging rights. As time flew by, I leaned more towards

his desk. "Why are you telling me this now? Am I supposed to pretend I didn’t relish watching that pedophile breathe his last? I don’t care if you think me a monster. I’d gladly slice and dice that motherfucker again

am proud of you for defending your brother. I never got a chance to tell you this because you decided to give Ashley the credit so I played along with your wishes, thinking you probably became afraid that I would freak out. I wanted you to admit it while growing up but you never did so I couldn’t say anything to you. Now that you’ve owned up to

words of his sentence continue to play in a loop

***

closet and gape at his massive collections of designer outfits with my jaw on the floor. There are color coded rows of pants, shirts, blazers, suits, belts, mufflers, hats, shoes,

would? He

recall the plan is strictly a family secret

how are you settling

bored. I

in no time. Did you

seriously. I’d advise you lay it thick with the

are four sections of outfits for each color." Ashley bursts out in a boisterous laugh. "Is this where you spend all your money? Why the fuck do you have so

closest to my watch collection. I tagged your name as well as the dates and events each outfit would be

are there five sets of clothes

for the day, one is for dinner and the last two are just to give you more options in case you need a quick change for an impromptu event during the day." I can’t believe he even picked clothes I

don’t need dinner clothes at home. I’d

interrupts the call to speak

as I sample the clothes. This isn’t going to be as easy as

them with a huge smile and ushers them to the living room to entertain them while the table is being

know he doesn’t care for them but

thought it weird that we haven’t all had a meal

no, Mrs. Rollins." Mrs. Elizabeth says with an ingratiating smile. "We are glad to be here at all. We know how busy you all are. Planning this to work with everyone’s

and I watch Demi’s expression dampen. Kira and her mother

"Welcome aunt. Hi Kira."

good." Kira compliments with a forced smile. Demi mutters her thanks. Both women ignore each other while

feet and dashes towards it. She returns with a big smile with her hands interlocked with that

I invited Anna to join us. I hope you don’t

course not. Anna, you look resplendent in

coyly. "Thank you, Mrs. Rollins, for the compliment and for having me." Demi’s mood seems fully perked up with Anna’s arrival as they huddle close to each other and immediately start chatting.

stairs and join

"Anything?"

even specifically mentioned that the only person he would be willing to share his time with is his new wife, Demi. I’m sure that bit was more for Nicci than the blackmailer." Ashal chuckles before adding, "We just have to

to the left where Demi sits with her friend. There’s a weird look

"Asher"

without breaking his gaze from Anna. Before I can say more, mother ushers everyone to the dining room after being notified that lunch

napkin and places it on her thighs. "I saw his official statement. He must be at work." Mother nods at her. "Strangely, I think he gives me an idea of how much of a workaholic my Kira is going to be when she

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