Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 71

Chapter 71: Chapter 71

DEMI

"Thank you for coming." Aunt says with a ghost of a smile. I am not ready to be around my aunt and cousin yet. My body language screams this fact. However, we might as well get it over with.

Kira sits across the center table in the small living room. Like mine, her legs are crossed and her back straight. She is looking at me but not contemptibly as usual. There’s a churning mix of shame and envy swimming in her eyes. Her mother nudges her to stop to staring fixedly at me.

"Demi, we apologize for our poor behavior at your in-law’s place. We agree that sometimes, we can come off as unloving and distant..."

"Distant? I think the word you’re looking for is hateful." Aunt gulps at my raw correction. Kira’s eyes dips to her hands where she is quietly pressing her artificial nails into her palms. She’s not happy to be in this position but it appears her hands are tied and she has to kiss my ass or they can forget about currying favors with my in-laws forever. That’s really their motivation for this fake apology meeting.

"Hateful." Aunt accepts my word choice. She wrings her hands with a bowed head. "I want you to understand that I don’t hate you. I don’t wish you harm. You are my sister’s child after all. I could never wish for your death."

"But you can wish for my downfall, my divorce, my disgrace?"

"Demi..."

"I’m not quite finished, aunt Elizabeth!" I fire at her.

Kira’s downcast eyes flutter towards me. There’s ticking bomb behind them. I am waiting for her to break character and say one wrong thing to me so my exit from their house will be justified. However, aunt reaches for her daughter’s hand and squeezes it to remind her to stay calm.

"I have endured so much under your roof and I was fine with it. You and my mom weren’t very close. You never sent me any cards for my birthday, no gifts or even calls. I know mother did those things for Kira here even though you never properly acknowledged them. From a young age, I suspected my only aunt might not be a very friendly person but my mom defended you and constantly tried to change my mind about you. She was wrong about you and I was right." I shake my head at her.

"The first time I stepped foot in your house was after my parents died and even then, you weren’t thrilled to be saddled with the responsibility of taking care of me. The fact that my mom’s death settlement and savings were paid to you didn’t soften your heart. You splurged everything on your daughter while I lived like a pauper. You put me to work and made me earn my keep. THAT was a hateful thing to do to your own niece."

"I understand why you would see it that way...."

"That’s the only way to see it, aunt. There’s no other interpretation."

"But she paid you back everything she owed." Kira interjects, ignoring the flash of warning in her mother’s eyes. "She got you married into the richest family in Danvarr. The life you’re enjoying right now is all thanks to my mom. If she hated you so much, she would have dragged me there in your place, right? She would have lied that I was the person one of their sons was married to."

I lean forward and pin her with a piercing gaze. "Your mom didn’t do shit for me, Kira Collin. If I hadn’t got drunk and gone to the Blue Cove, it wouldn’t matter what story Billion-Err could come up with it. I had a marriage certificate to prove my claim. You and your mother never gave two cents about me and whether or not I wanted to go through with the marriage. You only thought of yourselves and how you could exploit the Rollins family at my expense. What you didn’t count on, aunt, was Mrs. Rollins taking a liking to me and Billion-Err fighting for my right. Those two things AND my certificate are responsible for the wedding band on my finger, not you!"

I lean back and stare at them. "I bet you wish Kira was in my place."

"I wish you two would get along. I don’t want your stories to be a repeat of that of your mother and I. I’m ready to end the cycle, Demi but I can’t do it alone. You and Kira have to make peace so we can be one happy family."

I gasp at how relentless she’s being. She turns to her daughter whose eyes are still fired up at me.

"Kira, Demi is your cousin. You are related by blood. Whatever unhealthy rivalry you two have going on, you have to ditch it and make up with her."

Kira’s eyes soften as she lays it on her mother. "I’m not the proud one, mom. As soon as Demi learns to swallow her pride and come down her high horse, then we can talk like cousins. I am not going to let her treat us like doormats until then."

"I scoff at that. "Doormats? Asking for the apology I deserve is equivalent to treating you as doormats? Wow. You’ll never learn." I get on my feet and aunt’s eyes widen with worry.

"You can’t leave yet. You two have to sort this out."

"Let her go, mom. We’ll survive. And Demi, don’t forget your contract expires in six months." Her eyes twinkle as she stares at me. "You’re not going to be Mrs. Ashley Rollins forever. I might not have the luxurious life you’re enjoying but at least I have a real mom and a family that doesn’t come with an expiration date."

I’ll admit that one lances at my heart. Nevertheless, I never went into this to bag the Rollins last name for a lifetime. I just want to avenge my parents. I don’t think any other regrets after my divorce will trump my failure to do right by my murdered parents.

"I’ll take that temporal family any day over a lifetime with the likes of you." While aunt continues to call for me, I wrench open the door and slam it shut behind me. Then I heave a deep breath. Families are so exhausting.

"Why did you have to antagonize her? You promised you would keep your mouth shut and follow my lead." I hear aunt scolding Kira in a hushed tone.

way I was going to watch her disparage us like that. To

door. I don’t care what you have to do. Grovel at her feet if you must but you have to get us back in her good graces. Think of the opportunities we would get if you’re the first

and her evil stepmother twisted remake is this? I plaster my

cold shoulder, Asher won’t abandon us. He still needs our help to get rid

be of much help to him if he realizes that Demi no longer listens to us. He’ll ditch us and find other ways to get rid of

him with his goal mom, even if Demi no longer listens to us. Plus, I don’t need vast experience with Asher. I just need

thinking as I trot to my car parked

since his return from Brellis. I am not put off by it. I don’t mind being around him, especially since he stopped being awkward about the fact that

was so much fun getting to know his unhinged side and speaking freely about ourselves. Ashley felt more like a cool guy friend rather than a grumpy husband. I don’t mind being around this new version of him. Besides the truth of Tobias’ murder, I am curious to know how this version of Ashley can help

my stomach when my eyes fall on the couch Ashton and I had almost kissed in. We hadn’t even gotten around to going on a proper date while he was still

to me from

closer to admire him doing what

halt my life while waiting for her next move. I have the support of my family. That’s

you feel that

need a minute...done." He gets up from his squatting position so fast I barely have time to shift back. Our foreheads narrowly miss colliding

my bid to avoid bumping heads with him and start falling on my back when his deft hands catch me. Breathing heavily, I stare up at his bluish eyes as he

"Are you okay?"

can get. Ashley could easily be Ashton in my eyes right now, especially since I already have a clear picture of Ashton in Ashley’s clothes from the latest switcheroo they executed. My throat dries up as I struggle to find the words

"Mmhmm."

long enough for Ashley to misconstrue the look and lean down to kiss me. The

god. I’m

lays on his

"Are you hurt?"

pull me up. When I take it, he pulls me close to him till our stomachs are meshed together. My eyes go wide with shock. I thought

for me?" I follow his gaze to the dress he

"Isn’t that Nicci’s job?"

to wear my designs on a runway. I can pick whomever I want to be the first one to try

to

yes?" His eyes are hopeful and pleading. I shrug my shoulders since I have no

like the boss he

slash towards him. He doesn’t flinch at the shock

"What?"

have to try it on butt naked so I know it sits right.

for him to tell me he is pulling my legs but there is a cold air around him that makes me feel like it’s Asher on

not funny. I hate you!" I grab my bag and keys while he rushes to the door to block me. "Get out of my way. I hate it when you do that." It’s a new habit of

face...it’s just too priceless to watch. You went pale." He laughs a bit more. "I swear, no more of that shit. Please forgive me. I thought you’d be used to it by now but you fall for it every time so it’s hard to resist pranking you." I let

that, and for the kiss. I didn’t mean

My mood is ruined for the modeling. "I need

you off." He offers with a

to my office and set aside the treats I got her before focusing on

curious. She wouldn’t leave her desk unmanned for this long with Asher around. Speaking of Asher, I find it weird that he hasn’t called for her like he does every five minutes.

be taking some medication with

hollers at me. Nessa rushes to the door and with a strange look in her eyes, nudges me to stay out. She slams the door shut in my face. I stand outside, perplexed. What was that? Why were they being

***

because someone saw them taking regular pills? Even Nessa acted strange like she knows something I don’t. I tried to siphon the details from her afterward but her mouth was a steel trap. I wonder what the truth could be." I crane

her eyes. She blinks at me with a small smile. "Where’s your head at?

some medication in his office today and yelled at you when you came

twice like I always do. There was nothing sudden

his secretary was with him?" Her eyes curiously fixate on mine. "She was

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255