Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 74: Chapter 74

DEMI

"Ashley, please take your wife away. I’d like to talk to your brother." Mom says icily without breaking eye contact with Ashton. I look over at Ashton. Whatever was bothering him seems to have taken a back seat now. He tacitly urges me to go with Ashley who has already stormed away in anger. I feel bad for putting us in this position.

When I reach the door, mother refuses to acknowledge my apologies or even look me in the face.

"You should be apologizing to your husband, not me."

"This really isn’t Ashton’s fault. I started..."

"Demi, please," Ashton interrupts me with a mild plea in his eyes. "Go to Ashley. Mother, please come in." Mother’s eyes narrow at our boldness. This must all come as a shock to her. I take Ashton’s advice and run after my husband, hoping I’d get the chance to speak to mother later.

Ashley isn’t in his room when I check. I try his phone but he keeps cutting off my call. He won’t reply my texts either. I rush out of the elevator and head towards the gate in time to see his car leave the mansion. Where could he be off to? This is bad.

"What’s wrong?" Asher comes up behind me. "Was that Ashley?"

"He um...he saw me and Ashton."

"Doing what?"

I bite down on my lower lip and drop my head in embarrassment. "We kissed."

"Are you nuts? I asked you to watch him till I handled father and you go and kiss him? What in the world were you thinking? What was I thinking sending you off with him? Shit. What are you, an animal? You’re wearing another brother’s ring for crying out loud. Why did you take advantage of Ashton’s condition to realize your sick fantasies?" He goes on to chide me continuously.

"You can have a field day cussing me out but right now, I need to find Ashley. He just left in anger and he’s not taking any of my calls. Where could he be off to?"

"Like you give a damn." He tries to brush past me to go check on Ashton but I pull him back.

"Mother has got him. Ashley is alone and pissed. We know he is being watched by his blackmailer. What if he is being followed right now? He could be in danger. Please, Asher. I need you to help me here."

Asher’s eyes widen with fear. He begins to dial his brother’s phone but now it’s switched off.

"If anything happens to my brother, I won’t spare your life. I warned you to stay away from Ashton. You knew this would happen if you got between them and still, you did. And what better timing than on the very week of mom’s birthday while your husband is still coping from a mental assault! Jeez Demi, you’re the worst wife and daughter-in-law nobody asked for."

He starts heading for his car. "You better pray to whatever god you worship that nothing happens to Ashley or you’re dead."

Tears glisten in my eyes at the insults hurled at me. I deserve them and more. What was I thinking? How could I do that with so many people around?

"Demi?"

I freeze at the sound of father’s voice before gradually turning.

"What happened to Ashley?" He asks with a frown. "Why is Asher so upset with you?"

My lips twitch as I struggle to find the words to explain how badly I just messed up. Father’s frown only deepens at the growing silence despite the questions he just posed.

"Are you deaf, girl? What happened?"

"Demi" Mother calls, stepping out of the elevator. Go wait in my room. I’ll be with you shortly."

I wipe my moist face, bow my head before leaving while she mutters something to father to pacify him. Upstairs, I stare at Ashton’s closed door. I wonder what mother had said to him, the things he had to hear because of my action. Is he trying to call Ashley too? Have I caused a rift between two brothers?

I feel worse just thinking about it. I wanted to make Ashton feel better but all I did was pile on his troubles. We didn’t even get to discuss what was really troubling him.

"Demi." Mother calls from behind me. Flustered, I turn to her. She nudges me towards her room.

"Where’s Ashley?"

I wring my hands. "He um, he went out for a drive. He’s mad at me." I strap down on the need to bawl my eyes out. Mother sits in her room with her head hanging low.

"This is not how I expected to start my birthday week." She mutters. I rush to crouch at her feet but she only moves my hands away when I touch her knees. "I didn’t expect this from you, Demi. I only said you could have one of my boys, not shuffle between them. What were you thinking?" Her eyes are pained now. "You know what Ashley just had to go through. He might be your contractual husband but that’s his brother!"

"Mother, I am sorry. I wasn’t thinking. It was a spur of the moment. Ashton was feeling very sad and he was in tears. I couldn’t get through to him. I know I have no excuse. I shouldn’t have behaved like that. I’m sorry mother." I lay my head on her knee and sob now. "Please help me talk to Ashley. He wouldn’t hear me out."

Mother gets on her feet and paces to her window. "How long have you been in love with him?"

My head shoots up to stare at mother’s stern face.

"How long have you been in love with Ashton?"

wouldn’t

your brother-in-law twice on your own volition but the only time you kissed your husband, we had to force you. You even loathed every second of it. I wanted to believe that you had no interest in any of my sons which is why you kept that

"Please mother..."

any woman he wants. Marriage was never in the cards for him but after you were dismissed from this house following your marriage claims, he took pity on you and offered to marry you officially. He even

up to him, I

his ego. If you are done with this marriage, he would have gladly signed the papers to set you free. Why did you kiss his brother while wearing Ashley’s ring for goodness’ sake?" Mother sinks into the couch closest to the window. "I can’t even defend you anymore. Whenever Ashley would come to me with questions on how to he can be a better husband for you so you guys can grow closer, it would warm my heart that he wasn’t giving up on you. This is a son who would never be bothered about being liked by a woman but he often

I know I messed up. I just

Seeing Ashley’s call, I

Please come home." He says nothing on his end.

It’s okay. I

breaks seeing how much he’s pretending to be fine just to set my mind

you

"Okay. I’ll be there."

with understanding as I rush out to go meet with Ashley. I take less than five minutes to get changed from a weepy mess to a decent fit. I have no idea how I am going to defend myself. Truth is, I am not planning to. I am guilty of

takes me to an aquarium. When I go in looking for Ashley, I find him in the empty space, seated. In front of him is a huge glass with ocean blue lights and hypnotic views of the coral reef. Occasionally, the colorful

glass together, saying nothing to each other for a few minutes. When he breaks his gaze to stare at

he forces on his face, I can tell he

You didn’t deserve

come here because I think I am perfect and entitled to your loyalty. I

off the single tear that falls from my

love before. I remember a thing or two about how helpless one

"You’re hurting."

you didn’t do that intentionally to hurt me. You both weren’t thinking at the time and it looked like you were in a compromising situation." He wipes off my tears again. "It’s

just lash out at me like everyone else? Get it off your chest, Ashley. I promise I won’t take any of it personally. You’ll be justified to do so. Don’t bottle up your feelings like this. I hurt your pride. You’re human and you’re

my gaze. "Is that what

Don’t pretend this doesn’t hurt because of our contract. I know how I felt seeing you and Nicola and I promise I didn’t do this to get back

"You’re in love with my brother, Demi. What can I possibly do about that? I have been the nice guy from day one

I prompt

he’s my brother and we literally look the same. I go to bed wondering the same thing in my head every night; if she can catch feelings for a man that looks just like me who barely treats her half as good as I do, why not me? I understand you met me as an infamous lothario but I have cut back on that life far more than you will ever

"Ashley..."

my feelings so you’re

and watch

I am feeling, Demi. It’s between a crushing disappointment and frustration in my efforts to win you and deep anger and resentment at myself for even trying, you know. What the fuck was I thinking? It’s just a year. I can survive a year with a woman who wants nothing amorous to do with me but that singular fact felt like a challenge and I ran with it. I

underserving of pure love. I am sorry I hurt you. Please, forgive me." He pulls me in for a hug and pats my

***

"How’s Ashley?" Anna asks.

leaves super early and returns super late. I barely get to see him at all. The atmosphere at home is so crazy I wish I can stay at work all day. Mother barely talks to me. She wouldn’t even take my input on her birthday plans. I know that if we were cool, she would drag me shopping and run her ideas by me. Now, she mostly has friends over planning everything

me. "And Ashton?

see them even at the dining room. I’m stuck with the rest of the family who don’t like me

at work? I bet if you two make up, the rest

don’t think he wants to

his favorite place and do all his favorite things. Try to restore your

Anna laughs at my statement. "I have to make it up with Ashley. Liam can’t find

just then. She snags the

be right back. Get started on the list of Ashley’s

call. She always takes her calls in front of me so this is quite suspicious. When she returns, she has a big smile on her face and a red blush on her cheeks. Despite how much I pester her, she wouldn’t share it with me so I give up. She helps me prepare a small gift for Ashley

part. You know he’s a fashion lover.

the wrong signals. I’m trying to win

effort in it." She goes to her wardrobe and pulls out a crepe dress with a plunging neckline. I keep protesting with every dress she selects until we settle for one

these?" I ask her. They look really

friend helped me out. I’m trying

say nothing over lots of Ashley’s designs featuring in her new collection. Her friend must be super rich to get

to Ashely’s office, I nervously make my way to his floor. Upon my entrance, his staff treat me to a receptive gaze. Smiling, I head for Ashley’s office. I don’t bother to knock before I step in, as I have done countless

he had wanted me to be the first to try. Seeing another woman in it now

dress. Her sultry eyes are fixated on my husband. Their closeness instantly makes me uncomfortable. When Nicci spots me first, she plants

her, especially her backside where the fabric dips almost to the crack of her butt. I am certain she isn’t wearing anything underneath as her clothes

to get me to try the dress for him and asked me to strip. Did he watch Nicci get naked in front of

"Oh, hi Demi."

turns to the door. I

you been standing there?" Nicci asks with a cunning

"I just got here."

didn’t tell me you

I’d stop by." I notice Ashley take