Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 75: Chapter 75

ASHLEY

The moment mom utters her wish, the lights and camera wheel towards Demi and I. Demi staggers backwards until she slams right into my chest. I hug her from behind to hide the awkwardness from the sharp eyes of the journalists.

"Just smile. We’ll discuss it later. Everyone’s watching." I whisper through clenched teeth. She complies and relaxes into my embrace while pictures of us are taken from different angles.

I can feel her vibrating with tension. She hates cameras and being put on the spot like this is one of the worst things you can do to her. I am just going to assume mother isn’t aware of how badly Demi hates the spotlight.

I find mom’s eyes in the crowd. She’s smiling gaily at me. Next thing I know, she winks at me. Was this the help she was talking about? Is this the plan to get Demi and I to be closer to each other? A BABY? How did she think Demi would react to this?

"Mr. and Mrs. Rollins, how do you feel about your mother’s wish? Should she be expecting a grandchild anytime soon or is there already a bun in the oven?"

The enthusiastic journalist shoves the mic too close to Demi’s face. I cup the microphone and push it downward with a stern look at him.

"My mother’s birthday party is not over yet. Please, let’s not draw the spotlight away from her."

While most of them back away to refocus on mother, some nasty ones remain to capture every worry line on Demi’s face. I spin her to face me and she buries her face in my chest.

"Let’s go upstairs." I whisper before taking her hand. At the most subtle of signals, our personal security edge closer and block the paparazzi from following my wife and I till we safely make it across to the mansion.

I intentionally dismiss guests trying to congratulate us too early with a smile and apologies for my abruptness. I manage to whisk Demi all the way to her bedroom where she sinks on her bed looking pale.

"Here, some water." She takes the glass with trembling hands and sips a little.

"Thank you."

"Calm down. Take a deep breath." I stroke some strands of hair off her face.

"Why would mother do something like that?" she asks me with curious eyes. "And in front of all those people? How could she make such a wish knowing the circumstances of our marriage and without talking to us first?" I take the glass from her hands and carefully place it on the side drawer next to the bed.

"I’m sure she didn’t mean any harm. It’s mom, remember? Our marriage might be contractual but mothers will always be mothers and try to convey their silent wishes for their children somehow. Though I don’t support her making it so public, I can understand where she’s coming from. Please don’t misconstrue it."

"It’s just that she was mad at me not long ago and now she goes and makes such a public wish that will definitely trend in the news for the next few days. It feels like she’s trying to punish me."

"No, Demi, she’s not."

"People are already speculating that I might be pregnant. It’s too much pressure on me, on us. A baby? That’s too much." I take her head and cradle it on my shoulder as she paces her breath. "I’m sorry Ash. I’m sure you’ll make a wonderful dad one day but this..."

"I know but you also have to remember that those people out there don’t know anything about our contract. We are a real couple to them. We still can be if you wish it." I take her face in my hands. "We can be more if you want it." Her eyes move uncertainly. "I’ll talk to mom. A baby is a giant leap from where we are right now. However, I want you to convey your reservations about her wish with tact. It’s still her birthday. We wouldn’t want to ruin her mood or anything."

"I understand."

I kiss the top of her hair. "You can rest if you want. Do you need me to get you anything? Should I call Anna?"

"Yes. Just Anna."

I nod before leaving her. While I make my way back to the festivities, I register with a hint of pain that she still didn’t confirm if she wants more out of her marriage to me. It’s taking forever and I know that if it’s taking her this long to give her consent, she probably hates the idea. I bump into Anna running up the stairs with her gown in her hands. I direct her to Demi’s room knowing fully well where she means to go.

I’m not surprised to find Asher coming behind Anna. They have been cozy all evening. He gestures me back up the stairs.

"What the hell was that? Did you know mom was going to do that?" He asks, vibrating with temper. I don’t get his full-blown hatred for Demi.

"Of course not. I am just as surprised as everyone else. She never said anything to me in that regard."

help you out with Demi.

where Demi and I are right now but it’s not unnatural for a husband and wife to have a baby if they so wish it, whether or not there’s a subsisting contract. Mom might have overstepped by not speaking to Demi and I first but she didn’t say anything wrong. We’re married after all. It’s up to Demi and I to decide what we do about mom’s wish. Don’t make this about you and your unproven

than two words to him since he broke his word to me and kissed my wife like I didn’t exist. I don’t care what the circumstances were. He owed it to me as my brother to keep his word and remove himself from my marriage. It still hurts anytime I see him and remember the emotions he

I can’t help but wonder if Demi would have had a similar reaction had Ashton

"Let go."

"You first."

"You betrayed me, Ash after making tall claims about your discipline and respect for boundaries. YOU

us upstairs.

our future together. You

"I hate him."

My bad." Ashal stops to look me in the eye. "You’re still hurting, I get it but sooner or later, you and Ashton will have to bury the hatchet. Remember the quad code; you can’t let

recesses of my mind

so many articles with speculations of Demi’s pregnancy start trending as she had feared. Anna even stays back to spend the night with Demi. She has been overcompensating for being MIA during Demi’s party. After having the maids

brothers are all in our usual spot. The sight of Ashton grates on my nerves and I turn to

isn’t about us." Ashton calls out. "I have something important

from him with a frown on my

"Make it quick."

silently chides me with a look before facing Ashton.

and what’s been troubling me the past couple of days." He runs a hand through his hair and leaves

kidding." I scoff, earning a searing look from the rest of my brothers except Ashton who

I should have left it at the cemetery. I should have stopped picking up strange numbers calling my phone but I am still hurting from the recent discoveries we made in

over the room as we await his latest

messed with my head. I even wanted to hit father had Demi not gotten in

I just called you all here to tell you essentially that I wouldn’t be looking into our parents anymore. We have father and mother and I have accepted that they’re

quiet

the revelation you got only to burst our bubble by refusing to tell us what you actually found out? If you had made the decision not to pursue

want to know more than ever. I saw you, Ashton. You weren’t yourself. No offense to Ashal but you looked like you were in one of those rage moments just before Ashal blacks out. It was spine-chilling and

hammers. "I’m sure we can handle

next. "We’ve had too many crises going on all at once. I can’t burden you all

WE WERE ADOPTED AND HAVE A STEPBROTHER. WHAT COULD BE WORSE THAN THAT???" I snap impatiently at

to the quad codes and quash this beef with Ashton. It will definitely take longer than

be worse is if our parents never gave

to make sense of the rubbish he just spewed. Asher quickly leaps to his feet and

drop this now. We can’t

is that supposed to mean?" Ashal barks, standing to his feet. "We were adopted. How can you believe that crap from a faceless stranger on the phone?" I continue to watch in silence as Ashal goes off on Ashton. "We were adopted,

Ashton is just saying that the stranger was trying to mess with his head.

calm Ashal down. I pace my breath. There’s something off about Asher’s damage control. I know for a fact that there’s more to this. Ashton wouldn’t have bought into the lie and even ransacked father’s office if

up, Ashton is watching me. Tears glisten in his eyes but they don’t fall. I sniffle and look away. I refuse to be tormented by anything more than I am

You all are so gullible. I’m

at breakfast. I have to nudge her every two minutes to remember to put the food she ladled on her spoon into her

you okay?" Mother

from last night. You know your parties can be quite

to put you on the spot like that but I didn’t lie. Nothing will give me greater pleasure than to see you and

the table. Ashton continues to eat quietly like he didn’t hear mom’s words. Asher and Ashal focus on their

and Demi joins them too. She barely remembers to kiss me goodbye but I don’t blame her. She’s got a

heading out as well." He gives mom a kiss on her hair. I follow suit and mom’s face crumples at being left alone

I love you." I mutter before

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