Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 78: Chapter 78

ASHTON

"Come in mother, please." I told her after Demi raced off to find Ashley. My heart was thumping wildly in my chest as mother maintained her position just outside my door. The disappointment on her face faded to anger as she finally stepped in and shut the door behind her.

"Don’t." She stopped me harshly with a raised hand when I tried to apologize. "Don’t stand there and act like you weren’t prepared to sleep with your brother’s wife if we hadn’t interrupted you two."

"Mother..."

"Ashton, this is a huge shock. I would never have expected this from you. You are not supposed to be that brother!" She leered at me. "You shouldn’t covet any man’s wife, least of all your brother’s!"

"I am not, mother. I...we just..." I ran a hand over my face and realized my eyes were still moist so I wiped them and sniffled. "I wasn’t in the right frame of mind. I would never intentionally hurt Ashley. I am deeply sorry, please." She looked at me with a churning mix of anger and pity. "Please mom, I wasn’t trying to wreck my brother’s marriage. I wouldn’t. It will never happen again."

"You can’t love her."

"I don’t." I tried my best to sound convincing. "That meant nothing. Demi and I are nothing."

"Does she know that? It didn’t look like it. She appeared to have you confused with Ashely, her real husband!" Mother stressed with piercing eyes, then with a low voice edged with pain. "You promised me, Ashton."

"I’m sorry. It was a weak moment but it won’t happen again." She didn’t believe me and simply walked out of my room. I sank down to the floor and held my head in my hands.

That night had been an extremely hard one for me. I had to suffer in silence as I processed my emotions regarding the dumbfounding revelations about our adoption. Coupled with that, I also had to endure the silent treatment from my family because of what happened between Demi and I.

Once again, I felt depressed and alone but I couldn’t let myself wallow in my pain. Wallowing in my pain led to everything that transpired with Demi in the first place.

I shouldn’t have allowed her into my room while I was in such a vulnerable state. I knew the risk and I took it, and ended up breaking everyone’s trust.

Though a few days have gone by, even mother’s birthday, things haven’t exactly gotten better between Ashley and I. We share cursory greetings and act civil around each other but he declines my calls, texts and invites to talk. According to him, he isn’t ready to have that talk with me.

Asher and Ashal have also tried to intervene but for some reason, Ashley isn’t ready to quash our beef. It’s unlike him. I don’t mean to justify my actions but I know for a fact that he isn’t in love with Demi. Dragging out his anger, though justified as he is her legal husband, seems surprising to me and leaves me wondering why he won’t bury the hatchet.

Everything has just been a lot on me. I wish I can disappear for a few days to clear my head a bit, especially with mother’s birthday wish ringing incessantly in my head. It’s none of my business but I hate that she’s trying to force Demi to do something she clearly didn’t sign up for. Did mother do it for Ashley? I wonder what Demi is enduring because of our kiss.

She seems fine from a distance but for how long? When mother gets wrapped up in the love life of any of her sons to the point where she tries to forcefully play cupid or force his acceptance by the woman such son fancies, it can get messy, like Olivia’s case.

Olivia refused to give in to Ashal and her life only grew difficult. I am not sure I can stand Demi suffering like that. I need to make sure Ashley isn’t planning on forcing anything Demi doesn’t want.

When I try to see him, I am informed that he travelled for an award show. I don’t know if I can wait until he returns so I damn the consequences and go talk to mother. One look in my eyes and she dismisses the servants redecorating the second living room.

"Ashton, are you okay?"

"I’m fine, mom. I have some questions." I pin her with a firm look while I take a seat next to her. "It’s about Ashley and Demi."

As expected, a frown mars her face.

"What do you want to know about them?" Her tone is harsh now. I understand she doesn’t appreciate my fixation with this particular subject matter. I edge close to her.

"It’s not what you think. I just need you clarify a few things for me." I wait till she mirrors my curious gaze. "I have some concerns about your birthday wish. I will be happy for my brother if he welcomes a child with his wife but mother, I hope Demi isn’t under any kind of pressure to fulfil your birthday wish as compensation for what transpired between us."

Mom reclines on the sofa. "You think Demi is being pressured to have a baby with Ashley?" A thin smile forms on her lips. "I have forgiven Demi, and so has Ashley. They’re both working together to strengthen their bond. Demi isn’t under any kind of pressure. I merely voiced my wish because I know a baby just might bring them much closer than ever before."

breath even and my gaze steady as I ask. "A baby is too much reality for a contract marriage." Mother frowns at my outburst and I quickly paraphrase. "I don’t want a repeat of Olivia Dunn,

widen with

help but see a

"Enough, Ashton."

be with Ashley, she should. If she wants to have a family with him, she should. But she should not be put under any kind of pressure whatsoever just to gain yours and Ashley’s forgiveness. Remember, we can’t hide her from the people of Danvarr anymore. She’s their sweetheart now so for the sake of

me as I stand to

threaten me, Ash? Is that

I won’t be complicit in another woman being kept against her will. I won’t let Demi suffer unjustly just to stroke my brother’s ego so whatever you’re helping Ashley do, make sure

feel over the way Olivia is being treated. She is trapped in a loveless marriage that

she understood how powerful we are and promised not to talk if only we set her free. Mother had refused her because Ashal had professed undying love for her.

don’t think it’s fair to keep people against their wish, especially when they have made it abundantly clear that

on a blind date. Innately, I hoped he would find someone else-preferably a woman from a reputable family who cannot be hidden away in his penthouse without an alarm being raised-and fall in love with

silently hoped to free Olivia from him. Any kind of love that posits to foist itself on others is an unhealthy obsession. Love

leave mother to her thoughts,

***

the videos of the award show, from his red carpet to him receiving his award and even his interviews afterward. It just seems a little too

mind wheels back to my warning. Mother had had a guilty look in her eyes. Is this what they planned? Are they

than this." I mutter. I

escorting her husband to the show. I frown at the display going on

out of my

to stay out of it, Ash." Asher tells me, tucking an arm companionably through mine and herding me back upstairs. Ashal

said a word to me ever since he overheard my conversation with mother about my disapproval of his relationship with his wife. I

interfere because of any feelings I might have for her. Demi doesn’t deserve the blames being heaped on her and I just wanted to point that

it looks like. You’re trying

of pride for someone who’s harboring feelings

at

possibly understand how desperate that can make a man feel?" He leers at me and Asher. "You two have had better luck than Ashley and I. Not only do we have demons

"Ashal"

me. Asher is already up on his feet just in case he has to

sit on his hands and not fight for her? I can’t believe you. I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT ASHLEY IS GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW AND I CAN’T BLAME HIM FOR HIS ACTIONS. He was fine upholding the marriage contract with Demi. They made it to four months until you allowed Demi into your heart and made her believe she had a shot with you. What man can take

down, Ashal. Ashton

speak for

Ashal." I quickly intervene. "You’re right, I have never been in that position. I have no right to judge you or Ashley. I am sorry, bro. I didn’t mean it like that."

love my wife dearly. I haven’t let any other woman in ever since we were wed. I am prepared to give her everything, Ashton, everything just to have her genuinely return

"I do."

"We do." Asher adds.

why am I so wrong for her when the man she wants..." he trails off to stare at Asher, "doesn’t want to give her the love or the home she

thoughts on that but I shelve my response and focus

I am not a fucking time bomb. I know when I am close enough

away respectively. I feel really bad when he storms away.

"Way to go, Ashton."

I can’t pick a fight

Ashal has been in that unfortunate position before. I thought you would come to

"And your point is?"

but the part where your brother’s wife has made her feelings known to you. Olivia wasn’t very subtle. She kept throwing herself at me and deluding herself with fantasies of our perfect life together. I’ll admit I sometimes got weak in the knees just indulging her fantasies. However,

his eyes now, mine a little