Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 79

Chapter 79: Chapter 79

ASHLEY

Finally, it feels good to get it out of my system. I was already sick of lugging Ashton’s secret around. It’s so infuriating to watch him act so entitled around the same woman he rejected months ago. He has no right to disrespect my position as Demi’s husband.

I don’t care if he regrets his action seeing as Demi somehow fell hard for him. He probably never envisioned that love would blossom between them but that is not my problem. They can’t be together. Demi’s mine now and six months is a decent amount of time to win her over completely and possibly elongate our contract.

Ashton remains speechless after my outburst. I meet his cool eyes and note the war brewing behind them.

"You’re going to stay within your lane and out of my business." I tell him, stabbing a finger in his direction. "How I choose to win my wife over should be the least of your concern. If you try to interfere in any way or sway Demi’s mind, I’ll involve father."

The slight twitch of his eyebrows can only be because he’s afraid of what father would do to force Demi to do what I want and not because Ashton is scared of him.

"You don’t love her, do you? All of this is just to spite me."

"You think you love her? You’re the reason she got stuck with me, remember? You just feel bad right now because the woman you rejected ended up warming her way into your heart and you in hers. Let me guess, you two must think I am in the way of your epic love story." I scoff at him. "This is no love story and if you don’t accept the reality that she isn’t yours, it’s going to be an epic tragedy. Don’t test me, Ashton. I’m not afraid to go as low as possible to keep you away from her just to stroke my ego."

Ashton chuckles at me. "Damn Ash, I didn’t realize how much you were intimidated by me. This is refreshing." The smile withers from his face. "You’re right. I didn’t expect to have any feelings for any woman, least of all the woman I married while drunk. But you’re dead wrong too. I was in no frame of mind to welcome a bride into my miserable life the morning after but you and I know that I was neither speechless nor unperturbed when mother offered her to you on a platter, right Ashley?"

I swallow a lump in my throat as he approaches me with fire in his eyes.

"I am not the only one in need of a reality check here. Demi wasn’t tossed into your lap because I couldn’t be bothered to have her; no one gave me a chance to keep her. YOU were the one who sat there speechless and unperturbed when mother made you the offer. Despite my protests, you went along with her idea like you couldn’t have turned her down. What was the kicker for you? The fact that she alluded that Demi might have zero body count? Is that why you broke character and settled for a woman you wouldn’t deign to look at on a normal day?"

"No! Virgins throw themselves at me all the time, Ashton. I am not starved of them." Our identical faces are within touching distance now.

"Then you jumped at mother’s offer to..."

"...spite you? YES." I preempt him. "It felt good for once to snag something from you, Ash. You do that to me all the time and never considered it a big deal. The dopamine hit was a different kind of high, even though I was technically helping you fix the mess you caused."

"I didn’t need help fixing anything. I was more than ready to handle Demi."

"You were only ready to annul the marriage. Mother wanted differently and that’s why she roped me in."

He chuckles now. "Yeah right. She roped in the one son who already suffers from gamophobia, to marry a total stranger and you went along with it just to spite me? I thought you were smarter than that, Ash. Does it still feel like a good decision four months down the line? You don’t have to answer that. I can tell that your ego is bruised given the lengths you’re prepared to go to force Demi to give you a double take."

My fists clench tightly by my sides. Ashton’s eyes droop to my hands and when they look back into my eyes, they’re laced with pity. I fucking hate being pitied.

"Look, I didn’t call you here to bitch and moan, Ashley. You came here looking for a fight when all I wanted to do was reach an amicable settlement. Asher and Ashal went through something similar to the situation we find ourselves in right now and they never fought with each other like this."

He grabs my shoulder and holds me in place when I try to shake his hands off. "Our family is suffering. Our brothers are suffering. We can’t continue like this, Ash. Tell me what I can do to end this strife once and for all." His eyes are sincere enough as they hold my gaze.

I peer deeply at him. Asher must have given him these lines. It’s the same line Asher used on Ashal when he realized how much Ashal was suffering due to Olivia’s rejection. Ashal had shared same with me. He had told me that sometimes, it’s better for men in our position to be vocal about how we want our brothers to earn our forgiveness rather than leave it up to them to do whatever they feel is enough.

"Tell me." Ashton reiterates. "How can we move past this? I’m prepared to do anything!"

He means it. These are not just words. His eyes, they’re bereft of pride and glazed over with remorse.

Gently, I pull his hands off my shoulders. "There’s only one thing I want from you, Ashton. If you can make it happen, all will truly be forgiven."

"And what is that?" He croaks out, his eyes a little nervous. I only offer a thin smile in return.

"I’ll let you know soon."

***

I haven’t been able to get Shay’s message out of my head. Despite the frequent public outings Demi and I have staged to dispel our divorce rumors, nothing seems to be enough distraction for me.

can’t seem to make sense of it. Why would she fabricate such damaging falsehood and where did she get that peculiar information about Tobias from? I am certain the details of Tobias’ death hadn’t been made public at the time. Has Asher been right about her all this time?

of popcorn in the cinema I rented out for our movie date. I smile as I let her stuff some of the flavored popcorn in my mouth. While she continues to concentrate on the movie, I silently watch her. How did she know so much about Tobias?

dimly lit cinema. Could Shay be lurking

"Are you alright?"

turn back

here with us. We’re fine." She beams at me. I return her smile. She resumes

over my eyes. "I keep expecting

think she’s got anymore

study her face as it tightens. "What did it say again?" She stuffs some more popcorn

tried my best to expunge that

I think. What a smart way to hide the fact that she can’t remember what she had said

movie without saying a word. Since I am trying to get her to accept my offer, I decline the call but I don’t hurry to explain if it was work related or not. I

what our bodyguards whispered to me,

definitely ask about the divorce rumor.

We’ve already had a few interviews and clarified everything. Why are they still pressing for

my jacket over her shoulder

allow ourselves to be accosted by the paparazzi who ask for our photos. While we pose for a few, they throw questions at us regarding our divorce rumors and I

you both are expecting a child soon. Is that also false?" Demi’s grinds

when we feel like we’re ready to start a family, we’ll do so."

targeted with respect to the death of Tobias Woodley? Did you play a

gasp in

you’ve been the victim of assault from a stranger claiming you have personal

shrill voice rings in my head. When I turn to make out the interrogator, I am almost blinded by the white flashes from the

and search frantically in the small crowd. It has got to be her. No one else will bring up such an impertinent matter. Demi tugs my sleeve when I try to plow through the cameras to find Shay and begs

She’s just trying to get

the reporter who admits to asking the question is a middle-aged woman and claims she was tipped anonymously, I am certain

now. Please, let’s leave." Demi

small crowd away from our car while another helps Demi to nudge me into the SUV. Inside, Demi tries to calm me down. I refuse to tear my eyes off the handful

car starts to drive away, I spot a woman at the back of the crowd, dressed in black pants and a black sweater with a hoodie. Her hands are tucked into her pockets. She lifts her head just as our car moves and in those few seconds, I

Cree Baxter!

***

you sure it was her?" Ashal asks me, perplexed, after I get home and spill everything to him in his room. I stop

the woman mistaken to be my

for Asher, he is a stark reminder of the reason I despise Ashton right now because of his role in Ashal and Olivia’s strained relationship. Ashal is the

to do? Do you want to confront

"I have a feeling she would only lie through her teeth like before. However, it can’t be a coincidence that she was there when those questions were posed.

but not very effective. I don’t think she realized I recognized her at the cinema. I think I’m going to lay low

need you to help me keep an eye on

"Me?"

you. You got her that job at the

our date, she kept begging for a job at the hotel. I

I need you to pretend to woo her and keep tabs on her. Try to reignite sparks from

I’m going to pass. I know you’re dealing with a lot here but I can’t help you with Cree. The date I went on with her was a huge mistake. I was having issues with Olivia and thought making new connections with other

I’m sorry, Ash. I didn’t realize.

involve Asher or Ashton? I’m sure one of them would readily do anything

I know he would be a great fit for this role but I have other plans for him. Asher seems promising too but he will get pissed that

logic or stroke his ego for him being right

handle it." I say, patting

I confront Cree. I don’t know how he would feel about

I suspect Cree would be more receptive to the man she went on

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