Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 86: Chapter 86

ASHLEY

"Wait, what? You finally fucked little miss perfect?" Asher shakes his head and stares at me with incredulous eyes. "What did you do? Chain her to the bed? Threaten her? Ply her with alcohol?" His eyebrows slash up at the last bit. "Alcohol. It has to be. I still doubt she would give into you sober. Ashton maybe but not you."

"Wow, thanks bro." I recline on the sofa in our game room and swirl my glass of brandy.

"No offense but I can’t believe Demi somehow fell head over heels in love with you less than a month after you caught her smooching Ashton. Come on, she’s only playing nice. Face the facts. I bet she considers last night an accident between you two. The alcohol probably dulled her senses and she let loose. Try to make love to her again tonight and see if she’ll be willing."

"I don’t have to try. I know she wouldn’t let me anywhere near her but it’s for a completely different reason, not because last night was a mistake."

"Enlighten me."

I hate to share my business with Asher like this but I am dying to talk to someone about the challenge I am having in my relationship with Demi right now. Ashal was my first choice but he is yet to return home and hasn’t returned any of my calls. Ashton is occupied with his new house guest, Mila. They both stepped out for a date or something. Asher is the only one with time to spare so I figured, why not.

The twinkle in his eyes and some of the judgmental looks he shoots my way as I share what really happened and why I dispensed with the condom makes me regret not waiting for Ashal.

"You what? How could you do that, Ashley? Are you really trying to start a family with a woman whose love for you can’t be vouched for? A woman who has clearly expressed her feelings for your brother?" His eyes are sizzling with so much disappointment and anger as he scolds me.

"I didn’t come here to share this with you just to get yelled at, okay? I need some helpful advice so Demi doesn’t hate me."

"She already fucking hates you. Why don’t you get it? Even with the alcohol, she spread her legs for you only because she thought you were Ashton and you went ahead and fucked her without a condom? That’s pathetic, Ashley. I know you didn’t pull and pray. Don’t even try to deny it. How is having a baby with a woman who doesn’t love you payback? Can you even hear yourself?"

Now that he spells it out, I do feel foolish for what I did. I should have walked away when Demi called Ashton’s name. It was all the proof I needed. She’s still very much in love with him. Her feelings for me are no where close to letting me between her legs.

I admit she has every right to be pissed about the condom situation but I suspect she plans to use this to keep me as far away from her as possible.

I rake my hands through my hair and drain my glass of brandy in one gulp. Asher is still vibrating with anger.

"Alright. I fucked up big time. I admit it. You can spare me the lecture."

"Why exactly are you still with her, Ash?" Asher asks with a scowl on his face. "Is this really what you want to settle for? You can literally have any woman of your choice. Why is it so important to you to beat your chest and rub it in Ashton’s face that you got the plain jane he wasn’t allowed to keep?"

I shift uncomfortably. "You have it all wrong."

"No, I don’t." He counters firmly. "I know you guys. You’re my brothers and I have been in your lives for all twenty-five seasons of it. I know how he intimidates you and the lengths you will go just for a chance to say you bested him at something but isn’t your fashion business enough to do that? Does it really have to be Demi?" FYI, you can’t win at this game because she already gave her heart to him."

His words cut deep inside me. "You and my therapist should form a club." I reply, lurching to my feet."

"Ashley, do not ruin your life by choosing the wrong woman all over again. Demi isn’t the one. Stick to your fucking contract and be done with her."

With my back turned to him, I grit my teeth angrily and dig out my ringing phone.

"Finally, look who has time to return my calls." I snarl at Ashal to vent some of my frustration over Asher’s judgement at him. "What? Ashal...slow down, I can’t understand what you’re saying...Madeline? What happened?" Asher is already up and next to me, trying to ascertain the damage Ashal must have caused.

"WE’RE ON OUR WAY." I echo as Asher and I rush out.

On our way to the hospital, we keep praying that Olivia’s sister, Madeline, pulls through. Ashal didn’t make much sense on the phone. I can’t help but wonder why he was with Madeline in the first place and what must have triggered him to hit her. Isn’t he seeing Cree and married to Madeline’s sister? What other layers of sick and twisted is Ashal yet to exhibit?

When we get to the hospital, we burst through the door to find Ashal hunched over the hospital bed where Madeline sits with a bandage tied around her head. The doctor is muttering a few things to her to which she nods. When she sees us coming in, she frowns. We rush to Ashal first.

"Are you okay?"

He nods grimly, then glances at Maddie with remorse.

"What happened?" Asher asks him.

"I think you both know." Madeline spits with fire in her eyes. We all turn to her. The hatred burning inside her is no surprise to any of us. She’s just like her sister; she’s trouble. Why did Ashal go after her when he was livid over the role she played in leaking his affair and secret marriage in one move? He knew exactly what his condition could make him do. It was foolish of him to hurt the younger, crazier sister of Olivia while we still have Olivia to deal with. Didn’t we all agree to handle the issue together? Why did he go behind our backs?

he reins

"How is she?"

caused a minor concussion. She’ll be fine with a little rest."

you doctor." She says before

with us, she leaps off the bed and grabs her things. Asher blocks her path when

hell out

most likely because he doesn’t want

pulls her back when she stubbornly tries to brush past him. I also cage her in by standing by the

stand there and watch them harass me like this? I already got hurt in the head. I just want to go home so tell

said to you but don’t let it get into your head. You had every right to hit this one. She deserves it since

you four? Did your mother leave your upbringing to your ass licking nannies who let you do and say whatever you wanted? Or, is there a better

Asher lunges forward to deal with her for the insult, Ashal grabs his elbow and shakes his head. His eyes are bereft of emotion

she backs away from him. He reaches her

you’re fine. Tonight was purely an accident but I know you won’t settle for that truth. You deem me a monster. You’re free to have your own opinions of me, my brothers and my family. However, I’ll have you know that you won’t go free after what you did to my family with respect to the post on Billion-Err. I warned you not to cross the

to protect the

as she sees her daughter with a bandage on. While mother and daughter hug it out,

what your daughter here did." I begin. "Didn’t

"I apologize on behalf of Maddie. She acted without thinking. Please forgive her.

you ever come up with better lines? Madeline is NOT a child. She’s a grown up who knows about actions and consequences. She knew exactly what she was doing when she leaked sensitive information

his

saw him out on a

trails off with heavy eyes. I can tell what he couldn’t bring himself to say; you don’t mess with people you can’t fight. "I’ll

out. The family turns to him in shock. I bet there is no way they can afford to shell out eighty-five grand in a year for her tuition fees. Madeline’s

to pull her

"Daddy!"

Maddie. You

room and grabs Ashal’s hand. Her knees hit the floor. "Please, I am sorry. I will do anything to fix the mess

only infuriates me. I am certain she’s putting on

you entertained the insane idea that you could poke holes in my family’s sterling reputation and get away with it." I snap at her. "The scholarship revocation is only Asher’s punishment." I turn to her parents. "I am cutting your monthly allowance

Mr. Dunn’s face crumples with pain. I guess a monthly stipend of thirty grand was heaven to them. They’ll surely have to move

this. Punish me." Madeline continues to beg Ashal, hoping to reach through the murk

asks him. Madeline’s eyes stay on Ashal,

pay for

while her parents scold her till her head starts hurting again

***

her work place just as she’s done with her shift. She skips towards me, throws her

"I missed you."

her body back on mine. "Woah, Anna..." Her lips capture mine in a hurried kiss. Instantly, I shove her away from me and wipe my

that colored her face at my rejection fades to shock and

Asher’s in color; white. "Oh goodness, I wasn’t thinking. I am deeply sorry sir." Dying of embarrassment, she starts trotting away

an accident. It’s fine. I actually came to talk to you. Can I give you a

the ride to her house. I feel her discomfort around me with every toss of her head, every

betray your best friend by kissing her husband. It was purely accidental. You thought I was Asher, whom you’ve recently

did you want

I’m sure she’s

glances out the window. "Of course she has. What

how she

protection knowing fully well that Demi doesn’t want to have a baby right now? It just seems rather convenient that you

hiss out a breath. "I messed up. I admit that. I have begged and groveled but she still

trust, Ashley. She is afraid of being vulnerable around you again given what you did. Can

at all. She’s been fueling the fire.

chance to redeem myself. Anna please, she’ll listen to you. Demi and I just fixed our relationship.

It’s all your fault. That’s my stop." She gestures to the side of the road. I pull the car over but don’t unlock the door. A frown creases my passenger’s brow as she tries the door to