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?

displeased at Ashal but he reins in his anger and walks over to

"How is she?"

concussion. She’ll be

doctor." She

grabs her things. Asher blocks her path

hell out of

With hands jammed in his pocket most likely because he doesn’t want to give in to the temptation of smacking her face, he leers down at

by standing by the end of bed with a look of pure murder on my face. Though

"Are you just going to stand there and watch them harass me like this? I already got hurt in the head. I just want to

it, Ash" I yell at Ashal. "I don’t care what she must have said to you but don’t let it get into your head. You had every right to hit this one. She deserves it since her mother clearly didn’t whoop her ass as a

"And you four? Did your mother leave your upbringing to your ass licking nannies who let you do

grabs his elbow and shakes his head. His eyes are bereft

away from

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 line despite how much you hate us but you didn’t listen. I’ll have to teach you

You would do worse to protect the people you love." There are tears in her

While mother and daughter hug it out, her father stands still,

here did." I begin.

behalf of Maddie. She acted without thinking. Please

what she was doing when she leaked sensitive information to Billion-Err. She wanted and clearly still wants to bring my family into disrepute. That will not go

turns to his daughter with

I saw him out

with heavy eyes. I can tell what he

Asher blurts 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

to pull her out

"Daddy!"

You

Ashal’s hand. Her knees hit the floor. "Please, I am sorry. I will do anything to fix the mess I caused. You can punish me however else you deem fit

only infuriates me. I am certain

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 by seventy-five percent. You’ll have to foot the rest

monthly stipend of thirty grand was

Don’t punish them like this. Punish me." Madeline continues to beg Ashal, hoping to reach through the

your punishment for her?" Asher asks him. Madeline’s eyes stay on Ashal, thick

to pay for her

creeps into my face as Madeline’s shoulders sag in defeat. That’ll teach you, I echo in my head. She continues to cry on the floor while her parents scold her till her head starts hurting again and doctor Ezra rushes in to attend to her.

***

she’s done with her shift. She skips towards me,

"I missed you."

lips capture mine in a hurried kiss. Instantly, I shove her

colored her face at my rejection fades

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

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

I feel her discomfort around me with every toss of her head,

purely accidental. You thought I was Asher, whom you’ve recently become close to, and you did

did you want to talk

I’m sure she’s

window. "Of course she has. What you did...it

how

Why would you not use protection knowing fully well that Demi doesn’t want to have a baby right now? It just seems

that. I have begged and groveled

afraid of being vulnerable around you again given what you did. Can

been helping at all. She’s been fueling the fire. How can I

my behalf, make her give me a chance to redeem

the car over but don’t unlock the door. A frown creases my passenger’s brow as she tries