Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 88: Chapter 88

DEMI

"I can’t believe the Shay saga is finally over." Ashley quips, rubbing his hands on his eyes.

"Yeah. Thank God." I reply, studying him.

This period has really been stressful for him. He rarely slept without popping sleeping pills. His nightmares got more intense and frequent. While I sit across from him on the couch in his room, all I can think about is his PTSD and what caused it.

He has never bothered to talk to me about his childhood or Tobias. I didn’t ask the burning questions on my tongue because of everything he was going through at the time but now that it’s over, I need answers.

What exactly happened with Tobias? Why would Cree go to great lengths to torment him in particular if him and his family are innocent as they claim? Why was Tobias’ autopsy and police reports stowed away? I have a hunch that the Rollins family just managed to silence another of their victims.

When Cree was apprehended, Ashley asked to have a private moment with her. I tried to coax him into letting me stand and watch while he questioned her but he was adamant about speaking to her privately. His eyes had flashed angrily at me when I made a fuss. It was weird. His brothers had also banded to dissuade me from stubbornly insisting. That’s how I know there’s more to Cree/Shay’s accusation and I am determined to unearth it.

"So, what did Cree say?"

"What?"

"What was her reason for attacking you? You didn’t let me go in with you."

"She kept denying being Shay of course. She’s a pathological liar. I’ll make sure she pays severely for everything she’s put me through," he throws me a soft glance, "everything she’s put us through."

Vague. He didn’t even answer the question. I expected as much.

"And Ashal? Is he doing okay? Do you think he was starting to have feelings for her?"

Ashley shakes his head. "He’s fine. He is glad he figured it out and had her nabbed. He wasn’t exactly trying to date her. It was all part of the plan. We knew Cree was a prime suspect with a glib tongue and decided to sic Ashal on her to find out information or dirt on her. He went along, pretending to be interested in her. It was never real so he’s fine."

I dip my eyes.

"What?"

"I find it weird that Olivia’s name keeps coming up against Ashal’s. I get that people would always like to find something scandalous to pin on a celebrity with less drama than most but it’s just weird that the same woman and the same allegation keeps cropping up in Ashal’s case."

"We’ve got lots of enemies like Cree out there; relentless, reaching, creative. Don’t let it bother you. We’ll always win the fight no matter how long they persevere."

I keep the rest of my questions for Liam since Ashley is a good liar. This is the longest we have spoken to each other behind closed doors since the condom incident weeks ago. I can tell from the surreptitious glances he keeps sliding my way that Ashley is still unsure about intimacy with me. I allow him to torture himself by walking on egg shells around me, dreading the idea of bringing it up first.

When he slides close to me on the couch and places a hand on my thigh, my fingers tighten on the couch while I bite down on the urge to move away from him.

"Thank you for coming to check on me." His eyes dip to my lips. His head starts leaning towards me, his lips slightly puckered. Just before they touch my lips, I turn my cheek. Ashley is clearly disappointed by my reaction but says nothing to the effect. "Up for a night cap? I’ve missed you."

Everything inside me rejects the idea.

"Ok."

My answer catches him by surprise. I don’t want to cuddle next to him tonight but I have no other choice. I can’t continue to keep away from him. It’s been weeks. It sounds like a lame excuse now to hold the same thing against him after so long.

Besides, I need him to not suspect my intentions ever again like the issue of Shay’s second note. So, I’ll cuddle and maybe kiss him while fermenting a plan to get to Cree and unveil the truth about Tobias’ death and his true murderer.

"You’re glowing." Mother tells me the next morning at breakfast. It feels good to finally eat with just the family. Mila finally went back home. I hated everything about her stay at the mansion. I had to get Ashley to style me everyday just to match up to her stylish outfits. It was too much pressure silently competing with her. When she wasn’t spilling her drink (accidentally as she claimed) or oversharing about Ashton’s sexual prowess, she was watching me like a hawk to make sure my eyes don’t linger unnecessarily long on her man’s shadow. It was ridiculous.

"Oh, thank you, mother. I’m trying out a new body lotion."

Mother smothers a chuckle behind her napkin. "Not that kind of glow dear, the other kind."

A huge blush colors my cheek as the quads, with the exception of Asher, share a meaningful look. Ashton, who is finally back to being cool with Ashley, munches his food quietly after shooting Ashley a smile.

Liam’s voice come rushing back to me. They don’t love me. They’re only competing to be the first one to get into my pants. I allow the thought to play in a loop so I don’t feel bad about all the ways I am prepared to expose this family, even if it’ll hurt Ashton too. I dip my eyes coyly and continue with my meal.

After a few hours of work at the office, I head to the restroom, ensure that all the stalls are empty before turning on the faucet and calling Maddie.

"You’ve been a hard woman to reach, Madeline."

"What do you want?"

Her curtness is nothing new to me. "Going straight to the point, are we? Works for me since I have a job to get back to. I want us to meet. I want to watch you delete all the recordings and evidence you have of our conversation, meetings, the whole thing."

"And why would I do that?

"Excuse me?"

promised you’d help me get my sister out of her horrible situation. You haven’t done that yet. Liv is still

to decide if I want to pull my

is that my fault? She ruined everything. It was your job to ensure she wanted to be saved and followed through with our plan but you failed. You owe it to me to delete

video. I am certain your family forced her to do that. I saw her eyes; they were afraid. I can’t leave her there, Demi. I have to find a way for Ashal to divorce my sister or to burst her out of there so more people can rally around to hear her story, support

"Maddie..."

over, Demi. Please, I still need you. Can’t you see how powerful and manipulative your family is? How do you even sleep at night, in the same house

hand over my forehead. "Maddie..." The line cuts

Did this bitch just hang up on me? I turn off the faucet and suck in a breath through my teeth while pacing the bathroom. I still feel like punching my fist through the glass but I take calming breaths instead. I’ll find a way to delete the evidence myself and stay away

head spins when I head for the door. I hold the wash basin and give myself time

"Are you okay?"

eyes flutter open at the sound of someone’s

"Yeah. Yeah, thanks."

must have been friends with

cold water from the faucet on my face and pat it dry with my handkerchief. Amanda washes her hands next to me, watching me

"Why’d you lie?"

"What?" I ask, turning.

and pins me with

never go a day without bringing you up. Always missed you at work and worried that her job was affecting her relationship with

shock as my heart thunders in

***

I return to my office. I tuck my hands behind my back to

"Bathroom break."

a lot of bathroom breaks for one morning. Did you swallow an ocean?" His humor is lost on me. Quietly, I slide into my seat and exhale with relief when my wrist watch shows it’s barely

You’ll stay back and catch up on all the

will have to wait

usual unexpected entrance. He looks dapper in his hippy jeans and jacket. Leave it to Josh to break the dress code every now and then. Asher’s

"And why is that?"

a lunch date with the chairman and I to get to." I concur with a nod and a smile when Asher turns to me with widened eyes. "The chairman is delighted to have you join us, Demi. We could use a woman’s company as a buffer for all

relish the constipated look on Asher’s face while

you start going to lunch with father?" He asks, hunched over my desk after

don’t get what the big deal is. I eat with father at home every day. Josh invited me to

and place

internship been so far?"

"Good. Informative. Refining."

the good performance streak and

works under you." He scoffs. "I am the judge of her performance and I can tell you for free that she still

and you know it. Can you not even pretend to like your

as both

you do me a favor and keep my family matter out of your

in his father’s direction, as though throwing a challenge to his father to try and defend his bastard son in my presence. My insides churn

chimes vaguely. Josh reaches across the table to squeeze my hand

only came over to watch me and make sure I don’t figure out the truth. He keeps poking at

notice him because I am barely eating myself. I can’t seem to find my appetite with all the burning looks father and Asher throw my way even

his father let me join his lunch date with Josh. Father wipes his mouth with a napkin and locks eyes with me. I

to the recently settled beef between Ashley and Ashton. "Now, Asher and Josh can’t even stand each other because of your presence. If you had any shame left,

my presence and how

asked, I thought it would be weird to

way, Demi. All that work on

and grab my purse. When I rise from my seat, my vision wavers a bit and I lose my balance unintentionally. Hands break my fall and catch me midway. I stare up

hand on the small of my back while I blink my eyes to clear

"I’m fine, thank you."

grit their teeth at me. I wish, like they must be thinking, that I am faking

lunch. I have to rush back to work ahead of you all. I have tons

"Are you sure?"

leaving. On my way back to work, I call Liam to tell him about Josh Randall but I instruct him not to let the secret out of

off his paternity, we won’t do much damage. Brett could easily deny him. We need hard evidence that proves Brett is Josh’s father; birth certificate, DNA report, admissions from Brett and Mrs. Randall, pictures of Brett at Josh’s

the way you’re thinking, Demi. I’ve missed this

you. I’m sorry it took so long to find my way back to

pauses briefly. "And Ashton? I hope he’s no longer a weakness strong enough

shudders. "I still like him but not enough to put off

in the bathroom and the fresh onslaught of pain over the death of my parents that stemmed