Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 97: Chapter 97

ASHLEY

I don’t know how I have been feeling ever since Ashton dropped the bomb on me about Nicola being Shay. I wasn’t entirely surprised by the revelation. Yet, it still hurts to confirm my suspicion. It still stings to know how selfish her love is.

I have given her everything once and it was never enough for her. She wrecked me emotionally and that’s suicidal given my traumatic childhood. She defamed me publicly and left me to crawl my way out of a dank pit of misery and self-loathing.

Foolishly, I let her back into my life after years of therapy and self-branding. I blame my desperation to prove to myself that I am worthy of being loved or at least lusted after.

Nicci has been my longest relationship despite our complications. She knows me better than any other woman I have been with. I know she can be selfish but to be so selfish she didn’t mind using my darkest secret against me is just heartbreaking.

I have been avoiding her calls and wondering how to confront her about everything. I don’t know how I want to handle this. Do I officially end our relationship even if it’ll wreck her right now? She did the same to me and I probably shouldn’t care but deep down, I don’t think I can go through with a break up. It’s partly for Nicci and partly for me because I can’t let go of her when I am still unsure of Demi’s heart.

I think about ghosting her but that seems like a weak move. I want to confront her, hear her admit her heartless betrayal to my face but not today. Today, I just want to forget how much my love life sucks and focus on the one thing I don’t have to beg people’s admiration for; my fashion business.

I am currently working from another spare office because mine is being worked on. I’ve got someone getting rid of the secret door I built for Nicci to sneak into my office years back, to avoid the paparazzi. Now, it’s just going to be a wall.

"Mr. Ashley?" Levon calls my attention for the third time.

"Yes?"

"Your phone’s ringing."

I look down to find my phone buzzing loudly on my desk. Why is mom calling? I take the call. "Yes mother?" She continues to rant and go in circles while I massage a brewing headache on my left temple.

"Mhmm, I remember the finance minister’s wife. Lovely lady." I lie so her chitchat can progress. Then the shock hits me. My eyes double like the size of saucers. "Demi is what?" I am already siting up in my chair. Demi is pregnant or rather, could be pregnant?

"I know, right. I was just as shocked and so was Demi. She quickly countered Greta, citing that she isn’t pregnant or she’d know but the thing is Greta is hardly wrong about these things. She has a keen eye for sniffing out a woman in the early stages of her pregnancy. I haven’t been able to suppress my hope so I wanted to ask you if...you know, both of you have ever..."

Ever slept together? That’s what mom is trying to confirm.

"Yes mom. Demi and I have consummated our marriage."

A small gasp of excitement escapes her lips from the other end of the phone.

"Really? And did you...never mind. If you did, there’s a chance Demi could be wrong. She’s confusing work stress with the discomfort that a first trimester brings. Oh Ashley, could you confirm with your wife? If Demi is truly pregnant, we have to take better care of her and the baby, cut back on her working hours and all that stuff. It’s too risky moving on without knowing for sure. Please make her take a test or go see a doctor at our family hospital. Can you do that for me?"

I am too flustered right now. Demi could be carrying my baby? I may be a dad soon? The possibility and the change are both scary and exciting. Scary because Demi might not be ready for this and loathe me for putting her in this position. Then Asher’s prediction will come true and I’ll be forcing a woman who isn’t fully committed to me to have a baby. That would be a different kind of hell.

It is exciting because there’s a slim chance Demi will forgive me and focus on having our baby and preserving our marriage. With Nicci’s betrayal and losing our relationship, I won’t feel so terrible because I am starting my own little family. The fear of being alone or feeling unlovable will be greatly reduced.

"Ash, did you hear me? Will you ask Demi to confirm?"

"Yes. Yes, mom. Don’t worry. I’ll get back to you on that."

When I hang up, Levon eyes my smile with a suspicious air. "Good news?"

"Kind of."

I slip my phone into my pocket and surge to my feet like a new man. No more sulking and staying late at the office to avoid home and the pitiful looks on my brothers’ faces. Nicola can wait. I’ll deal with her later. I need to see my wife right now and know if we have cause to celebrate or a major fight to settle.

"Levon, let’s call it a night."

"Ok." He clears his papers from my desk. "Good night, sir." The moment he leaves, I dial Demi’s phone.

"Hey, are you home?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Mom was worried you looked really stressed out. I was thinking maybe I could run you a bath, massage your feet. Do you want a day off or a paid leave from work so you can rest? Just say the word and it’s done. I am leaving work now. What can I get you on my way home?"

okay? Mom already called you

invisible blush creeps into my cheek. "I’m sorry about that. You must have

she hadn’t heightened mom’s hopes. I am not pregnant,

sure. "But you can’t be too sure. We should probably do a test

am not sure, you should be. You assured me you pulled out, right? Was that a lie?" An ominous silence ensues. My heart

Even condoms aren’t a hundred percent secure." Her silence makes chills run down my back. "Are you

strips. I’ll

my phone. On the bright side, I got her to agree to do the test. We’ll handle whatever follows after the test results. I grab my keys and head for the door. When I swing it open, Nicola stands on the other side of

"Ashley?"

can’t. I just can’t do this right now. I brush past her but she

texts. You completely shut me out. Did I do something wrong? Why is there a man blocking off the

second thoughts, maybe I should just deal with this right now. I yank my hand free of

DONE ANYTHING

"C-Cree?" She stammers.

ruin me. I got your career

please, hear me out..." When she tries to take my hands, I move them away and

You saw me go through the worst phases of recovery from a past trauma. You have to be a spun of the devil to use such a devastating experience to have me running back to you. You’re despicable, Nicola. I am not surprised you keep losing people in your life.

Ashley, please forgive me. I did it for love. You know how much I love you.

DARE MENTION MY WIFE’S NAME WITH

with shame and

who you are, Nicci. You think you did anything out of love? No, you don’t love anyone but yourself! You don’t care about anyone but yourself! You use people

done that to you. Please, give me a chance to make it up to you." Her tears and words only serve to annoy me further.

or my house, I’ll have you disgraced publicly and thrown out." While she is still sobbing and begging,

but instead, I just feel hollow inside. Hearing her indirect admission hurt more than I care to admit. Why do I keep living in denial? The truth is always staring me in

The same goes for Demi. It’s the worst kind of delusion to

home after buying the test strips. My anxiety goes through the roof now. What if Demi

pregnant? How will mother feel? Will Demi be willing to let me close to her again after a pregnancy scare? These

dining table where she’s supervising the maids

"Ashley?"

I am home." I hug her briefly and

pale. Is everything okay? Did you and

she isn’t pregnant but agreed to take a test." Mom’s face breaks into a smile. "Mom, lower your expectations, okay? I don’t want Demi to feel any kind of pressure from your end. There’s a chance the test might

dad, you know what that means. No more sneaky links. The contract will have to be revisited. There’s a lot of changes to be made, conversations

can’t believe mom is already in that headspace. She

his face. "What are you two talking about?" I grab mom’s hand when she whirls to tell him

a married man. Is it unnatural for him to want

eyes wheel towards me, a confused look on his face. "You’re having

I quickly clarify. "She might

"Did you bring that pauper here to bear my grandkids? That was not part of the agreement! How could you put such ideas in his head? Demi was clearly a mistake we planned to rectify in

the universe has bigger

sleep with Demi unprotected; your son did so spare me that universe crap." He

snarls

"I’m not pregnant!"

stairs in a floor length dress. Her hair cascades messily down her

contract I

to impossible for me to not want my son’s happiness," She turns to shoot me a warm smile. "Ashley wants kids even though he’s too nice to admit it. He’s very considerate of your feelings. I know you two have a contract but that doesn’t stop you from altering it if you so please. You only have to want a life with Ashley, the same long-term commitment he silently pines for with you and

think so,

them, Brett." Mom counters father. "Let the kids

your silent wishes on him. He’s a free-spirited young man, a free bird by nature. He’s the last of our sons to crave marital commitment. Let him live a little and when he’s ready to

here." I caution him.

not blind,

anything more about my marriage. Whatever decision has to be made will

the hand I hold out for her and follow me up the stairs while my parents watch,

goes into her bathroom to pee on the sticks. I got three! My hands are clammy with