Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 100

Chapter 100: Chapter 100

DEMI

"You had me followed?" I ask him as my eyebrows knit in a frown. "Is that what we’re doing now, Ashely? You’ve got someone tailing your wife now?"

"Don’t evade the topic. I didn’t have you followed. Someone saw you and sent me this picture?"

"Who? Why would they care that I visited a colleague from work if you didn’t put them up to it?" Who could have taken this photo? What else did they see?

"You’re stalling, Demi." Ashley growls angrily. "I need to know why you had the guts to go pay Josh and Kristy a visit after everything that happened here when Josh visited. I told you to stay away from Josh, told you what he did to my brother but you disregarded everything and went to pay a visit to our enemy. WHY?"

"I also told you not to drag me into whatever issues you all have with Josh. I bear no grudge against him. He’s been nothing but kind towards me. He’s helped me a lot to navigate the complexities of my role at work while Asher drives me crazy every day in the office. I went over to Josh’s place to apologize again for the humiliation he suffered here. I wanted him to know that I wasn’t in on it nor did I enjoy watching that shit show."

Ashley narrows his eyes at me. "What exactly is going on between you two, Demi?"

"What are you insinuating?"

"I saw you. You were smiling malevolently when Josh showed up for lunch. It was almost like you knew how much it would upset us to have him here and was excited to see everything unfold."

He saw me? Does he think I know the truth about josh’s paternity? I move to clear his doubt.

"I smiled at seeing my work friend, Ashley. Since when did you become an expert at reading people’s smiles or facial expressions?" I sigh tiredly. "You’re still mad over the test results and now you’re resorting to making things up just to make me the bad guy. I also watched you that night when your father called me names. You stood there and didn’t bother to defend me. It was almost like you agreed with everything he said about me. I chose to give you the benefit of doubt rather than reading meanings into your blank face and inaction. I guess I was a fool to not pick a fight first."

Ashley slips his phone in his pocket.

"You went over to Nicci’s that night, didn’t you?" I try to distract him from his suspicions towards me and Josh.

He straightens his shoulders. "Yes, I did."

I shake my head from side to side. He didn’t even try to deny it.

"You must really love her."

"Maybe I do. You make it really easy for me to desire her, Demi. At least with her, I can be certain that I am wanted, appreciated. I have cut ties with her and pushed her to the back burner all for you and what did I get in return? Nothing! You say you’re willing to have a life with me but at the first chance you get, you push me away. You constantly remind me that I am not my brother. Why should I stick around you like glue, waiting and praying that you would one day not mix my name up with Ashton’s or desire me instead of him?"

"I agree that I haven’t been easy to deal with but running back to your ex? The same woman who tormented you as Shay? That’s more than desperate, Ashley. That’s pathetic." When I stand to go into my bathroom and freshen up, he grabs my wrist. There’s murder in his eyes. "What are you doing? Let go of me!"

"You will stay away from Josh Randall and his mother! That’s an order!"

"And if I don’t? Would you hurt me?" My eyes flash angrily at him. "Would you also hurt your father too? Last I checked, he also doesn’t consider Josh an enemy of this family so why is no one giving him grief over their closeness?"

Ashley’s grip loosens and I wrench my wrist free. "For the last time, Ash, don’t drag me into your war. Josh is my friend. I won’t desert him because you hate him, not unless he gives me a personal reason to."

"It’s already personal. He tried to kill Ashton. Do you really not care even for him? I thought you loved him?"

My hands freeze on the door knob. Why is he so desperate to make me desert Josh that he is even willing to use my weakness for Ashton?

"You’ve got to stop doing that. I am not a fool that will not stick to my guns just because Ashton is mentioned. I’ve told you, Ashton and I have moved past that. Stop trying to use him to get me to change my mind about things. It’s not going to work. One last thing, tell your informant or private investigator to stay the hell away from me. I don’t have anyone following your every move even though it hurts me where you end up going most times. You are already cheating on me. The least you can do is not treat me like a fucking property by having me followed!"

slam the bathroom door behind me. A long

having the event at one of his biggest hotel chains, Rollins Towers. Every day, I

the phone and I am afraid of guessing why. He isn’t one to easily back down because of a small threat, unless my threat wasn’t as small as

is well with Asher as he refuses to open up to her. I assure her that nothing has happened to the best of my knowledge that

out of her house to spend time with her new boyfriend, Asher. I have a few things to get off my chest but as I prepare to lash at her, her teary voice scares me. She’s

down. What’s

the secret of his medical condition to you and refuses to

you knew about that? Anna,

of the reasons why I bonded with

loyal to you." I remind her with a hand to my

know that? I am not foolish. I know about Nessa. I don’t expect him to marry me ever, Demi. I know the reality of

Anna. I know you believe you can change him one day but you can’t. You risked your life for him and he didn’t change. Helping him to save his life won’t do that either. He has a single goal; to please his father and protect his family. He will never

Ashton can never be together the way you want. I simply enjoy the time I spend with Asher and the version of him that only I get to see. Nothing else matters. I can protect myself. I’d probably get sick of him one day or find someone I can do life with but till then, I want to promise you that my relationship with Asher will never compromise the promise

believe her but I can’t. She withheld information that could have been

threatens to leave you if you don’t give him some incriminating evidence against me? You literally just called me to convince him to keep seeing you, right? You want me to assure him that you didn’t betray him. Who’s to say you won’t throw me under the bus the next time he plays mind games like this with

you. If it makes you feel any better, I will report back whatever information I can siphon from him which can be useful to you and

to yourself no matter what. That’s all I ask." She thanks me. "I’ll go talk to him and make sure he

Asher’s office, startling Nessa who is hunched

know how to knock?" He

"It’s urgent sir."

want to enter my office, knock and don’t come in until

continue to stare

Nessa to excuse us. There’s a hint of worry in her eyes as she leaves the room.

give Anna the silent treatment just to get back at me? She never told me anything about your..." He glances at me when I hesitate. Maybe I do feel a bit sorry for

didn’t tell you, how did you find out?" His eyes narrow to slits. "Nessa.

head. "Word of advice? If you don’t want people clueing in on something you want to keep a secret, don’t make them suspicious. I have walked in

on his chair. "Thank you for

Anna. Don’t play with

am bad news for her. I probably should

things when she’s desperate for him?

liked you for her anyway." And just like I expect him to, he calls Anna before

to glare at him. Of course he would lay it thick now to spite me. He’s so predictable sometimes. I knew he would

later texts me not to divulge his secret but instead of a backup threat, he leaves it at

my lunch in the cafeteria with Amber. She is happy to see that I am doing okay after everything she shared with me. Josh also comes over to join us to Amber’s surprise. I make the introductions and we all

you having lunch with the chairman today?"

for a while. I have other friends that

mad at father for not defending him. This is my chance to swoop

too

"What?"

face of humiliation. I also think father could

called me to his office but I

time as you need. That must

don’t know how much your words mean

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