Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 105: Chapter 105

DEMI

I keep trying Liam’s phone but it only goes to voicemail. Where the hell has he been all morning? I am in a crisis here and need his advice.

"Liam, I need you to call me back urgently. We have a crisis. It’s Ashley. He wants me to move out of the mansion with him. Call me!"

Tired of pacing, I slide down to my bedroom floor and cradle my head in my hands. What new game is Ashley playing at? How could he even think of something like that? Is he trying to punish me for accidentally bumping into Ashton at the church? What lies must Nicci have fed him? That bitch, Nicci. It’s time I put her in her place.

My anxiety consumes me. I can’t leave the mansion. What good will my plans be if I am confined in a house with a cheating husband, away from all the major players in my grand plan? What is Ashley going to do next? Have his father fire me from the HQ so I can be a proper house wife like Mrs. Rollins?

I close a hand over my stomach and shudder in terror. I can’t believe how far he is taking this. Imagine what he’ll do, what my life will turn to, if he finds out about my pregnancy. The entire family will go berserk with their individual feelings on the latest development and I will crumble under the weight of their decisions regarding how I am to live my life moving forward. I can’t let that happen. I have to stretch this secret for as long as I can.

I move to call Ashton to reinforce the promise of secrecy he swore to me but decide against it. It’s probably the worst time to be putting calls through to him given the vile accusations made against us just hours ago. Sick of feeling judged and trapped in my room, I grab my keys and head out. When I open my door, mother is just about to knock. We exchange somber glances before she steps into my room.

We sit next to each other on my couch, quietly for about five minutes until I grow impatient of knowing my fate.

"How’s Ashley?"

"Not good." Mother states flatly. She cranes her neck to stare at me. There’s something bitter in her eyes. "Did you really call him Ashton in bed?"

My throat dries up as my eyes droop in shame. "I...I don’t know. I don’t remember, mother. I was d-drunk when it happened."

"That only makes it more sincere, Demi."

I blot out my tears. "He asked for a chance and I gave him one. I have respected his feelings by burying mine. I broke my rule and welcomed him in my bed. I have bent over backwards to accommodate his feelings and wishes. I have done everything that was expected of me as his wife despite his indiscretions. How is it my fault that my feelings for Ashton haven’t completely evaporated? Things like that just don’t happen, mother. Do you see me breathing down his neck over his feelings for Nicci?" I shake my head.

"My point is that I am sick of Ashley failing to trust my word that despite whatever I might still feel for Ashton, I will never cross the line and betray Ashley. I wish he would afford me the same trust I have for him so he will stop making up things in his head about his brother and I."

"Is he wrong, though? You and Ashton at the church a day to his engagement couldn’t have been casual."

"That’s exactly what it was, mother. It was casual and coincidental. He came by to ask the priest if he would be available to officiate his wedding ceremony with Mila. I was just there to retrieve another copy of my marriage certificate so Ashley’s full name can be inserted instead of Ash. I just felt it was weird to still have Ash Rollins on it since all four brothers go by that name. Ashton met me on my way out and we exchanged cursory greetings before I left. Ashley would know that if Nicci, the informant he hired to follow my every move, bothered to tell him the undiluted truth."

Mother’s eyebrows knit together in a frown. "What?" He asked Nicci to do that?"

"She was at Ashton’s engagement party solely for that purpose too. She wasn’t invited by father as she claimed. She came in Ashley’s car. Anna saw them." I make a show of feeling hurt and mother places a hand on my thigh in consolation. "He’s been spending nights with her to get back at me for a little tiff we had. Now, he’s having me followed by her. What baffles me is how he can’t see that that raging, psychopathic bitch wants to ruin our marriage and will lie through her teeth to paint the wrong pictures of me in his head. How could he trust her after what she did to him as Shay?"

Mother’s hand freezes on my thigh. She didn’t know? Ashley protected Nicci even from mother?

"You didn’t know?"

"Shay is Nicci?" Mother asks in shock. Her eyes dart to a wall. I revel in being the one to break it to her. Good. This should have her distracted from painting her son as the only victim here and making me kiss his ass no matter what. He lied to her. That should give her plenty to think about.

"I’m sorry. I thought you knew. Nicci was behind it all this whole time. I honestly don’t know why Ashley is still tethered to her hip in spite of everything she’s done. I guess he does love her deeply."

"Don’t say that."

"Sorry, mother." Is this a good time to deviate? "Was father able to calm him down? He hasn’t called or spoken to me since they left for father’s study." I suck in a sharp breath. "Am I moving out with Ashley?"

Mother pulls herself together. "Ashley is beyond convinced on the matter. He wouldn’t listen to his father."

constantly have issues that need the help of family to resolve. This mansion is the best place for us. I don’t want to be away

this the wrong way and that he has faults of his own but that doesn’t stop me from feeling his pain in this. You’re talking about two

intimate with him and even that didn’t bring us any closer. I

clears her throat. "I spoke with Ashley and he is willing to stay back in this

slows down. This

"What condition?"

to bear

***

demand the craziest things just to flex some testosterone around our marriage. He wants a child with me to put a bigger barrier (somewhat) between his brother and I. I bet he doesn’t give two cents about being a dad. He just wants to saddle

my feet to go stand

child.

suffered when your test results came back negative. He wants a child with you. I for one know how the gift of a child can draw a couple closer. It happened to me and Brett. Our relationship got strained for a while when we were childless but as soon

wants but I rein in my emotions and my

wasn’t part of our agreement. Are you asking me to stay with Ashley forever?" She stands up to join me

mind once? Do you abhor

turn to her with the most pitiful look I can muster. "I can handle anything from Ashley, from his distrust and emotional neglect to his entitlement but I am afraid of introducing a child in this marriage before Ashley learns

that Ashley’s mind is already made

your son to stroke his ego at the expense of my life. I manage to conceal the anger bubbling inside me over my

this family, I

mother can’t sway Ashley, there’s one more person who can

calls me back after I leave the house for some fresh air and to

you been? Why can’t I get a

out a breath. "What do you mean by Ashley wants to leave the mansion? How

but I was hoping he’d circle

I don’t know what’s going on in his head.

"Are you sure?"

way to change his mind on the issue. If it fails, I’m going to need you to think of something to keep me in the mansion. You know what happens

How difficult can it be to sway the man with all your lady parts? Except you’re holding back. Is that it? Are you looking outside for help because

expected of me, he continues to doubt me as long as I breathe the same air as his brother. The sight of Ashton and I in the same

established that this is all your fault." I snort at him. "If you don’t want to leave, how about you find a way to make Ashton leave with

suggestion and I did think about it. I just don’t know

"Why are you silent?"

live in the mansion when he weds Mila. His mother isn’t prepared to lose him either so she made me swear not to suggest the idea to Ashley. I am only to try and convince him to

Liam says nothing.

an appointment. Hopefully,

sharply. I hope Liam doesn’t catch up with my

chair out and joins me at my table in the Honey Pot. He casually glances around in search of his latest,

threatening

Asher.

intentionally choose this place hoping to convince me with

to this but you would do the same thing if the roles were reversed. You’ve dangled my secrets like a carrot before my face and threatened me several times before. A little dose of your own

Ashley to remain

act like you don’t

but I also want

from his life not just the mansion. That’ll take

am right. You don’t give a shit about my brother. Why aren’t you divorcing him then? Why are you desperate to stay with him till the contract expires? Why are you desperate to remain in