Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 109: Chapter 109

ASHLEY

"That wife of yours is very cheeky for her own good." Mila fumes over the phone. "She fought me, Ashley. She was so shameless about having feelings for my fiancé and didn’t even bother to defend herself. Instead, she tried to call him in my presence like he’s her knight in shining armor or something. She dared to look me dead in the eye and challenge me, ha. You better call her to order. I only held back out of respect for myself and your family."

A migraine is starting to brew in my head as she continues ranting over the phone. I have barely had time to distract myself from Asher’s warnings about Demi and now, Mila has given me more things to think about my wife. How could Demi be so cocky towards Mila. She should have shown some remorse if she truly wants peace. Mila has every right to be pissed at her.

"Calm down, Mila. You shouldn’t be so surprised. I already told you the dynamic of the relationship she has with my brother. They’ll go on denying their feelings for each other and claim they’ve moved on when their actions and words contradict their claims. It’s frustrating, I get it, but you can’t let yourself get so worked up. You have to be smart about this."

"What are you suggesting? Was I supposed to smile and pretend I don’t want to rip her eyes out? SHE KISSED ASHTON! Yuck! God knows what else she’s done with him. I can’t even let myself think that far or I’ll turn on my crazy switch and go off on her." She heaves a breath. "How do you tolerate her? Why do you?"

That’s the question everyone keeps asking me. Why do I bother with Demi? If I give up on our marriage and lose her heart to Ashton, will it be so bad? This wouldn’t be the first time he has bested me. Why am I taking things personally and too far this time around?

Demi is clearly never going to put me on the same pedestal as Ashton so even if I stay in a miserable marriage with her for however long, it’s not a win. I bet Ashton has thought about this too and had a good laugh behind my back. Demi’s heart will always be his even if he is engaged and soon to be married to another.

"Why, Ashley? Do you love her that much?"

I chuckle at that. "There was a time when Demi and I were growing closer, when she didn’t have her head filled with thoughts of my brother. We had just gotten married. We got along so well and I could tell she was open to loving me. Then Ashton happened. I don’t know when or how but I lost that sweet girl that I was prepared to love with every fiber of my being. Despite her headstrongness, there are still moments when I catch glimpses of that girl. I guess somewhere deep down, I have convinced myself that I can still find my wife and save her from the doomed path she’s on."

"If you plan on saving her, you better be certain she can be saved and do it quick. I won’t let her ruin my relationship. I’d move out of the mansion with Ashton after our marriage if I have to. I can’t let her distract him any longer."

"Move out?"

"Yeah, I’m going to run the idea by him and see what he thinks. If Demi was too stubborn to follow her husband out of the mansion even when the move was spurred by the need to save her marriage, I only hope Ashton can be more mature about the same idea."

I can already guess what his reply would be but I’d let Mila find out herself.

"What do you think he’d say, Ashley? Do you think he’d move out with me?"

Shit.

"Look, Mila, I already went down that road and trust me, it was a difficult pill for my family to swallow. If your first demand as the new daughter-in-law of the family is to separate Ashton from his family, you’re not going to get Christmas cards from anyone. I doubt my father will allow it. He’s still trying to mend his relationship with my brother. My mother too. She feels distant from Ash and means to bridge that gap. You try to take him away and they’ll hate you. Even if Ashton agrees and stubbornly moves out with you, you’re going to be blamed anyway and hated. There’s no win for you there."

She expels a deep breath. "This whole thing sucks."

"I know."

"That leaves you handling your wife then. Keep her in check or you will solely be responsible for whatever I have to resort to in order to protect my relationship." She hangs up just as Lexi walks in.

"Sir, Nicci Grey is here to see you."

"About time." I mutter under my breath before nodding at Lexi to let Nicci in.

Nicci hasn’t been clinging to me like a leech ever since the engagement party. I bet she’s upset about how I used her to keep tabs on my wife. She lamented to me over a very long voice message how she had never felt so used and unappreciated. I barely got through half of it before I gave up, having gotten the gist of it.

Of course, I forgot to call her and make amends. In my estimation, I didn’t think she would last more than a day before calling me. Well, it’s almost a week already. That scared me a bit. If I don’t have Nicci’s love no matter how conditional it might be, I’d lose my marbles with everything Demi is putting me through.

Nicci strolls in with a dull look on her face.

"Hey stranger."

She says nothing in reply, only pauses her lips and stands, gaping at me. She wouldn’t even help herself to a seat until I gestured towards it.

"Are you okay?"

you really want to know?" Her tone is

been swamped." While I try to flesh out

Her eyes are blurry with tears when she looks

dabs her eyes dry. I lurch to my feet with a grim look. "Nicci, did he hit

am crying, then you have the wrong idea. Ashley," She says softly, weakly. "I could have spoken to you over the phone but I chose to come in person because I have something serious

be good. Slowly, I sit down on my

What could that

we are and what we will never be, Ashley. I can’t keep doing this if you only plan to string me along while you work it

"Nicci..."

I know. I ruined our beautiful relationship once before and things have not been the same between us ever since then. I can never forgive myself for losing you, Ash. It still haunts my sleep till date. That’s all in the past now. Right now, you and I are just having an

that where this

chasing after the shadow of what we used to be. You’re married, Ashley. You have a wife whom many adore. I know for a fact that I love you with every breath in my body. I also know she doesn’t love you half as much as I do. I am a little unclear about your

come sit down and we could

a thread." She continues with a nervous laugh. "I have been neglecting every other thing in my life that deserves my undivided attention just because I have been too focused on chasing after you. I am left with nothing now. I neither have your

did he

going to be more than this no matter how much you claim to love me and a few years from now, I will begging for scraps in the modeling

face hardens. Why would her father be putting such thoughts in her head? What does he think

know the first

eye and tell me you have better plans for me than the bleak future my father painted. Look me in the eye and tell me all of this secret affairs and promises will soon lead to an official label on our relationship,

deep and

her eyes. "Since when did your father give a shit about you? Why do you care what he thinks or says? Your

shakes her head. "You’re evading the subject." She rakes her hands in her hair and chokes back the tears. "Why are you really with her?

you being like

want more, to embrace true love even when it’s staring you in the face. We both know the fairytale ending you’re secretly praying for won’t happen with a woman like Demi. I’ve met her. If she was ever going to fall for you, she would have done so by now. There are only two reasons why a woman who shares the same bed with a man like you would still

can’t believe you. Now, you’re psychoanalyzing my

say Asher put her up to this because she’s starting to sound like him. However, I doubt my

surprising. What happened to being willing to be my side piece as long as I am a part of your life? What happened to being satisfied with having a piece of me and waiting for the day I’ll be open to

her eyes but

no hope for us?" Her voice is

thing going, Nicci. Why does it have

away. "Everything has changed Ashley." I dip my eyes to the hand that hovers protectively over her stomach. "These secret flings will no longer do. Everything will come

dries up in my throat as I stagger backwards. "W-What

pregnant, Ashley. We are

***

she drops the bombshell. Nicci has stopped crying and looking pitiful. Some unusual strength seems to have

hear

heard you loud and clear, Nicola. You’re pregnant, hurray. What has that got to

"Are you kidding me?"

the only guy you’ve been with recently. Have you managed to track down

gone, Ashley. It can’t be his. Besides that, Finn is medically infertile and

be a mistake somewhere. She must have had other partners that I am unaware

digs into her back and

I reply with red rimmed eyes. Demi showed all the signs according to Greta

you might say that." She adds before whipping out two pregnancy test results. "They’re from two different hospitals. They

Nicci? Did you get pregnant on purpose to trap me? You know I am married. I thought you were on the pill. How could you let

long before you started prioritizing your wife over me, don’t you think? I didn’t do anything on purpose, Ashley. Things like this happen. I’m only human. I can’t say that I always remembered to take my pills especially with how often and how suddenly you like have sex no matter where we are. You hate to strap on a condom every time I remind you. Is it okay for

hand over my face. This is fucked up.

your family demands to prove that you are