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?"

to know?" Her tone is sharp and

I’ve been swamped." While I try to flesh out my lie, she only bows

Her eyes are blurry with tears when she looks up at

as she dabs her eyes dry. I lurch to my feet with a grim look. "Nicci, did he hit you? Tell me the truth! Did he hit

"I could have spoken to you over the phone but I chose to come

Slowly, I sit down

What could that

keep doing this if you only plan to string

"Nicci..."

haunts my sleep till date. That’s all in the past now. Right now, you and I are just having an affair which your wife and entire family

where this

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 feelings for her but whatever

come sit down and we

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

he

a few years from now, I will begging for scraps in the modeling industry because of my tanked career and you will be doing what you’ve been doing; obeying your family’s wishes even though your heart

her father be putting such thoughts in her head? What does he think he knows about my family and

first thing

"Look me in the 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, a status change from ex-girlfriend and side chick to..." Her voice wavers as tears roll down her

deep and heavy

about you? Why do you care what he thinks

rakes her hands in her hair and chokes back the tears. "Why are

you being like

fairytale ending you’re secretly praying for won’t happen with a woman like Demi. I’ve met her. If she was ever

you’re psychoanalyzing my wife and

some stationery. Nicci takes a step back as I advance menacingly towards her. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Asher put her up to this because she’s starting to sound like him. However, I doubt my brother has had

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 giving you all of me again? I guess those were just lies, like everything else

but I refuse to be affected by

no hope

thing going, Nicci. Why

I dip my eyes to the hand that hovers protectively over her stomach. "These secret

throat as I

pregnant, Ashley. We are having

***

Nicci has stopped crying and looking pitiful. Some unusual strength

hear

Nicola. You’re pregnant, hurray.

"Are you kidding me?"

only guy you’ve been with recently. Have you managed to track down your other boyfriend and

to. I am four weeks gone, Ashley. It can’t be his. Besides that, Finn is medically infertile and despite that, I

my child. There has to be a mistake somewhere. She must have had other partners

digs into her back and dumps pregnancy sticks

wrong." I reply with red rimmed eyes. Demi showed all the signs according to Greta but her result still came

thought you might say that." She adds before whipping out two pregnancy test

"What the fuck is this, Nicci? Did you get pregnant on purpose to trap me? You know I am married. I

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

a hand over my face. This is fucked up. This is

to prove that you