Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 118: Chapter 118

ASHTON

"Do we know who leaked it?" I ask, storming into the mansion. Ashley is hunched over the antique bar with a forlorn look on his face. Mother has her head in her hands. Father’s jaw is clenched almost as tightly as his shut eyes. Asher is on his iPad, scrolling with a hot glare. Mila is rubbing mother’s back in small circles and whispering soft assurances.

"Who else could it be?" Asher snarls, throwing Ashley a steaming look. "I thought you had it handled. I thought you had her handled. How the fuck did she muster the courage to go against us like this?"

"Nicci doesn’t have it in her to go against me!" Ashley snaps. A bead of sweat lines his forehead as he straightens his spine. "This has to be her father’s doing. He’s been suspicious of her condition lately. Maybe he somehow figured she’s pregnant and is trying to manipulate her as usual."

"There you go defending her again." I snap at him.

I just don’t get how easily he trusts the same woman who fooled and tormented him for months as Shay but finds it difficult to extend the same courtesy to his own brother and his wife. Why is it hard for him to trust Demi and I the way he trusts Nicci blindly.

"Enough with the bickering." Mother intervenes. "None of that will help us deal with the matter at hand, don’t you get it? The longer we wait, the harder it will be for people to believe whatever contrary statement or response we put out. The truth is that Nicci is indeed carrying your child, Ashley. If her father has gotten involved, I think it will be harder to cover this up as we intended. Still, we have to try. I don’t want to lose my grandchild and I also don’t want our reputation to be dragged in the mud." She cranes her neck towards father. "Say something."

Father exhales. "Ashley, what do you have in mind, son?"

His sudden spark of interest in Ashley’s suggestion takes my brothers and I aback with shock. What is father playing at? Does he really care what we think or is this all an act to salvage the opinion we have of him?

Ashley moistens his lips and trades brief glances with us. "Uh, I was thinking of paying Nicci a visit. I want to confirm how the news got leaked. I’m certain her father might have played a role and if indeed he did, then I fear what plans he must have for his daughter. I want to make sure she and the baby are fine before we move forward with any other plan."

"Don’t you think being spotted going into Nicci’s apartment will further strengthen the rumors?" Asher asks, concerned.

"I’m not stupid. Of course I’ll be in a disguise." Asher ignores the blunt remark and fastens his eyes back on father.

I dig my fingers into my palm. Ashley isn’t the least bit concerned about Demi who is still locked in her room. If he clearly loves Nicci, why won’t he just divorce Demi and set that woman free? Why string her along while obsessing over his first love?

"Something on your mind, Ashton?"

I blink at father as he turns the spotlight on me. Asher’s words come floating back. I can’t give father any reason to suspect my mind is occupied by other things.

"I’ll like to go with Ashley. If Mr. Grey is involved, he’ll need support."

"That sounds about right." Father lurches to his feet. "Now listen, worry more about handling the girl. If her father throws threats, tell him we will speak man to man. I’ll handle him myself. I made him what he used to be. I can easily tear down whatever he has left. He shouldn’t trifle with me. Tell him I said so."

Ashley nods.

"Where’s Ashal?"

"On his way. He had a little emergency." I lock eyes with father so he gets my drift.

Mila keeps her eyes down. She realizes there are definitely some family secrets that she isn’t welcomed to know yet and like a puppet, she feigns indifference. I don’t really know where Ashal is but I instantly had to cover for him so father doesn’t get too keen on poking around Ashal’s personal business. I sincerely hope that my brother isn’t straying like Asher worries.

Ashley heads for his room after texting Nicci. I follow closely behind him, overhearing Asher running a few ideas by our father as to the official response to be made regarding the rumor.

"She’s not answering her phone or texting me back. Her father must have her phone or something."

certain he’s behind

If he knows she’s taken in for me, he will definitely be trying to milk our family or use

to his room and rushes for

get changed. You should too. We can’t be recognized as

up. We know she didn’t leak the news because we’ve got her phone. Do you really mean to leave her like that till you

her door. "I can’t think about anything or anyone else right now, Ashton. She’s fine. I’m sure she won’t suffer any harm till we return. Meeting with Nicci is more urgent. Besides, we can’t be too sure how

didn’t you speak to

at loggerheads with father. I NEED HIM. I need to have my life sorted out and I can’t think of a quicker or more effective way to get it done without

the top of the stairs.

after Demi. You two go do what you have to

Ashley slinks into his room while I head for mine. Mila falls into step with me after a small

"Aren’t you leaving?"

dad understands I’m

my closet and

cramping up your style or getting in the way of your profuse love for your

If I wasn’t already too pissed with the way my day is going, I’d probably have been fazed by the fire in her eyes. I slip on dark shades and jerk back when she tries to touch me. "What now? You don’t want my

have more important things to sort out." She seethes

just as Ashley had suspected. Mr. Grey had been expecting us so that can only mean he knows something about the latest headline on the

His eyes dart from one brother to the next. Ashley is dressed in plain clothes and I, like myself. I know Nicci will

him with a reply, he clicks his fingers, beckoning on Nicci to step forward. Slowly, she lumbers to the center of the room. "Darling,

drop to the

Nicola’s elbow. She shrieks in pain when he digs his fingernails into her skin. "SPEAK UP, SLUT! WHICH OF THEM

him and shoving the elderly man on the couch. He laughs boisterously and strokes his

father of her child." He

to which she bobs her head and links her hands behind his back, sobbing into his chest. "Don’t cry. He won’t hurt you. I’m here now." She

you care about? You’re weaponizing your daughter’s pregnancy for what? What benefit could you

her not to let him into her bed especially given their history and the wedding band on his finger but a slut will

eyes. At his signal, we are surrounded by people emerging from their hiding places behind the thick walls. They are all holding up cameras and flashing them in our

the father of my daughter’s unborn child!" He locks eyes with Ashley whom Nicci continues to cling onto. The cameras turn to

***

Rollins, do you admit that you fathered Nicola

your

be divorcing

wife feel about you fathering a child with your ex-girlfriend? Is there trouble in

questions continue to fly, getting more ridiculous by the second. Nicci mumbles what I can only imagine to be apologies to Ashley as he shields her from the small pool of

collar. "You underestimate the power and influence we have. Let me reeducate you." My hand falls from his shirt. I grab one of the cameras and smash it on the floor,

this? What fame were you promised? I can tell you’re all starving journalists and that’s why you fell for this bait. Here’s what’s going to happen." I move

"Hey, you can’t... "

sinks back in his chair

invited to cover all the best news about the crème de la crème of this country got there by stabbing the wealthy in the back, then you’re woefully wrong. Leave your gear and never promote any ill news regarding my family and I can assure you an invite to cover our celebrations. If you play your

of the top three journalists in Danvarr and has her own penthouse and a fleet

even stomps his boot hard on his camera. Mr.