Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 126: Chapter 126

ASHTON

"What do you mean by you’re not sure if you can ever forgive me?" Mila yells in my face in her home. "Did you already forget the part where I explained this was all Demi’s plot? I told you that she came up with it herself for goodness’ sake! You’ve always asked me to empathize with the woman and when I tried, she laid out a condition before she could trust me. Since she isn’t actually pregnant and stands no chance of getting hurt, I played along. Why can’t you let it go?"

"That’s not the point, Mila. Yes, Demi isn’t really pregnant. Yes, I asked you be kinder towards her, to empathize with her but I didn’t expect you to go along with such a silly plan knowing the ripple effect it will have on my family. I expected you to know better than to stir up another negative report about my family like we don’t already have enough to deal with lately. What happened to knowing more about families like mine compared to Demi? Would you have done the same if it was going to affect Spellman Group?"

"Don’t go that far. It was nothing malicious so don’t paint it like I have something against your family. I just wanted to get into Demi’s good graces, earn her trust somewhat so I can connect with her. If she knows she has a friend in the house, don’t you think her life would be easier? Don’t you think she would be less miserable in that mansion? I did all of that for you because I know you would be happy if she is happy."

"Don’t spin this on me."

"I’m sorry love but as long as it involves her, it will always come right back to you. You made certain of that." She paces around in only a sweater and white lingerie. "I have tried, Ashton. I have twisted myself in uncomfortable shapes just to please you. I am even on the verge of befriending the woman my fiancé is in love with. What more could you ask of me? How understanding can a woman be? Yet, you stand here and choose to point fingers at me alone. I bet you sympathized with Demi above all else. Did she cry on your shoulder?" She shakes her head. "She can never be wrong in your eyes, is that it? Or, you’re desperate for any kind of excuse to call off our engagement."

"Now you’re taking it too far!"

"Am I?" She sidles up to me and places both hands on my chest. Gradually, they slide down. "We’ve been engaged for weeks and I don’t even remember the last time you kissed me or made love to me. Why do I feel like this is peculiar to me? Are you really that uninterested in your future wife or is there someone else you jerk off to while alone?"

When I try to wrench her hands away, she slides them down and grabs my dick.

"Mila, you’re just evading the issue here. I don’t have time for this."

"Then make time. I have needs, Ashton and by this ring on our fingers, you’re meant to satisfy them. She yanks me down with her and captures my lips with hers.

***

"I take it I am forgiven?" She says with a seductive flutter of her eyelashes while I zip up my pants. I can’t even be mad at her. I feel so much limber and relaxed. I needed that to ease off the stress of the last couple of days. When she runs her hand over my bare chest and leaves a trail of wet kisses, my blood starts to hum with desire again. Gently, I push her back. I am really running late.

"I’ve got an appointment."

"Call me as soon as you’re done. Don’t even try to ghost me." Her hands wrap around my neck. "Promise me you’ll miss me. I wish I didn’t have to go for this stupid business meeting."

"That’s the price you have to pay for being Mila Spellman."

"Then I can’t wait to be Mila Rollins so we can have sessions like the last fifteen minutes whenever we damn please."

I didn’t mean to look indifferent or unexcited but Mila catches on and lets her hands slip from my neck.

"Wow, Ash, you can at least pretend to be gleeful."

"Hey, it’s not that." I assure her, snagging her waist with one hand. "I’m sorry. I wish I could be cheerful but things haven’t been going great with my family lately. We are always on the news for the wrong reasons. Internally, we are dealing with a lot of as you know. I just can’t allow myself think selfishly about my own happiness right now. My family needs me more right now. I’ll call you, okay?" I kiss her fully on the lips. "Thank you for helping with Demi. I hope you can sway her to stay in line in the meantime."

"I am no magician but I’ll give it a try."

"That’ll do." She winks at me before I leave.

I was being honest when I said I felt selfish thinking of my own happiness lately. Everything is going south in my family. My kid brothers are out of control. Cree called to tell me Ashal left his penthouse and definitely went to see Madeline. He hasn’t been taking my calls ever since, same with Ashley and Asher. Everyone seems to have gone haywire. To top it all, father is closing in on Adriana’s existence which I can’t have.

I take a breather and head for Keith’s farm house. He might have been ignoring me but I doubt he would be able to keep that up once he sees me at his house.

"You have some balls coming back here." He spits with venom when I park outside the gate. If looks could kill, I would have been dead. I check my own temper and try to be understanding of his. "TURN THE FUCK AROUND."

I get down from my car instead and circle towards him. "Keith, let me in. I can explain everything. It’s not what you think."

"Are you calling me blind and stupid?"

to tell you that I got an emergency just as I got to the meeting point. It was urgent. You know how desperate I have been to meet my sister. Do

don’t care what excuses you have.

his shoulder roughly and pull him back. "No, it isn’t. I don’t get your desperation to keep Adriana away from my brothers and I but I am telling you now that I will meet with her one way or the other. Everyone

shoves at me. "FUCK YOU. SHE’LL NEVER BELIEVE YOUR WORD OVER

noble as her big brother, why don’t I get the same chance? Why do I have to lose her at the slightest infraction? That’s not how family works, Keith. People fuck up all the time but family

hot glares while

longer interested in meeting you."

me it’s sort of a dream of hers. She wants her family back. Dreams are not that easy to discard, Keith. I know she’ll still be interested in

know nothing about

to return inside, I yell after him. "Don’t stand in my way Keith. I don’t want to have to resort to extreme measures to smoke

glares

had pilfered from his pocket when I grabbed him. With a few tricks, I override his security key and scroll through his contacts. With the lock on his phone, I’m certain he wouldn’t mind saving Adriana’s number with her name as he is convinced very few people can beat his security key. I copy Adriana’s contact details but before I can scroll through their chats, Keith starts to frisk himself for his phone. I toss

in the quad group chat after putting a reasonable distance between me and Keith. Am I missing something? Did we have an arrangement and I forgot

bated breath. She doesn’t pick up at

plan to send a text to clarify my identity if she fails to pick up

am temporarily astounded to

up." I wait a beat to make sure and continue. "I’m so sorry about the last time. I had an unavoidable emergency. I didn’t mean to stand

get my

Please, Keith isn’t letting me talk to you so I had to get your number

speak more so I can get an inkling of what she’s thinking in her

have to speak to my brother

"Ok. I totally understand."

how Keith feels because four rich and handsome strangers have appeared

this number

That response brightens my

you, Adriana. I’ll be waiting for

thought until Keith starts blowing up my phone barely five minutes later. The big bad wolf must

wouldn’t have resorted to

more chance. Consider it

"What?"

wants to meet. I don’t know what you said to

Finally, today is going right

run a hand over my hair. "When can we meet?" An incoming call buzzes. I ignore Ashley’s call and continue

so? Too bad. Clear your schedule and be back at my place in an hour.

hangs up before I can get another word in. Never mind, I am beyond thrilled to share everything with the quads. Asher will feel less guilty about ruining our first shot. This might take Ashley and Ashal’s

want to talk?" I laugh as each brother jostles for my attention. When Mila’s call comes through,

"Hey."

You must have been really impressed with me earlier today." I smile as I set off for Keith’s. I am not waiting an hour. I’ll be at

in high

I see you

my work for

is no distraction. You should wait until you

the photos arrive. "Mila, I’m driving. This isn’t safe." I reply breathlessly. My brothers continue to call and it pisses me off a bit.

"Ok. Talk later."

Ashal’s call because I need to know if he has fucked up with Madeline once

THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW BAD THIS CAN GO IF YOU DON’T LISTEN TO ME? TELL ME YOU

knows."

"What? She knows what,

her boyfriend’s death. She figured out that I had been present at her dorm, watching them on his last

and pound my steering wheel