Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 133: Chapter 133

DEMI

The flight to the remote Island where Nicola is staying is approximately four hours, as our pilot informed us. I am glad I convinced Ashley to take me to see her since the mansion has been unconducive lately. It was easier to convince him because Nicci hasn’t been taking his calls either and he was already starting to worry.

I made sure the trip happened today knowing the longer we take, the more complicated things could get if truly Nicci has any issues with her pregnancy. I need to make sure and figure out a way to turn things in a direction favorable to me.

I inhale a long breath and look out the panoramic window, at the bright sky. We’ve only been airborne for thirty minutes on one of the family’s private jets but I still haven’t been able to relax. My mind is haunted with troubling thoughts.

Ashley looks up from his phone and takes in my restless movements.

"Everything okay?"

I shrug my shoulders at him. "Just jittery. I can’t seem to get used to being airborne."

"Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’ll adjust in time." He leans forward to rub my knee reassuringly. His smile almost has me floored so I look away.

The truth is that my uneasiness has nothing to do with the flight. I haven’t been able to get thoughts of my lunch date with uncle Marcel out of my head.

I had gone to have lunch with him at a restaurant in a hotel a little further away from the mansion. I had to clear things up for him so he doesn’t come in and fuck up everything I’ve been working on for many years.

After the pleasantries, hugs, tears and catching up were out of the way, he pinned me with a deep look I couldn’t decipher as I toyed with my food and narrated the circumstances that led to my marriage. I bet he already heard a thing or two so there wasn’t much I could alter on that front, except the true identity of the man I wedded that fateful night. I also didn’t mention the existence of a marriage contract with Ashley. On the surface, it appeared that I was in a good marriage.

I watched him too to gauge his reaction whenever I mentioned my in-laws. His face didn’t contort in the faintest hint of anger while I calmly described them like fairly decent people. I deduced that my uncle must not know the ugly parts of the Rollins family and their direct involvement in the death of my parents.

He reached forward and closed a hand over mine.

"You never struck me as one meant for life in the spotlight. Are you truly happy, Demi?"

"Yes." I answered too fast. He chuckled.

"And the man you married? Do you love him and vice versa?"

At that moment, I thought of Ashton who was the man I truly married that night after all.

"Yes, we love each other dearly." Uncle Marcel smiled like I had actual stars in my eyes as I replied.

"That’s more convincing. I’m glad to know you’re happy and they treat you right in spite of the gaping difference in your economic bracket and theirs. Not a lot of billionaires are good with treating plebeians as decent human beings."

I force a smile before stuffing some crisp veggies in my mouth.

sensing you’re not comfortable with me meeting my in-laws." His voice drops a notch. "Does it have something to do with the fact that you’re the daughter of their former staff who died in a work-related accident in one of their properties? Do you figure it

glass of water and rubs my back gently.

nothing like that." I shake my head. "When I married their son, I didn’t know who he was. It was reckless on my part. I only realized my husband was who he was the next morning after my hangover had ebbed. Of course, I was a bit skeptical given the history shared between our family and theirs. For that reason, I sought an annulment but Mrs. Rollins begged me to give the relationship a try. It turned out okay. The family turned out to be decent folks. I have never

every other girl who came in with similar marriage claims against her sons, even pregnancy claims.

pour myself another glass, avoiding my uncle’s eyes which

you’re Camille’s surviving

didn’t want to be accepted into that family by playing the pity card. Right now, they only know that I am orphaned and that aunt and Kira are my relatives. If you want to be introduced to them, you’ll have to promise not to bring

seat. His food was untouched. His eyes pierced

want you to be truly honest

here it goes, I thought

drunk with and married that fateful night was a son of the Rollins family? Was

with a clatter. "What do you mean, uncle? Are you calling me

a lot while you were growing up but I happen to know a lot about the man who fathered you. I also know you take after him a lot. I am hearing what you’re saying but a different, more strategically fleshed out script is playing in my head and it sounds more authentic to me than what you’re saying. I remember how adamant you were that your parents were murdered. You even badgered the police officer in charge of the case with questions and calls to convey your thoughts and theories about what transpired that night at the mall. It baffles me to believe that that spitfire teenager braying for vengeance for her parents

the tablecloth. When he saw it, his eyes deemed

didn’t spend the last few years on a vengeful quest. Tell me you didn’t orchestrate your marriage as a way into that family because

you aptly pointed out. I didn’t know any better. Why would I hold a grudge when the investigations proved it was an accident, huh? Are you implying my parents were actually murdered by my in-laws unlike what the investigations proved back then, uncle? Is

subject, Demi. God, you’re just like your dad. This

happened that night?" I insisted, glaring at him. Why wasn’t he as mad as I was? What the hell happened to his anger issues to make him

that pointed to their fault in the accident but those people were too dangerous to go up against. No one would have believed me. Even the authorities buried the little evidence I gathered." He pressed his hands to his eyes. "I thought of taking the law into my own hands as I habitually did back then but I realized that even if I succeeded or failed, they would come for you, for Elizabeth and Kira. They would wipe out our entire family.

them have managed to

people. Revenge only lasts seconds and then you’re saddled with intense guilt. Unless you go through the proper channels, revenge can be dangerous and soul corrupting. In the end, you tend to become

lips. "Am I in an alternate universe

endured the pain of losing your parents and let you stay with your aunt because I hoped

me worry about that." I dumped my napkin on the table and attempted to leave but he yelled my name so authoritatively, chills actually ran

I’M NOT DONE TALKING TO

scary persona wasn’t lost after all, I thought as I slid back into my seat amidst awkward stares in

eyes flash

to you right now or cheered your revenge plan on? They’re already dead and gone, Demi. You’re no less than a daughter to me and I can tell you for free that Camille would hate to see what you’ve become. My brother too. Their sweet little girl who should be off studying, exploring the world, enjoying true love or starting her own family being obsessed with avenging their deaths to the point where she deceptively married into an evil family

eyes. He took my hands and I

or his family, leave him. Go start a new life. Give yourself a chance to heal properly. Please Demi, there’s still

"It’s too

"Demi..."

has. Everyone looks the other way when

let

you do, we all die. How would you face my parents then?" I loop my handbag across my shoulder