Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 136: Chapter 136

DEMI

I pride myself as being a human shock absorber ever since I married into the Rollins family but nothing prepared me for the words that came out of Ashton’s mouth as he gripped my shoulder and stared into my soul outside the villa.

"Are you Camille Branson’s daughter?"

My heart rate slows down. My vision swims as I blink at him. Did he just mention my mother’s name? Does he know my secret? How? How long has he known? How much does he know?

"W-What?" I stutter with palpable shock.

"WAS CAMILLE BRANSON YOUR MOM, DEMI? PLEASE, ANSWER ME." He persists, shaking my numb body to stir me awake from my entranced gaze.

"Hey, lunch’s ready." Ashley calls out to us with a big smile from the porch. In the second it takes Ashton to tear his eyes and hands off me and acknowledge his brother, I realize I had stopped breathing and suck in a greedy chunk of air through my nostrils and into my dry lungs. My heart is thudding violently in my chest with equal parts fear and shock.

"Come in, Demi. The wind definitely plans to undress you the longer you stay out there." Ashley waves at me. Smiling awkwardly, I seize the opportunity to get away from Ashton, ignoring his quiet plea that I spare him a few more minutes.

If I thought my first lunch with Ashley and Nicola at the villa was awkward, the one I share now with Ashton around is simply worse. Nicola is awake from her nap. She sits with tensed shoulders, poking at her food. Her head is bowed, avoiding everyone’s eyes. I wish she can lift her head so I can remind her not to be too damn obvious and expose herself. Our conversation from my first day here drifts into my mind.

That day, I yanked her arm and pulled her into the bathroom when she showed me the note. After flicking on the shower, I turned to her.

"What the hell do you mean by that? Are you kidding right now? You’re not pregnant?"

She wrung her hands guiltily while I raked mine through my hair. What the hell did she mean? How could she have fooled everyone like that?

I should have been relieved that I didn’t have to pretend to be pregnant anymore or forced to care for my husband’s child born by another woman. Yet, I wasn’t. I was livid that I had gone through all that humiliation for nothing. I was pissed that I had lost yet another gem with which to threaten the Rollins family.

"I’m really sorry. It was a spur of the moment decision. I wasn’t thinking. I had lost everything; my father, my status, my career. Losing Ashley scared the shit out of me so I did what I thought would force him to be a part of my life forever."

"What about the test results? Ashley said you were prepared to do the tests at any hospital of his choice to confirm your claim."

She scratched her head. "I know all the key hospitals the Rollins family patronize. They never go outside those three. I had already bribed those working at the labs to give a positive pregnancy result if I showed up for the test with Ashley." I was amazed at her determination.

"And the doctor here? How did you get him to not inform Ashley of the truth?"

"He’s an old family friend and owes my dad a favor." When she saw how uneasy I was despite everything, she dared to add, "I thought you’d be happy to know Ashley remains yours."

easy for me." I stepped up to her face. "Do you know what I’ve been through since your little pregnancy announcement, Nicola Grey? With one lie, you made my life hellish. When are you going to realize that no matter what you do with respect to Ashley and his family, my life gets screwed up? Do you think your confession will make my life easier? Heck, Mr. Rollins will

stuck with Ashley

to let me walk away after six months. I had to figure out a way to ensure my escape from the marriage

were catching up to me. Six months suddenly felt long enough for me to

to be really mad at

Nicci." If I couldn’t hit her for fucking things up for me yet again, I resolved to make her suffer in some way. "You have no idea, do you? You don’t know the kind of people you’ve toyed with. Don’t you want

scolded nor punished for what he did and till date, they make me out to be the crazy person for not wanting to move past the incident. Your pregnancy however excited them. They’re ready for a grandchild and deem you worthy to bear it. Imagine what they would do if they realize you lied about everything? Their hopes will

visibly shook. "They...they’ll

ever know the truth about

here. I need to go as far away as possible. Please say you’ll help

to run and leave me to bear the

I supposed to

I DON’T KNOW. All I know is that you have to find a way to maintain the lie you already told. GET PREGNANT IF YOU MUST, NICCI. I don’t care how you do it but that belly has to produce a baby at some point. Ashley and his family know I am faking my pregnancy for the world but you? If they learn you lied about carrying their grandchild and ran away, you’ll be

crying. "Ashley won’t touch

convince him to spend a few days with you. If it doesn’t work out

to buy more time to

is all mine and doesn’t rub off on my in-laws, Brett might be down to

by making them declare me unfit to be Ashley’s wife. However, the timing sucks right now. A divorce would further hurt Brett’s company which is still recovering from the aftermath of his scandal at this time. He won’t spare me if I pile on a divorce. He would bray for my blood after I leave Ashley which I don’t want. Hence, I am settling for the long game with Nicci keeping up her lie till I can find a

the dining table. Ashley is

rooms. Nicci loops an arm around Ashley to join him in to his room but before he can protest, I tell him to indulge her

already carrying your child and pregnancy comes with cravings. She’s been lonely for weeks.

"Demi?"

explain or apologize for. We’re way past that in our relationship, remember?" I lurch to my

skip up the stairs. The second I reach the hallway upstairs; I increase my pace and rush to my bedroom. I

at a low setting. Shadows play around

my question earlier, Demi." He says, cupping my face. My heart is racing from the gentleness of

same woman who died accidentally in a faulty elevator at Rollins Shopping

he knows. With his thumb, he pads away the tears that roll down my

didn’t you say

he seriously pretending to feel bad for me while lying about what really happened that fateful evening? Accident? Faulty elevator? I can’t

any point before or after your marriage

people how they died when I can just tell them I am orphaned and not have to cry myself

with clenched teeth, his voice broken and pained. "We