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."

"You’re so slow. Maybe that’s why he loves you. You can keep him for all I care. I am not in love with him. He made that really 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

I might remain stuck with

really wanted to hit her at that moment. Mr. Rollins was never going to let me walk away after six months. I had to figure out

anxious as uncle Marcel’s worries were catching up to me. Six months suddenly felt long enough for me to get caught and punished

going to be really mad at

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 to know how I lost my baby in the first place and why the media didn’t get a whiff of it?" Hurtful as the memory was, I recounted the spine-chilling details to her and watched

own flesh and blood just because they weren’t happy with me having the baby. Asher was neither 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 be dashed. They won’t forgive you for making a fool

visibly shook. "They...they’ll

know the

arm. "Please Demi, I need to get away from here.

to bear the brunt of

am I supposed to

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

crying. "Ashley won’t touch me. Trust me,

you. If it doesn’t work out with him, you and I are screwed, Nicci." She looked shocked at how indifferent

just needed to buy more time to guarantee my freedom from Ashley. Once the contract expires and my divorce is publicized, to

a divorce. As long as the blame is all mine and doesn’t rub off on my in-laws, Brett might be down to

his scandal at this time. He won’t spare me if I pile on a divorce. He would bray for my blood after

on the dining table. Ashley is not too comfortable himself as everyone on the table

early end with everyone dispersing to their various rooms. Nicci loops an arm around Ashley to join him in to his room but before he can protest, I tell him to

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

"Demi?"

or apologize for. We’re way past that in our relationship, remember?" I lurch to my feet. "I’ll go see a movie in my room.

increase my pace and rush to my bedroom. I slide in and try to shut the door when a foot gets stuck between. I lift my eyes to find Ashton through

He shoves the door back, lets himself in and shuts it. The light in here is at a low setting. Shadows play around his handsome face, illuminating the clean angles of his jawline.

says, cupping my face. My heart is racing from the gentleness of the gesture and his eagerness for

Branson, the same woman who died accidentally in a

So, he knows. With his thumb, he pads away the

didn’t you

lying about what really happened that fateful evening? Accident? Faulty elevator? I can’t believe I almost let

mention this at any

is a very sensitive subject for me. Why would I go about telling people how they died when I can just tell them I am orphaned and not have to cry myself to sleep?

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