Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 195: Chapter 195

DEMI

The world spins around me for a bit while I continue to stare at the Mac screen. Did I just see what I think I just saw? Goosebumps spread across my forearms at the sight of Ashton hovering at the door. A startled gasp quivers through my lips. When did he come in? How long has he been standing there?

"Jesus Demi, you’re so pale." He takes long strides towards me and cups my cheeks. "You look like you’ve seen a ghost. What’s wrong." With his thumb, he pads my jawline. "You don’t look well. What happened?"

But his voice drowns out as I stare into his blue eyes. Was Liam right? Is Ashton truly behind this? Would he lie to my face so coldly? Would he passionately make love to me one moment and stab me in the back the very next? I shudder in fright at the mere thought.

"Demi, you’re shaking. What’s wrong?" In a quick move, he flicks off the AC but when he turns to grab me again, I already walked away from him, towards the couch. I need the distance. I need to not smell him, feel him. That’s the only way I can think straight.

"NO!" I shriek when he starts to amble towards me, worry smeared all over his face. "Just a...I need...I...n-need a m-minute, please." I hug myself and take deep breaths.

"You’re scaring me. What’s going on? I just stepped out for less than twenty minutes and now, you’re.... what’s got you in this mood?" He looks wearily around. "Did someone come in here? Did they say something to you? Did you get a disturbing call?"

"J-Just stop, please!" I dab my misty eyes and will myself to get it together. Why does it already hurt like a stab wound when I am yet to confirm it with him? What if I’ve got it all wrong?

I have to ask him. Communication, right? I have to know no matter how glaring the truth is right now. "I h...have to ask you...s-something." I draw in a sharp breath to steady myself. "Ashton, you have to promise me you will be truthful." The statement clearly hurts his ego.

"Out with it, Demi. Make me understand what this is about."

Sniffling, I lock eyes with him. Tears blur my vision. "Are you the new editor of Billion-Err?"

Whatever he was expecting, it wasn’t the words that rolled out of my lips. "What did you say?"

"Just...answer the question. Did you buy Billion-Err..." My voice breaks as the pain overwhelms me. Instantly, his arm wraps around me. "Please tell me..."

"Demi, how could you ever think I’d do something like that to you?"

Something snaps inside of me. How could he lie to my face? How long has he been fooling me? I literally just saw the message. If I hadn’t, I’ll gobble up everything he is saying right now but I can’t. No matter how crazy I am for him, I can’t let this slide. Angrily, I shove him away from me. This was his chance to come clean but he chose to lie? Pain courses through my veins.

"How could you? I literally just saw the message..."

"What?"

"There!" I stab a finger towards his desk. "Someone was asking for your authorization before the next blog piece about me is published." Tears wrack my body as I continue to cry. Speechless, he retreats to his desk and fusses with his keyboard, possibly trying to confirm my words. Weakly, I drop on the couch, bawling my eyes out. I don’t think I can recover from this betrayal. My heart can’t take the pain.

"I forgave you for my parents..." I begin, staring at him over the haze of pain. "Even when I still battle a sense of guilt, even when everyone called me spineless for it. I chose to forgive. I chose to move on, Ashton. Please tell me I am not mistaken about the kind of man I thought you were." I shake my head. "This will kill me if I am."

Slowly, he straightens and comes to crouch down in front of me. His eyes are red-rimmed. "Demi? He cradles my head on his shoulder and holds me tightly while I cry even harder. After a minute, he pulls back and cups my cheeks. "Demi, there’s nothing on the computer." He reaffirms when my teary eyes widen in disbelief. "There’s no such message. I double checked."

I surge to my feet, shaking my head in rebuttal. "Yes, there is. I saw it."

He stands with me. "I am not behind Billion-Err. I need you to trust me. I would never hurt you..." But I shove past him to go check the computer myself. His messages are mostly office memos, meeting minutes, some unofficial car deals in the works, a few personal emails from business associates and so on. There’s nothing remotely resembling the message I just saw less than thirty minutes ago.

not fooling you, okay? I have nothing

question throws him off guard. "It was right here. I was s... standing right h-here when

didn’t delete anything.

you’re lying to

"Demi, please calm down."

at him when he tries to encroach my personal space. He’s lying. The message was right there. Gosh, how blind have I been? I tug at my hair with both hands. "I’ve been such a fool. All this time. I thought I knew you. I thought your family was largely misunderstood but now I realize everyone was right. You all are the same. The apple doesn’t fall very far

His voice is

one who’s a bad omen for the Rollins family. It has always been the other way around. I have known no peace ever since I inserted myself into their lives. Things have

please, look

you feel but hear me out. I promise I didn’t delete anything. I’ll have someone take a look at it if you want but for now, I’d really

to his outstretched hand. "I’m not c...crazy.

not. Just...take

down the name plaque on his desk and

"It’s okay."

expression coats his face instantly. "I have a lot to figure out." I start for the door

I did contact a blogger two weeks back but only..." He latches onto my wrist even tighter as I try to back away in shock, "It was only to release an official statement rebutting the earlier article that made you so devastated. I later declined because I wasn’t sure you’d want me to, plus, the media was only going to treat it as fodder for more damaging gossip against

he actually contacted a blogger. Somehow, I can distinguish that from Liam’s words. I can’t

I yank my wrist free of his grip, yelling at the top of my voice to be left alone. I make it as far as the door, ignoring

THAT AREN’T THERE, CAMILLE. IT’S YOUR CONDITION TALKING. LISTEN

turn towards him, body shaking. "What did you just

***

with his hands palmed

you just call me by my mother’s name?" Of course, he did. I know I heard him and from his present

and sighs heavily. "I’m sorry, Demi. That came out of

reply, plunking my purse on his desk. "What condition? What did you mean by that?" And because he’s debating on clarifying or risking my anger, I lean forward.

a surprise for you. Look me in the eyes and tell

my heart but keep a brave face. He rises but

the mall. I’m sure your relatives can confirm it. Your mother...Camille suffered a delusional disorder that sometimes affected what she saw or heard. It often happened sporadically. My family gave a statement about it but typically, people branded us as liars and claimed

starts to spin. My mother had delusions? Slowly, it starts to register. Snippets of my life with a mostly absent mother, my father making excuses for her when she behaved weirdly towards me. He called it the stress from work. Other times, he said mom was sick. Those episodes

away the tears threatening to fall. "My mom

beautiful things, Demi.

I stare up at him, I know for a fact he immediately understands the question

night at the

a

I finally blurt out the uncomfortable truth he hasn’t brought up

that’s why she was haunted like an animal, wasn’t it? To silence her permanently. Look me in the eye and tell me

aback by my words.

matter. Answer

his fingers through