Four Brothers and a Bride-Chapter 105

DEMI

I keep trying Liam’s phone but it only goes to voicemail. Where the hell has he been all morning? I am in a crisis here and need his advice.

"Liam, I need you to call me back urgently. We have a crisis. It’s Ashley. He wants me to move out of the mansion with him. Call me!"

Tired of pacing, I slide down to my bedroom floor and cradle my head in my hands. What new game is Ashley playing at? How could he even think of something like that? Is he trying to punish me for accidentally bumping into Ashton at the church? What lies must Nicci have fed him? That bitch, Nicci. It’s time I put her in her place.

My anxiety consumes me. I can’t leave the mansion. What good will my plans be if I am confined in a house with a cheating husband, away from all the major players in my grand plan? What is Ashley going to do next? Have his father fire me from the HQ so I can be a proper house wife like Mrs. Rollins?

I close a hand over my stomach and shudder in terror. I can’t believe how far he is taking this. Imagine what he’ll do, what my life will turn to, if he finds out about my pregnancy. The entire family will go berserk with their individual feelings on the latest development and I will crumble under the weight of their decisions regarding how I am to live my life moving forward. I can’t let that happen. I have to stretch this secret for as long as I can.

I move to call Ashton to reinforce the promise of secrecy he swore to me but decide against it. It’s probably the worst time to be putting calls through to him given the vile accusations made against us just hours ago. Sick of feeling judged and trapped in my room, I grab my keys and head out. When I open my door, mother is just about to knock. We exchange somber glances before she steps into my room.

We sit next to each other on my couch, quietly for about five minutes until I grow impatient of knowing my fate.

"How’s Ashley?"

"Not good." Mother states flatly. She cranes her neck to stare at me. There’s something bitter in her eyes. "Did you really call him Ashton in bed?"

My throat dries up as my eyes droop in shame. "I...I don’t know. I don’t remember, mother. I was d-drunk when it happened."

"That only makes it more sincere, Demi."

I blot out my tears. "He asked for a chance and I gave him one. I have respected his feelings by burying mine. I broke my rule and welcomed him in my bed. I have bent over backwards to accommodate his feelings and wishes. I have done everything that was expected of me as his wife despite his indiscretions. How is it my fault that my feelings for Ashton haven’t completely evaporated? Things like that just don’t happen, mother. Do you see me breathing down his neck over his feelings for Nicci?" I shake my head.

"My point is that I am sick of Ashley failing to trust my word that despite whatever I might still feel for Ashton, I will never cross the line and betray Ashley. I wish he would afford me the same trust I have for him so he will stop making up things in his head about his brother and I."

"Is he wrong, though? You and Ashton at the church a day to his engagement couldn’t have been casual."

"That’s exactly what it was, mother. It was casual and coincidental. He came by to ask the priest if he would be available to officiate his wedding ceremony with Mila. I was just there to retrieve another copy of my marriage certificate so Ashley’s full name can be inserted instead of Ash. I just felt it was weird to still have Ash Rollins on it since all four brothers go by that name. Ashton met me on my way out and we exchanged cursory greetings before I left. Ashley would know that if Nicci, the informant he hired to follow my every move, bothered to tell him the undiluted truth."

Mother’s eyebrows knit together in a frown. "What?" He asked Nicci to do that?"

"She was at Ashton’s engagement party solely for that purpose too. She wasn’t invited by father as she claimed. She came in Ashley’s car. Anna saw them." I make a show of feeling hurt and mother places a hand on my thigh in consolation. "He’s been spending nights with her to get back at me for a little tiff we had. Now, he’s having me followed by her. What baffles me is how he can’t see that that raging, psychopathic bitch wants to ruin our marriage and will lie through her teeth to paint the wrong pictures of me in his head. How could he trust her after what she did to him as Shay?"

Mother’s hand freezes on my thigh. She didn’t know? Ashley protected Nicci even from mother?

"You didn’t know?"

"Shay is Nicci?" Mother asks in shock. Her eyes dart to a wall. I revel in being the one to break it to her. Good. This should have her distracted from painting her son as the only victim here and making me kiss his ass no matter what. He lied to her. That should give her plenty to think about.

"I’m sorry. I thought you knew. Nicci was behind it all this whole time. I honestly don’t know why Ashley is still tethered to her hip in spite of everything she’s done. I guess he does love her deeply."

"Don’t say that."

"Sorry, mother." Is this a good time to deviate? "Was father able to calm him down? He hasn’t called or spoken to me since they left for father’s study." I suck in a sharp breath. "Am I moving out with Ashley?"

Mother pulls herself together. "Ashley is beyond convinced on the matter. He wouldn’t listen to his father."

"But he’ll listen to you. He can never turn you down." I grab her hands. "Please mother, Ashley and I are not ready to live apart from this family. We constantly have issues that need the help of family to resolve. This mansion is the best place for us. I don’t want to be away from you. I’d only feel lonelier knowing I don’t even have my husband’s loyalty to begin with. It’s unfair of Ashley to seek to punish me like this."

"Demi, I know Ashley is going about this the wrong way and that he has faults of his own but that doesn’t stop me from feeling his pain in this. You’re talking about two brothers here who could easily pass for twins. They shared a womb. They’ve been together their whole lives. Having to fight over a woman is killing them both."

"What would you have me do, mother? Ashley will never stop suspecting me. You asked me to be intimate with him and even that didn’t bring us any closer. I don’t know what else to do to ease his fears."

Mother clears her throat. "I spoke with Ashley and he is willing to stay back in this mansion with you by his side but he has a condition."

My heartrate slows down. This can’t be good.

"What condition?"

"You’ll have to bear his child."

***

I am not surprised at all. Ashley will demand the craziest things just to flex some testosterone around our marriage. He wants a child with me to put a bigger barrier (somewhat) between his brother and I. I bet he doesn’t give two cents about being a dad. He just wants to saddle me with a baby so I remain stuck with him. I can’t believe how low he thinks of me.

I lurch to my feet to go stand by my window.

"He doesn’t want a child. He’s just being manipulative."

"No, Demi. I asked him myself and he opened up about the heartbreak he suffered when your test results came back negative. He wants a child with you. I for one know how the gift of a child can draw a couple closer. It happened to me and Brett. Our relationship got strained for a while when we were childless but as soon as we got blessed with our boys, I saw a different side of him. He gave up bad habits to focus on our family and hasn’t stopped loving me deeply ever since. I want that for you and Ashley."

I don’t give a rat’s ass about what she wants but I rein in my emotions and my thoughts on the issue.

"But mother, a child wasn’t part of our agreement. Are you asking me to stay with Ashley forever?" She stands up to join me by the window.

"Has it not crossed your mind once? Do you abhor the idea?"

"Ashley has never made my heart feel safe with him so no, I never let the idea cross my mind." I turn to her with the most pitiful look I can muster. "I can handle anything from Ashley, from his distrust and emotional neglect to his entitlement but I am afraid of introducing a child in this marriage before Ashley learns how to love me properly. I’m sorry mother."

"I understand." She replies somberly. "The problem is that Ashley’s mind is already made up. I don’t know how to change his mind."

You can change his mind but you just won’t. This is all a ploy between you and your son to stroke his ego at the expense of my life. I manage to conceal the anger bubbling inside me over my recklessness. I shouldn’t have let Ashley have his way. He doesn’t deserve to father my child.

"If he means to separate me from this family, I guess I’ll have to accept my fate."

I know the emotional blackmail won’t cut it with mother since her precious son is involved. I have to think fast and devise a plan to secure my place in the mansion. If father and mother can’t sway Ashley, there’s one more person who can effectively do so and I happen to have a gem to compel that person to keep me in the mansion. I drop him a message that will definitely have him gritting his teeth.

Liam finally calls me back after I leave the house for some fresh air and to meet up with my plan B.

"Where have you been? Why can’t I get a hold of you when I desperately need you?"

"I have a life too, you know." He huffs out a breath. "What do you mean by Ashley wants to leave the mansion? How did that happen, Demi? What did you do?"

Immediately, he blames me. He’s not wrong to but I was hoping he’d circle around the truth for a bit.

"He made the announcement this morning to the family. He didn’t even inform me about it. I don’t know what’s going on in his head. I haven’t done anything to warrant this drastic measure."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course, I am." I sigh tiredly. "I think I might have a way to change his mind on the issue. If it fails, I’m going to need you to think of something to keep me in the mansion. You know what happens if I leave."

"I think you’re in the best position to negotiate your way out of this mess, Demi. He’s your husband after all. How difficult can it be to sway the man with all your lady parts? Except you’re holding back. Is that it? Are you looking outside for help because you don’t want to explore other intimate solutions?"

"You think I haven’t tried all that? He’s not listening, Liam. Despite welcoming him into my bed and doing everything expected of me, he continues to doubt me as long as I breathe the same air as his brother. The sight of Ashton and I in the same room reminds him of things he refuses to forget. I can’t help him there. He wants to put a distance between Ashton and I."

"At least we’ve established that this is all your fault." I snort at him. "If you don’t want to leave, how about you find a way to make Ashton leave with my sister? You can always find a way to sow that seed in Mila’s head. She will do the rest."

His suggestion stuns me to silence. It’s a great suggestion and I did think about it. I just don’t know how I feel about it.

"Why are you silent?"

"I already suggested that to Mrs. Rollins and she was furious with me." I lie smoothly. "She almost accused me of trying to separate the brothers. Ashton wants to live in the mansion when he weds Mila. His mother isn’t prepared to lose him either so she made me swear not to suggest the idea to Ashley. I am only to try and convince him to stay back at the mansion."

Liam says nothing.

"I have to go. I have an appointment. Hopefully, I will able to reverse this nightmare soon."

I cut the call and exhale sharply. I hope Liam doesn’t catch up with my lies.

Finally, my guest arrives, slides a chair out and joins me at my table in the Honey Pot. He casually glances around in search of his latest, special girl and shoots her a seductive smile over the counter. His eyes harden when they meet my face.

"You’ve got some balls threatening me like that, Branson."

"That was hardly a threat, Asher. You owe me one, remember?"

"Did you intentionally choose this place hoping to convince me with Anna’s help?"

"She didn’t even know you were coming. Look, I hate that it’s come to this but you would do the same thing if the roles were reversed. You’ve dangled my secrets like a carrot before my face and threatened me several times before. A little dose of your own medicine can’t hurt that much."

"So, you want me to convince Ashley to remain in the mansion. Why?"

"Why not? Don’t act like you don’t want him to stay back too."

"I want him to stay but I also want you gone."

I ignore the jab to my pride. "You want me gone from his life not just the mansion. That’ll take a few more months." He arches a brow at me.

"I am right. You don’t give a shit about my brother. Why aren’t you divorcing him then? Why are you desperate to stay with him till the contract expires? Why are you desperate to remain in the mansion?" His eyes dim with understanding. "Ashton. You don’t want to be away from him."

"If I still cared deeply for Ashton, I would have suggested this move to Ashley to spare me from the torment of watching him carry on with his life being hitched to another woman, don’t you think? This has nothing to do with Ashton. The mansion is the only home I know. Like I explained to mother, Ashley and I are not ready to live alone as a couple. Between his affair with Nicci, his distrust in me and my frustration with his insecurity, we’ll be miserable. I don’t want to be miserable for the next six months."

"Then divorce him!"

"Is that what he wants? He might not be the best husband but Ashley used to be a great friend to me. I don’t want us to part ways with bad blood between us, not like this. I’d also hate to leave before I fix the strain in his relationship with Ashton. I know it hurts you to see them like that. Imagine how I feel being caught up in it all. Please, Asher, you’re their brother. I shouldn’t have to convince you to keep your brothers close. Ashley doesn’t want to leave his family. I know it. He’s just hurt. I need you to talk him out of this crazy idea."

"Or you’ll spill my secret at breakfast like your husband did."

"Precisely."

He grits his teeth as he contemplates.

"Hate me all you want but don’t let that hatred blind you so much you fail to do right by your brother. Don’t let him make this mistake. Being away from the quads, being unable to exercise with you guys at two in the morning or to share drinks at the game room and meals with the entire family every day will wreck him. Do whatever you have to do to change his mind or you’ll live with the guilt if he goes into a spiral."

"I’ll talk to him but only because I already planned to knock some sense into him, not because of your silly threats. Don’t you ever dare to threaten me again! You want to spill my secret, go right ahead. I wonder what Anna will think of that, what she will think of you."

"Think of who?" Anna joins us with a big smile, the type that she is fond of showing only when Asher is in the building. She bats an eyelid at him as they struggle not to touch each other in public.

"Nothing. We were just talking about boring work stuff." I grab my bag and disregard the smirk on Asher’s face. "I’ll stop by your place later tonight." I kiss her cheek and bid her good bye, then give Asher a stern look to remind him to keep his end of the bargain.

Unwilling to go home before Asher calls me with some good news, I text Anna and go over to her place to crash while she’s at work. By the time she arrives at night, I am bored out of my mind and worried too. I haven’t heard a peep from Asher or Ashley and I am too stubborn to call either of them first. Ashley should be calling to apologize to me for the rude shock he gave me earlier. Asher should have the decency to inform me if he was successful or not.

"I don’t know what you see in him." I gripe to Anna an hour after she gets home and after I am done explaining everything that happened to her. "Why won’t he even text me at the very least."

"Do you want me to ask him?"

Ashley’s call comes through. I shush Anna and take the call.

"Hey."

"Demi, I am very sorry about this morning. I need to see you. Can you come home?"

Asher must have spoken to him. I don’t plan to make things easy for him though. He nearly gave me heart attack.

"I don’t know, Ash. I was planning on crashing at Anna’s tonight."

"Please, I am really sorry I upset you. We are not moving out of the mansion. Come home, please."

I roll my eyes. "I’ll be there shortly." I hang up and expel a deep breath.

"I have to go. Asher sorted it out."

Anna jumps to her feet as I gather my things and head for the door.

"Did Mrs. Rollins really ask you to bear Ashley’s child? What are you going to do about your pregnancy? How long are you going to keep this from them?"

My fingers freeze on the door. I have been trying not to think about it.

"I don’t know, Anna. I sincerely don’t know what I am doing or what I am going to do when they find out. Look at the stunt Ashley pulled today. Look what happened when his father thought I was pregnant. He had a mini fight with mother over it. It all goes to show how divided the house will be once my pregnancy is discovered but that’s not what I am most afraid of. I am scared of what they’ll do to me once it’s discovered. What if I am confined to the house? What if my daily routine is regimented and my movement monitored. It’s too much pressure. I don’t know what to do, Anna."

Anna pulls me into her arms while I sob softly. She pats my hair and soothes me. I dab my eyes.

"I’ll figure something out." I assure myself.

"You will. You always do."

She helps me with the door. With my head lowered, I notice the black sheen of male shoes first before I lift my head to stare at his eyes.

"Asher?" Anna and I both chime with shocked stares at the sight of her unexpected guest.