Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 120: Chapter 120

DEMI

I'm staring at my reflection in the mirror, at the heavy gunk of makeup layered over the skin of my face as well

as the deep, wavy hair that frames it. Put plainly, | look extremely beautiful today. Ashley's stylists have been

going out of their way to rebrandfor the little show | have been putting up for the cameras. Every news

article and channel in Danvarr reports my pregnancy glow and fashion at least once a day. | am photographed

everywhere | go and it’s all by design.

It's father’s wish that | keep the media focused onso much so that they forget that the other woman in the

picture has been noticeably absent for weeks now. So far, | have been cooperating. It got easier after | kept

seeing Liam in the crowd. We haven't been able to meet up for days now since my security detail has been

quadrupled and my movements restricted to keep up the farce.

| am only able to sneak a call or two to him while by myself in my room.

Liam is far smarter than | envisaged. During this difficult period for me, | have cto appreciate his ability to

adapt, improvise and work alone to bring our goals to pass. He only asks that | trust him and not question the

tough decisions he makes this period without consultingfirst.

When Billion-Err strikes up a conversation about Nicola Grey's sudden disappearance after rebutting the

pregnancy rumors, a warm feeling fills my chest as the fog covering the eyes of the media start to fizzle away.

That is why | am nursing a thin smile as | stare at my reflection in the mirror. | might hate how things have

turned out and how my hands feel tied but if | have learnt anything from Liam, it’s that every situation can be

used to our advantage.

| won't cry or sulk. | will make lemonade out of this situation and bring the Rollins family to their knees when |

am done with them.

| grab a brush and pat my face while smiling deviously. Through the mirror, Ashley's eyes lock with mine. When

did he cin? Shit. It’s his room after all.

"You're smiling. Something funny?" He asksdryly. | dump the brush with a sigh and turn to stare at him.

"What exactly do you want from me? You had a problem when | didn’t smile at all for the cameras and when |

smiled too little. You complained when | smiled too much because it didn’t look genuine. Now, you have a

problem withpracticing my smile before we put on a show for those clueless fans of ours out in the real

world?"

Wordlessly, he advances towardsand cups my chin. "That smile was worrisome, Demi. If | didn’t know any

better, I'd think you're enjoying the fact that everyone has started asking questions about Nicci’s whereabout."

| pull my chin away. "Why the hell shouldn't | be happy about that? Why should | sympathize with you after the

lengths you're going to make my life miserable?" | scoff at him, rising to my feet.

"You're so despicable, Ashley. Even after everything you've done wrong to me, you still feel entitled to my loyalty

and support? Where was yours when you left a baby in Nicci’s womb or when | was hauled away and locked up in

my room because | refused to play pretend mom for you and Nicci’s unborn child? Where is your loyalty, support

and LOVE right now when | am being used by your family to keep your reputation intact? You have snerve

expectingto feel anything but hate towards you right now!"

When I try to leave, he grabs my wrist in a tight grip. Anger wells up in my throat.

"Get your hand off me." | order him through gritted teeth. His very presence disgusts me.

Rather than oblige me, he steps closer to stand behindand snakes a hand over my tummy. | writhe

uncomfortably in his grip as he tugscloser to his body. His hot breath fans my ear when he leans to whisper

to me.

"You're lucky you look hotter than you usually do. That's the only reason why I'm letting this arrogance slide."

"FUCK YOU!"

"Gladly! If you weren't so stubborn, you wouldn't have to be pretending to be pregnant right now. You'd be

carrying our child again."

"I'll rather drink from a sewage than share a bed with you again!"

His short laugh makes my skin tingle with dread. "And yet you're here, in my bedroom." He sniffs my neck.

"Wearing my scent. You can’t hatethat much."

"You ordered your stylists to use..."

"Whatever." He spinsto face him, his hands interlocked behind my waist. "I felt bad for you for a really long

time. | allowed the guilt eatup each t| couldn’t be enough for you. While | shamelessly craved your

acceptance, Nicci on the other hand lovedin spite of my flaws. | ignored her for a long tbecause | felt |

owed my wife loyalty. My point is, Demi, that you have never loved me. It was a blatant waste of my emotions to

ever dream of being loved by you. That is why in hindsight, | no longer feel guilty for accommodating Nicci. At

least she has true feelings forregardless of her flaws and mine."

"Then why don’t you two ride off into the sunset and be happily wed? Why don’t you leaveour of your love

story?"

That annoying chuckle again. "Because this isn’t a Nora Roberts ; it’s real life, baby and in this life, we don’t

always get what we want, how we want it." His eyes dip from my face, down my plunging neckline. Immediately,

| attempt to wriggle away from his lustful gaze.

"You're shameless. In one breath, you speak of being in love with a woman and in the sbreath, you're ogling

another."

"| said Nicci was in love with me. | never said she’s the one | have feelings for." He corrects matter-of-factly,

pinningwith a heavy look that remindsof the Ashley | used to know. My throat dries up but | manage to

moisten my lips.

"You can’t be in love with me." | deny his manipulation. "You have done nothing but hurt me."

"You have a biased view of what a man in love with you should be like. I'm guessing the standard is a certain

blonde hunk who was born black-haired?" He allows a small smile on the corner of his lips. "If you have been

burned and betrayed as much as | have in life, you'd understand why my approach to dicey subjects like the

four-letter word cwith a few thorns rather than rose tints."

"| don’t care about you or your feelings. | don’t regret never giving you a chance in my heart, Ashley. As soon as

our contract is up, we're going our separate ways!"

The reminder of the divorce seems to startle him as his grip weakens. Immediately, | free myself. We haven't

brought it up since | mentioned it at the dining table. | ignore the pained expression on his face.

"I know you don’t love me, Demi and to a large extent, that’s the reason | allowed myself to do things knowing

fully well how much it would hurt you. Still, I don’t know why | feel a nagging sense of guilt within me. Contrary

to what you might think, I am not enjoying any of this. This isn't what | wanted."

"What are you saying?"

"lI am saying that | know your love was never a part of the deal but | am a bit unsure of your loyalty. You and

Ashton have never betrayedand still | threw tantrums just because | imagined you wanted to in spite of his

restraint. It pissedoff that you craved him even while in bed with me." He takes a step towardsand | take

two backwards. "Have you truly been loyal toand my family, Demi? Tellyou've truly been loyal and that

is why | feel a smidgen of remorse each t| try to justify my actions and inactions towards you?"

"And what would that change if the answer is yes?" | ask him firmly. "If this miserable life is what | get for being

loyal to you and your family for six months, then my foolishness will hauntlong after | cut ties with you all."

"Is that a yes?" He repeats.

| take in a sharp breath. "I don’t care for your pity or remorse. You can choke on it. Now get the driver so we can

wrap up today’s episode of playing pregnant. | want to get out of these ridiculous clothes and makeup."

I whirl towards the door but as I pull it open, the maid, Halle, stands outside with a tray of fruits and her hands

poised to ring the doorbell.

"Mrs. Rollins, your mother-in-law has sent sfruits up to you. Shall | leave them here or..."

"lI am not pregnant as you know, Halle, so thank her forand tell her to dial down on the pretentiousness."

"DEMI!" Ashley growls behind me. | turn to him.

"What? Do we have to do this song and dance inside the house too? | won't stand for it so let's keep the

outside, shall we?"

"What ?"

I look up and gasp in shock at the sight of my aunt and niece. Mother has just stepped out of the elevator with

them. What the hell are they doing in here? The feel of Ashley’s hands circling my waist makesjolt in

surprise.

"I'm sorry, aunt Elizabeth. My wife has been hormonal ever since she took in. The mood swings are wild."

"How dare you..." He presses his lips to mine to shutup. | want to claw at his neck but that would only spill

the beans in front of my aunt and niece.

Ashley is playing dirty right now. He must have intentionally invited my aunt and Kira here just so | play nice

around him and his family. Does he think my hatred for them would stopfrom revealing my unfortunate

condition of living?

Kira stares jealously atwhile her mom struggles to keep up the fake smile.

"Congrats, Demi. Pregnancy looks good on you." Aunt says.

"Congrats." Kira chimes dryly.

| discreetly try to wrench Ashley’s hand from my waist but he doesn’t budge. | turn to mother.

"Who let them in? What are they doing here? You know how | feel about them. How could you bring them here?

Are you trying to upset me?"

"DEMI! How could you speak to Mrs. Rollins like that?" Kira interrupts, then turns to mother with an ingratiating

smile. "I apologize, Mrs. Rollins. She has clearly forgotten her place and her manners. Please forgive her." The

wench turns toagain. "Mrs. Rollins didn’t invite us here; your husband did."

Just as | guessed. Ashley did this. He takes the cue to cup my face. "Behave darling." He mutters tobefore

speaking loudly. "They're still your family, darling. | know your emotions are all over the place right now but try

to calm down. | thought if you spent more twith them, you'd be able to bury the hatchet and move on.

You're having a baby soon. They must want to share in your joy. Be nice. They'll be here for the weekend."

"THE WEEKEND???" | shove at him. "I don’t want them here. Send them away right now, Ashley!"

He apologizes to my family as | storm away to my room. His foot wedges between my bedroom door before | can

shut it. When we are alone again in my room, | throw a pillow at him.

"What the fuck was that? Why are you trying to upseteven more by inviting my aunt and that bitch, Kira, in

here?"

"You can’t keep treating everyone around here like scum, Demi. | thought having your family around would make

you behave within the walls of this mansion."

"Oh wow, you and your family dumped mud all overand now you're complaining | stink? YOU ALL TURNED