Four Brothers and a Bride-Chapter 115

ASHLEY

[I’m deeply sorry for everything, Demi. Please come back home. I miss you. Everyone is worried.]

[Demi, I am handling Nicci. She won’t tear us apart, I promise.]

[The baby was an accident. You’re the only one I want to have kids with. Please give us another chance.]

[Call me back.]

As I go through the unread text messages that I have left for Demi, a head ache throbs at the base of my skull. She’s definitely getting my texts but she won’t open them. She has never been this mad at me and I am worried this might just be the last straw for her. Can she really forgive me this time?

"Are you okay?"

The sight of father in my office is not something I ever expected. I am struggling to believe he came all the way to see me instead of calling me over to the headquarters.

The last time I saw him, he had brought me here to introduce me to everyone as the new manager. That was a different time.

I remember basking under the euphoria of his intimidating aura and how proud I had felt to be the son of such a business tycoon. Now, as I look at him, the intimidating aura is still there but instead of pride, I feel...nothing. It’s probably because of the emotional rot I have been enduring for the past few days.

He helps himself to a seat because all I do is stare at him with glassy eyes.

"Son, talk to me. Let me know how I can help you get over this stump in your life."

I lean back on my seat as a tired sigh rips through my throat.

"You were right. Asher tried to pin the blame on you. He’s got Ashton sold on that lie too. I don’t know how. I don’t understand why he would lie about you like that even when I had already agreed to forgive him."

Father sighs softly. "He’s afraid to be hated by you and your brothers. I guess it’s easier to pin the blame on me since I am not anyone’s favorite parent anyway. Hmmm. He’s not lying though. It’s kind of my fault. He told me about Demi’s pregnancy and mentioned that he was handling it. I should have enquired about his methods. I should have deterred him from interfering in your matters. My grandchild was lost as a result of my inaction."

He bows his head and breathes deeply. His facial features are shrouded in pain.

"I’m sorry I haven’t had the time to talk to you personally about everything that’s happened. I’m not very good with consolations. I usually just buy your mother gifts but I don’t think that applies for a man like you."

"It’s fine. I have been too distracted by my own pain to notice who has comforted me and who hasn’t. I am glad you’re making the effort."

"I know it’s hard to believe but I can relate to the pain you’re feeling right now. I have been in your shoes thrice in the past."

"What?" I ask, intrigued.

"Your mother and I didn’t find it easy to expand our family. She suffered three miscarriages before you boys came into our lives. I can relate to the pain of losing a child, the strain it can put between the couple, the myriad of questions flowing in your head about what you could have done to prevent this and the like. Trust me, don’t allow yourself to sink into that fiery pit of self-doubt and self-loathing. There’s nothing you could have done."

"I realize that. I am more worried about fixing things with Demi. She’s still hurting and because of Asher getting away with his role in her pain, she can’t seem to forgive me. That’s why I let her move in with her best friend in the meantime."

"She’s with Anna?"

"She could use the friendly face and the space. Like I said, I let her go. She’ll be back."

If I wasn’t worried about how he would react to Nicci’s pregnancy in the heat of the chaos that is my marital life, I would have been open to share my problem with him. I know father can handle Nicci faster than mother and my brothers combined. Still, I can’t risk it. He might not take into consideration my preference for the method to be used in handling the problem.

"Is her absence the reason you’re still sulking?"

"Isn’t it enough?"

"So, am I to assume you’re in love with her?"

My head whips up. My whole body tightens. I moisten my lips while I wonder why I am always super defensive about what I feel for Demi.

"I don’t know if I can call it that but I know that I really like her. Once we figure out a way to sort out the issues plaguing our marriage, I am confident we can both explore fully what we can be."

"By issues plaguing your marriage, you’re referring to your brother, Ashton?"

I merely nod my head. "I don’t blame him any longer for Demi’s feelings. The truth is that I envy him. Feelings can change and with more quality time with my wife, I am sure she’ll fall for me too."

"Where does this leave the marriage contract?" Father’s face is hardened, a reminder of the promise I made to him. My marriage was never supposed to exceed a year. I shift uncomfortably in my seat and avoid his eyes.

"It still stands. I’ve still got six months, haven’t I?"

Father raises his hands in a gesture of peace. "Of course, son, you’ve got six more months to decide if this life is what you want forever. If I may be so bold, I’ll advice you not to sabotage your future out of fear. You can and will find true love. It isn’t tied to one woman. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you. Don’t spend it begging for anyone’s love or attention. I raised you better than that." He leaps to his feet.

"I’ll be headed back to the office now."

"Thanks for stopping by."

I watch him leave while his words replay in my head. It sucks to realize the number of people in my family rooting for me to divorce Demi. At this point, it wouldn’t feel like my choice even if I decide to go down that route. I’d feel like I am just doing what the majority want.

"He just left." I tell Asher over the phone. "No, I don’t think he suspects a thing." I sigh on my end. "It was really hard trying to keep it together after he walked into my office and pretended to sympathize with me. How foolish does he think I am? He killed my baby despite knowing the pain of losing a child? How devious can one be?"

"Calm down. You can’t let him know you know."

"Are you going to be alright? He didn’t look pleased to hear that you went behind his back to tell me the truth."

"I’ll be fine. There’s only so much he can do to me. He needs me at the HQ so he can’t fire me. Besides, I’m doing this to distract him from following up on Ashton. If there’s any truth to Ashton’s claims regarding father’s hand in the death of our biological parents, then Adriana’s life will be in danger if father finds out about her. We have to find her first and keep her safe before he can get a whiff of it."

"I thought you didn’t believe Ashton’s tale."

"I believe him. Heck, I know sides to father that you all are yet to meet. However, I’m just giving him the benefit of doubt. It’s the least I can do. Maybe I want to believe he hasn’t completely lost his humanity while chasing dollar bills and stroking his ego."

"Ok. I get it." My right index finger taps impatiently on my desk. "Any word form Anna? Were you able to get an update on how Demi is faring? She’s not taking my calls or texting me back."

"I’m sorry, bro. Anna seems to have ghosted me too because of everything that happened. She’s convinced I killed her godchild."

"Shit. I’m losing my mind here. I need to know how Demi is doing."

"You can always drop by. Unlike me, at least no one will greet you with a bucket of hot water." We laugh briefly at his joke.

"Nicci will be here anytime now. I told mom everything and she’s happy to go along with your plan."

"Do you want me to come over and help?"

"No. I’ve got it. Thanks for everything."

"You’re welcome."

When Nicola struts into my office, I notice how confident she’s grown in the last two days. I don’t get why she’s been acting so strangely since we last spoke on phone.

Something about her fierce stare is unnerving but I keep my cool. I bet she’s got a trick up her sleeve. I am prepared for every possible scenario in my head, including the possibility that she would leak her pregnancy to the media if I don’t do her bidding.

"How have you been?"

She plunks her bag on the couch and stands with hands akimbo.

"Cut the crap, Ashley. This isn’t a social call. You promised me that you would figure out a way to get Demi out of the picture so you and I can raise our child in a healthy home. You’ve been avoiding me ever since and after I threatened to expose everything-which by the way is the only language you seem to understand- you call me with tall, bogus claims of a win-win solution to our problem. I want to hear it, right now!"

I circle my desk to come stand in front of her. When my hand reaches to trace the line of her jaw, she turns away.

"I’ll tell you everything but first, I’d like to know what’s with the sudden attitude? I thought we left things at a good place the last time we spoke. It’s unlike you to start dishing out threats. What changed, Nicola? Don’t you trust me?"

She laughs. "Trust you? You must be kidding, right? How am I supposed to trust you, Ashley? You left me with high hopes that my child and I would get what we deserve only for me to learn that you haven’t even revealed my pregnancy to your family. Am I a joke to you? Do you think you can make me your dirty little secret?"

"What? Who told you such a thing?"

"Who else would?" she retorts.

"Demi?" What was Demi thinking speaking with Nicci. She must have been too upset given everything that has happened. I flush the anger surging from this revelation and focus on Nicci.

"I’d like to see you deny it." Nicci continues, brimming with anger. "Have you told your entire family about me or am I just a problem you plan on taking care of quietly?" She sits and crosses one leg over the other on the couch like a talk show host. Her inquisitive eyes await my response.

"I admit that I didn’t tell my family at the start but they’ve all been informed now. Do you even know what’s been going on in my private life? Everything doesn’t revolve around you, you know? I have been dealing with a lot of pain over the last few days. I bet you didn’t even notice but then again, why would you? You only care about yourself, Nicci."

"What the hell are you talking about?" She asks with a deepening frown.

"I didn’t tell my family about your pregnancy instantly because the very same day you informed me about it, I got called to the hospital because Demi had been in an accident."

"What has that got to do with anything?"

"SHE WAS PREGNANT, NICCI." Her eyes widen with shock at my angry outburst. "She was pregnant with my child and because of her accident, she lost our baby, MY baby! Can you pretend to care? Imagine what my family and I have been going through because of her miscarriage. She’s barely recovered from the shock when I told her about you because I didn’t want you to beat me to it." Slowly, Nicci rises to her feet.

"I couldn’t tell the rest of my family, not while everyone is still grieving. Demi has been hurting ever since." freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

Nicola wraps her arms around my neck. "I’m sorry, Ashley. I hate to see you in pain. I am genuinely sorry you had to go through all that but on the bright side, I am going to give you and your family a baby to heal your wounded hearts. Can’t you see we are fated to be a family? The timing couldn’t have been more prefect." She flashes her pearly whites in a radiant smile.

Gently, I pry her hands away from my neck.

"I didn’t expect you to sympathize with Demi whom you deem a threat to your happily ever after but at the very least, you should feel something for the pain of your fellow woman."

"What’s the use of pretending to care? If she was still having your baby, don’t you realize what a difficult position that would put me and my child? Will Demi care for my wellbeing if the roles were reversed? Don’t expect such things from me, Ashley. All I care about is you and our child. I’d do anything for our little family."

I know I shouldn’t be surprised at her words but somehow, it still amazes me how much she lacks in compassion.

"So, are you going to divorce her soon?"

"Are you serious? Nicci, she just lost our baby by no fault of hers! You expect me to kick her out in this condition?"

"Why exactly did you call me here then, Ashley? Am I here to sympathize with your wife’s unfortunate experience or discuss us and the future of our unborn child?"

"Fine. I thought I’d give some context so you realize that I wasn’t exactly hiding your pregnancy from my family on purpose. The timing was just wrong to reveal it." I allow her to retake her seat. "Here’s the thing, Nicci. Given the situation at hand, I’m afraid Demi and I won’t be getting a divorce, not for at least six months." Nicci’s only reaction is the tightening of her fists on the couch.

"I never promised to dispose of my wife and replace her with you when we were having out flings. I am not obligated to do that now that a child has resulted from our actions. If that’s the reason you went off birth control, I’m sorry to disappoint you."

She sneers at me. "Don’t flatter yourself."

Here’s the dicey part. I fix her with a grim look.

"Your threats don’t faze me, Nicci. You’ve ruined me before and I survived it, remember? I bet you do. My family does as well. That’s why they’ve always been wary about our affair. I’m not afraid to pick up the pieces of my life once again. Sure, you taking this to the press will hurt my reputation, my business, my family’s reputation and our business chains in general and while you think you’ve won, here’s what’s really going to happen. Everyone will troll us for hurting Demi. My family and I will suffer a few setbacks but we will bounce back eventually. Demi will stay with me and eventually, we’ll overcome the difficult time. You on the other hand, well, the story will be a little different."

I intentionally return behind my desk. "The people of Danvarr don’t like you as much as they used to after everything you did to me. When they learn that you destroyed Demi’s home, they’ll hate you even more. You can kiss your modeling career goodbye because without my help, you won’t be able to make a comeback from the hell you’ll go through. Your father’s career will also suffer worse than it did with the loss of the election. My father will personally see to it that his big friends in politics make life a living hell for your dad. No one will want to fund his next campaign or political aspirations. That’s all that will come out of you alerting the press of your pregnancy. Did I leave anything out?"

Nicci’s eyes are misty with tears as she glares at me.

"Is that a threat?"

"No, that’s a warning of what will happen if you underestimate my family by messing with our reputation." I match the fire in her eyes. "Here comes the threat. You go out there and run your mouth. I’ll deny your pregnancy, make up hard evidence to back my claim like a convincing negative DNA report and make sure you are shamed and ruined to the point where you’ll be jailed for defamation. Money is dangerously powerful, Nicci. It takes a lot of willpower to stay on the right side of the law when you have too much of it."

This part is me paying Asher a little too well to save my hide. I can see the fear creeping into Nicci’s eyes.

"Ashley, you can’t mean that. I am carrying your child." She cries.

"That is yet to be confirmed."

"Then confirm it!"

"I will and if your claim is true, there’s only one way we can forge ahead from this. Your modeling career will be resuscitated. Your father will be back in a good political position and your family’s honor will be restored."

"What do you want in return?"

I lean on my desk. "You won’t say a word about your pregnancy to anyone, not even your father. You’ll go on a long vacation and have the baby while Demi will act pregnant for the cameras. When my child is born, you’ll hand it over to my wife to present as ours. Demi and I will raise the child while you will go back to your life and live it like nothing happened. My family will have a child to heal the wound from the lost one. You and your dad will have the perfect life you desire. Sounds like a win-win, doesn’t it? Now, do we have a deal, Nicola Grey?"