NovelBookChapter 32: Chapter 32
DEMI
"It's not what it looks like." | tell Asher. | don't know how pictures can lie but this one clearly is a lie. | wasn't as
comfortable or compliant with the kiss as the picture portrays. "Tell him, Kira. You saw everything."
"Exactly. | saw you and your ex kissing in an alley. That's exactly what | captured." | can't believe this snake of a
girl. Asher has been unusually quiet and brooding. His eyes are dark and scary when they find my face. | can't
believe Kira will go this far. | delivered on my own end of the bargain so why did she betraylike this?
"Aunt, you know | wouldn't." Aunt looks away and doesn't utter a word in my defense. Now, | realize she and her
daughter planned this. She isn't as clueless as | think.
"You wouldn't even let Ashley kiss you but you're happy to offer your lips to that broke cheat? What has my
family not done for you, Demi Branson? We accepted you into our family and polished you up. We've helped you
every tthat bastard tried to drag you down. We face backlash from the media constantly because of your
ties to our family. Any other family would have thrown you to the wolves or kicked you out but we didn't and this
is how you pay us back?"
"Asher, | am telling you that picture isn't the truth. Iman forced that kiss on me."
"You're not a very good liar, Demi."
"SHUT UP KIRA. | AM TALKING TO ASHER." Kira is momentarily stunned by my angry outburst but comports
herself. | turn to Asher, grab his hand and lead him to my room. With aunt and Kira, | am certain | won't be able
to get him to see the truth.
| explain everything that happened that day to him while he studieswith cool eyes.
"So, your aunt and Kira are lying? That picture is a lie, Demi?" He sighs and jams his hands in his pocket. "Those
people have lived with you for years. They know you better than we do. If they say you're capable of doing
something like this, there might be struth to it."
"They are lying, Asher. Please believe me. Why would | go back to Iman? That makes absolutely no sense!"
"I don't see why you can't. You loathe my brothers and I. You treat your husband like a plague. Maybe the reason
you can withstand not being intimate with him is because Iman gives it to you."
"ASHER!"
"For all I know, this was the plan all along between the two of you. You're in this for the money while keeping
your ex on the side. What? Did Iman put you up to this? Pretend he cheated on you, get drunk and go to a high-
end club where my brothers and | usually frequent and fake a marriage with a drunk quad. Did Iman force you to
keep the clause in the contract so nobody touches his girl?" He plays with the sleeves of my dress and I slap his
hands off.
"You have a very fertile imagination, I'll give you that but simply because you can string up a story doesn't make
it true."
"It sure makes a whole lot of sense right now, Demi. It explains a lot about your reason for sticking with my
family despite your ridiculous contract." He heaves a breath and glare at me. "I can't figure it out no matter how
many times | run it in my head. You're not in this marriage for money or you would have been making financial
demands of us long ago. You're not in it for the chance to have free, great sex with one or all four of the Rollins
quads which is the fantasy of half the women in Danvarr. You hate the fbeing affiliated with us brings you.
So, pray tell. What else could it be, Demi? Why are you choosing to stick with my family till the end of the
contract if you don't have sgrand plan up your sleeve?"
My breath catches in my throat. "I made a promise to your mother..."
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"Don't bullshit me!" His menacing stare makestake few steps back. "What? You're going to leave if mother
wishes it? Is that what you're saying? If mother asks you to break your promise and leave right now, do you
mean to say you won't cry or beg?"
When I fail to give an instant reply, Asher chuckles.
"Oh Demi, you do love Iman, don't you?"
"I DON'T LOVE HIM!"
"But you love the sex, huh? Is that why you keep going back?"
"Stop it. You know that's not true." Tears shimmer around my eyes because | want him to see it and believe me. |
know exactly what he is playing at. Aunt and Kira aren't the only ones lying here. This is all a staged
performance by the tto boxinto a wall and get rid of me. | know Asher knows | detest Iman and don't
want anything to do with him but with this trump card of an alleged betrayal of my new family, | am scared to
think of all the nasty ways he might try to get back at me.
Asher's finger trails my cheek to blot out the tears streaming down.
"Why are you crying if you aren't guilty?"
| stare into his eyes. How could he look so much like Ashton and be this devious?
"What else am | supposed to do when you're clearly not prepared to believe a word | say? Is this how much you
hate me? You're prepared to believe an obvious lie if it leads to my downfall?" | sniffle. Kira was right after all.
Asher has a big plot to ruinbefore | leave his family and now, she might have showed him one of the many
ways to achieve it.
Asher's hand cups my chin. When he leans close to press his lips to mine, | push him away.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Sparethe act. | know you're pretending. You'd kiss and fuck anything if it aids your goal."
| wipe my tears. "You want to take advantage ofbecause of a lie? How low can you stoop, Asher Rollins?
You're disgusting."
"lI am disgusting? YOU'RE THE ONE SHUFFLING BETWEEN FOUR BROTHERS AND AN EX. You're nothing more than
a slut so don't act like a prude now."
"DON'T YOU EVER TRY THAT AGAIN." | am done begging him.
Asher is impressed at my resilience. He defiesand backsup against a wall with a single hand movement.
Instantly, | catch a whiff of his unique scent. | have only smelt this once before. Why the hell am | just recalling
how unique the cologne is now when | have literally been around him all day? Something about him being so
close tofuels my recollection.
"What exactly would you do if | don't obey your order, huh? Do you think your aunt or Kira will tell on me?" His
eyes are fiery with a challenge. | recall the scene in my bedroom and my fingers tremble. Ashley had mentioned
that it was Asher who threatenedthat day.
"It was you that day in my bedroom, wasn't it? Ashley told me." Tears stream down again despite how hard | try
to keep them at bay. "You said these swords to me. You threatened me..." Angrily, | shove him so hard he
trips and falls on his back on the bed. "You think you're so invincible, Asher Rollins? You think | am so helpless
and weak because | have a shitty family? You're dead wrong. | am not weak or helpless and if you ever try to
touchagain, I'll make sure you regret it."
| grab the door knob to leave but hesitate. | need to ask. | am afraid to but | know | can't leave otherwise. When |
turn, Asher is back on his feet with a sly smile on his face.
"That cologne. It's familiar."
"Bullshit."
"I know it's rare and expensive and that is why | can recall it." My eyes fasten on his face as it dims with
recognition. "That night at the Blue Cove. That was the first t| caught that scent." Asher's pale face makes
His face firms. "You were very chatty and loud at the club for a drunk and heartbroken girlfriend. Then when you
consumed alcohol at home, you passed out almost immediately. That's how | realized you faked being drunk at
the Blue Cove. First tdrinkers can't hold their liquor for that long."
My hand slips from the knob. "YOU?"
Asher walks up towith a smug grin. "What? You hoped it was Ashton?" He throws his head back and laughs.
"News flash, even if it had been Ashton, Ashley or Ashal, | still wouldn't have allowed it. My brothers and | have
too much at stake and | won't let them be sidetracked by sgold-digging orphan."
He catches my hand when | try to slap him. "You guessed right. | call the shots. | made a mistake that night. | let
my guard down but | will spend all my sober moments ensuring my family doesn't suffer for my stupidity. Why
else do you think | am onto you like a bounty hunter, Branson? | know there's more to you than meets the eye
and | won't let you have your way with my family." He shovesaway from the door so hard | fall and graze my
elbow.
Asher goes hwithout me. | lay on the cold floor, too shocked to process everything. After an hour, | dust
myself up. More than ever, | feel invigorated to pursue my plan ruthlessly. Asher deserves everything that's
coming for him. He's the bastard that caused the death of my parents after all. It all makes sense too. He works
at the HQ where mom worked. He can't be innocent.
My phone is filled with lots of missed calls and texts when | whip it out. Everyone has been trying to reach me
including Liam and Anna. | hurriedly reply as many as | can to let them know I'm fine.
When | step out of my room, Kira is curled up on the sofa, watching a late night show. Aunt must have retired to
bed. Kira continues to binge on her popcorn, ignoring me. | have a few things to get off my chest but not right
now. My words will only fall on deaf ears. | am going to pay her back for this betrayal but right now, | need to
make it home.
Wordlessly, | step outside and discover a car parked in front of our house. It's different from Asher's but | can
already tell which brother loves this brand the most. The headlights flash twice at me. The driver steps out, a
conspicuous frown on his face.
"It's supposed to be your first day at work. Are you trying to make it your last?"
ork
"Did Asher call you?" | ask my husband, shutting the passenger door he just opened for me. "Where is that
asshole? Is he halready?"
"Hey, watch it. What's up with you?" Ashley is dismayed at my indifference on seeing him. Maybe | would have
given him a hug or a smile at the very least if my mood wasn't ruined by my little talk' with Asher few hours
earlier.
"Yes, Asher calledto cpick you up. He said you got into it with your cousin and you were really upset.
Apparently, you are still very upset."
The asshole, | think. Why didn't he mention the photo to Ashley? What could he be planning?
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I'm sorry. | didn't mean to lash out on you. Kira really got on my nerves." | tense up when Ashley runs a
hand over my forehead, tucking stray clumps of hair behind my ear.
"Father will take it out on you if you return hthis late all by yourself. However, he won't be too mad if he is
led to believe that we were out late on a date to celebrate your first successful day at your new job." When | look
at him, he hurries to complete his words. "It's just a story we are telling. We aren't going on an actual date." He
opens the passenger door once more. "Let's get you home. You have a long day tomorrow."
While we ride home, he apologizes for his actions in his room the previous night. | look out the window to hide
the red blush that coats my cheeks at the memory of that night.
"I'm sorry about the things I insinuated about you and my brother too. | say the dumbest things when | am
angry."
Just then my phone starts ringing. When | spot the caller, | cut the call and shove it back into my bag, but not
before Ashley sees it. He huffs out a breath. "Is there a particular reason you're not comfortable taking Ashton's
call in front of me?"
Though his facial features are calm, | don't miss the nasty edge of his low voice as he asks the question.
"Because I'm tired and sleepy and in a pisser mood. How about that?" When the frown on his face only deepens,
| throw my hands in the air in frustration. "Oh, for goodness' sake, not you too. Asher is already givinga hard
tas it is with all his suspicions. Do | have to worry about you too?"
"You don't want to be suspected, how about you try to not act so damn suspicious! | don't give a flying fig where
your emotions lie Demi given the circumstances of our marriage but | swore to respect you and | demand the
sof you. Seeing my brother behind my back while we are still legally hitched is insane."
"I AM NOT SEEING ANYONE." | yell angrily at him. My emotions threaten to get the best ofas I give him a
burning look. | ward off the tears by throwing my head back. "I've had a long day and a very shitty evening. If
that call had been mother's or Ashal's, | still would have ignored it just the sway | ignored Ashton's. It
doesn't mean | am trying to hide anything. It just means I'm knackered and want to crawl into bed and sleep so
this shitty day can end so please husband, don't make this day any worse than it already feels."
| don't care if he believes me. We finally make it to the mansion. As declared, | hurry to my room to rest. After
showering, | climb into bed and fluff my pillows, ready to hit the sack when a message pops in my phone.
[I need to see you. Five minutes. I'm outside your door. Open up, please-Ashton]
My eyes flick to my door. What could be so urgent? | think, jumping off the bed to go get the door for him. I recall
his help in gettinginto the Rollins HQ. Maybe | do have sthings to get off my chest too, especially about
the method he employed to make my dream ctrue. When | reach for the knob, my fingers freeze as a
thought occurs to me. There's something oddly strange about Ashton's message. The Ashton | know wouldn't
use 'Please'. He knows my fucking passcode. He'd use it if this is truly urgent and he didn't want to draw
attention to us.
| take a few steps away from the door and wait. If it's really Ashton behind it and not just someone with his
phone, I'd find out soon enough. After a minute, a new message pops in.
[I know you're not asleep. Get the door, please.]
Another please. Chills start to run down my spine. Who could be playing such a gwith me? Could it be Asher
due to the chaotic conversation we had or Ashley given his suspicions earlier? What could they possibly hope to
gain by doing this?
Another message beeps in.
[I guess you're smarter than you look. | hoped to do this in person but since you're so stubborn, here's the deal;
You have two choices to make. You either quit your job at the Rollins HQ or you file for divorce from Ashley. If you
don't make a choice before the end of this new week, I'll publish the photos of you and your ex and make sure
the whole of Danvarr tears you down bit by ugly bit before you get kicked out of our hfor good. Make no
mistake; these two things are already in your fate but this offer is your only bet to make a clean, quiet exit. Tick
Tock, Branson.]
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