DEMI
"She said nothing. She did nothing. She just stood there and instead of baring her teeth and clawing at with those fangs she calls nails, she smiled warmly and hugged Ashton like she didn’t just find him in the nook of a café with the woman his heart beats for."
I detangle my hair from the bristles of the hair brush and dump the brush on the dresser. A frustrated breath leaves my lips as I stare at my disgruntled face in the mirror. Behind , Anna stands with tensed shoulders.
"I lured her there to create a scene, Anna. She said she wanted to talk about what happened at the wedding shop and I texted her the address of the café I knew Ashton was going to co see at. Why didn’t she lose it when she saw our hands intertwined? That was so unlike her."
"Maybe she’s trying to win Ashton’s heart by learning to trust him a lot more now. You recall how he scolded her the last ti when she flipped at the sight of the both of you at the blue cove? Maybe she is learning her lesson and trying to depict a secure fiancée to win points for good behavior."
Now? Why would Mila choose to be mature, trusting and secure now that I want to use her fragile ego and hot head against her?
Ashton had looked suspicious at first when she rely hugged and kissed him. Then, his suspicious eyes had lighted to a smile. He had looked impressed with her, especially when she proceeded to greet gaily and hug too. I don’t know what ga she is playing. Did she catch on that I had tried to set her up to explode in front of Ashton and further strain their relationship?
Well, I won’t stop. Ashton has promised he would talk to every day so I don’t indulge in self-harm. I plan to nurture our relationship till he can no longer deny his feelings for , not even for his brother who has clearly wronged over and over again.
"Where are you going?" Anna quizzes.
I tie my hair in a high bun and secure it with a hair tie. "My husband’s ex wants to have a conversation with . I’m guessing there’s been a new developnt. I hope she fell for my trap and went on to broadcast her pregnancy to put Ashley in a tough spot." Hair and face done, pretty much, I slip my shoes on and spritz a cologne on my body.
"Wish luck. I’m hoping this one is not also disappointing." I peck Anna’s cheek before leaving.
I guess I find it strange that Nicola has invited to her apartnt. When she ushers in, I take one cautious step after another, sizing up her cozy space. It’s grander than I thought. I’m guessing Ashley got this for her and not her modeling pay check. I eye her couch.
"We’ve done it on literally every furniture in this house if that’s what you are wondering." Nicola quips with hands folded across her chest. I turn to find her still standing by the door, observing . She’s still in her nightdress and flip flops.
"I guess I’ll stand then." We lock eyes for a humming minute. "Why am I here, Nicola? I think I am up to speed on your affair with my husband. If you called here to apologize, might as well get on with it even though it won’t change anything."
She smiles. "I have nothing to apologize for. Ashley was mine first. I didn’t force him to keep by his side after he got married. If you’re looking for soone to bla for my pregnancy, you should start with your sex deprived husband who can’t get enough of his ex because apparently, his wife doesn’t do it for him."
I grit my teeth and strap down on the need to stream across the living area and leave an indelible mark on her cheek with a hard slap.
"I’m trying to see what he sees in you."
"Don’t be naïve. You didn’t think romping naked with him in the sheets and being his booty call was going to earn you a place at his family table, did you? That’s not how it works, Nicci, not for a powerful man like Ashley. If that were the case, then he’d marry every woman he’s had a fling with. You’re simply a pick off the litter. You’re easy, used. For the title of a wife, a man like him usually goes for more than a voluptuous body and a pretty face."
Nicci edges close to . "At least you admit you’re not his type. Tell , is that why you seduced him at the club that night and deceived him into marrying you? That must be it. You knew that there was no way in hell that he would even give you a second look. You don’t even qualify to have a fling with him. You’re just one of those girls in a crowded room whom Ashley never notices. He wouldn’t have married you if you didn’t craftily involve the entire country in your plan."
"You’re welco to wrack that tiny brain of yours and torture yourself with how a nobody like got the revered position of the daughter-in-law of the Rollins family. Better yet, you could ask Ashley. I can tell you free though that I didn’t have to open my legs once for him before we tied the knot. Ashley might be a womanizer but even he can distinguish between a valuable woman and a sex toy."
Nicci’s face contorts with anger.
"Did you call here for this pissing contest? I have other places to be so if you’ll excuse ..." I brush past her to head for the door when she yells at .
"You lost your baby, didn’t you?" She turns to face at the door. Ashley told her? He had no right to use my miscarriage to placate his bitter and pregnant ex.
"You lost your baby. That must have hurt a lot." Nicci continues. "I am just wondering how a woman who has recently co to know the pain of losing a child would be complicit in the plot to make lose mine."
"What are you talking about?"
"Your husband made a proposition after threatening my life and that of my father’s. I thought he loved enough to have my back but I was so wrong. In the end, he chose his family. He chose you."
"What proposition? Did he ask you to get an abortion?"
"Don’t act ignorant, Demi Rollins. I’m sure you helped him co up with that sick plan just so you can have the baby you lost and be the perfect daughter-in-law the family wants." She marches up to . "You are planning to steal MY baby, aren’t you? Ashley promises to get my career out of the mud and help my father be reinstalled in a fitting political seat on the condition that I secretly have my baby and hand it over to you to raise as yours!"
"What?"
"Your entire family is in on it. Don’t pretend to be clueless." Tears glisten in her eyes. "How could you be so greedy and selfish that you want to rip my child off my arms the second it’s born to play pretend mom in front of the whole country? You already have his last na. All I want is my baby and my baby’s father present in my life. Ashley was already thinking of divorcing you so I was helping him achieve that. How am I the only one left to hang dry?"
I stumble backwards. What sick proposition is this? Ashley hasn’t even said a word to . Did Ashton know about this while he was comforting at the café? What the hell is going on?
This isn’t what I wanted to happen. I wanted to expose Ashley and Nicci’s pregnancy so he gets a bad social rap which will eventually ricochet and affect the family business. I wanted a lot of tension on the ho front, enough to distract everyone from my sches. I never asked to raise Nicci’s child! What the hell is Ashley thinking?
"Nicci...this isn’t...there has to be a misunderstanding." I stutter.
"There is no misunderstanding. Ashley didn’t mince his words when he clearly threatened . This is the only option he set before . I have to surrender my child to the both of you and go on with my life like nothing happened. How do you think that makes feel? It’s one thing to lose a child you’ve never t. It’s a whole other ballga to lose a child you’ve bonded with during your pregnancy and birthed. How will I cope watching you and the man I love raise my child without ?"
Nicci sinks to the floor, weeping heavily.
"How can you be that callous, Demi? I know you put him up to this. Is this your revenge? This is how you plan to get back at for everything? All I did was love a man whom I believed loved back. Please, don’t let him do this to . I can’t live like that."
Trembling with shock, I stagger to her door while she continues to weep and plead with . I don’t understand anything. This is a huge shock. inside my car, I take deep breaths to calm myself. I don’t know if I should call Ashley or Ashton or Liam. After a brief debate in my head, I pick up the phone and dial a number.
"Hey."
"I’m just leaving Nicola’s place and she had a shocking revelation for . Apparently, my husband is planning on hiding her pregnancy in the most inconvenient way possible. He wants her to have the baby secretly and then hand it over to to raise as mine and Ashley’s child. Can you believe that?"
"What? Liam gasps in shock. "He wants to saddle you with the responsibility of raising the child he made with his side chick? That’s an insult on top of the injury he’s inflicted on you."
"Nicci ntioned that the entire family is in on it. She was surprised that I appeared clueless. Liam, what am I going to do if they an to foist that responsibility on . I know Mrs. Rollins wants to keep her grandchild so I get why she’ll be down with this idea. Given the sadness looming over the mansion with the loss of my baby, everyone else might be open to this arrangent. I can’t do it, Liam. You have to find a way to foil this plan of theirs."
"Shit. Look, we have two options in front of us. We can either use billion-err to leak your miscarriage or Nicci’s pregnancy. It’s up to you, Demi. Which is it going to be?"
***
It’s a little shy of seven thirty when I pull into the driveway of the mansion. The house seems to have grown double in size since I left or maybe staying at Anna’s humble space is ssing with . I survey the cars in the driveway. Everyone is ho by my count. Good. I need everyone present for this. I glower at one of the n in suit at the entrance for informing father of my arrival.
When I get in, the family is at the dining room for dinner. I bet it makes no difference to them that their daughter-in-law is absent. Mother hasn’t even called in the last two days. My eyes alight on Mila who’s perched close to Ashton at the table. Did she already move in or is this purely a visit?
Ashley smiles and shoots to his feet when he sees .
"Demi, you didn’t inform you were coming back." He marches towards with outstretched arms and a big smile. All I think about as he closes the distance between us is Nicola weeping on the floor. How could he use two won so shalessly and have the stomach to eat? I flash five fingers in his face and give him a searing look that makes him halt in his track. Everyone at the table seems alerted to the frostiness between us.
"Sothing wrong?"
"Did you really just ask that?" I lash out. "Has anything been right lately, Ash? With us? With this family? With Nicci?"
The rest of the quads lurch to their feet. Mother turns to too. Ashley feigns a smile as he tries to coax not to divulge our issues in front of Mila but I don’t care what anyone thinks or wants right now. I am too livid to care.
"Don’t shush . She’s going to be a part of the family soon so what’s the big deal if she’s apprised of the hellish condition I’ve been put through?"
"Demi!" Father growls.
To everyone’s surprise, I totally ignore him and face Ashley.
"It wasn’t enough that everyone turned a blind eye to the fact that Asher killed our unborn baby or the fact that you cheated on repeatedly and now your ex is expecting your child. You, Ashley, have the guts to add insult to all the injury you’ve inflicted on by planning to make raise your bastard child?"
"What?" Father rises in shock. Ashley instantly goes pale. The flushed look on his brother’s faces hint at their shock at my revelation. Are they pretending to be oblivious or was Ashley truly acting alone?
"Ashley, what the hell is she talking about? Nicci is pregnant with your child?" Father enquires.
Ashley runs a hand over the band of neck and exhales. He avoids everyone’s eyes but mine. When he looks at , there’s a mixture of anger and frustration in them.
Father turns to survey the room. "You all kept this from ?"
"We just found out too. We didn’t want to hassle you with another complication." Mother placates him.
"How was keeping in the dark going to help? It’s Nicola Grey for goodness’ sake."
"Calm down, Brett. Please, we can talk about this later. Let’s try to figure out an amicable solution first."
"Ashley already made Nicci a proposition. I’m going to fake the pregnancy I just lost for the caras while Nicci goes on hiatus to have her baby. When it’s born, I’ll take the baby from her and present it as mine while the mother goes on living her life like nothing happened. Nicci explained everything to while accusing of trying to snatch her child. Can you imagine that, Ashley? This is your solution? You’re tampering with the lives of two won, two hurting mothers." Tears flow down my eyes.
"Why do you hate so much? How could you think that raising the child you had with your ex would heal the wound left by my lost child? How could you insult like that?"
"I am doing it for you, Demi, and for our family. I can’t think of a better way to resolve this. I know you’re still hurting. I am certain that raising the baby would be good for you."
"I DON’T WANT NICCI’S BABY. FRANKLY, I DON’T WANT ANY BABY, NOT AFTER MINE WAS BRUTALLY KILLED." I glare past him to Asher who has a steely expression at the dining table. "I won’t raise a child in this house, not like this. I don’t need any favors, Ashley. Find a way to sort your ss with Nicci without involving . Please, leave out of it." When I turn to leave, father’s voice echoes round the room.
"You’re wrong, Demi. In this family, everyone works together to clean up sses that have the ability to affect us as a whole. Mila, you should learn this too. We are a unit. We work as a unit. If Nicci insists on having her baby, then Ashley’s idea isn’t bad at all."
"What? Father!" I shriek.
"Would you prefer to have another baby with him?" He inclines his head when I stare at him with shock written all over . "that’s what I thought. This way, Ashley gets to be a dad again. You get to have a child without going through the rigors of making and birthing one. Nicci disappears from our lives and the whole of Danvarr applauds the arrival of a new generation of Rollins. The news of your pregnancy and delivery could do our stock prices a lot of good."
I shake my head. "You want to lie about being pregnant and having a baby just to perk up your stock prices?"
"I want you to do everything necessary to prevent the tarnishing of this family’s image. That’s what it truly ans to be a part of this family. If you aren’t up for it, you’re welco to sign the divorce papers!"
"Brett." Mother nudges him but he remains unfazed. Ashley coaxes with his eyes. I stare from one family mber to the other, my eyes full of tears.
"Do it, Demi." Mila chis in. "If you consider this your family, it shouldn’t be that hard to make sacrifices for them." Father and mother turn in her direction and give her nods of approval. She’s not even officially married into the family and she’s already gunning for my position and licking asses.
I turn to Ashley and grab his shoulders.
"I know you don’t love but Nicci? If you have a shred of love in your heart for her, you wouldn’t cause her the pain of losing a child. She might have hurt but I could never wish such sorrow on her. You can’t do that to her, Ashley."
"He can and he will. That child is his and deserves the best that only this family can give such as a great last na for starters." Father replies.
"Mother, you are also a woman. You must understand how devastating all of this must be for Nicola. I don’t want any part in this. Please, make everyone understand. I’ll forgive Ashley if that’s what you’re worried about but we don’t need that baby to save our relationship."
Father scoffs. "You think your marriage to Ashley is what anyone is worried about here? This conversation is about my grandchild and a rightful heir of this family. Ashley can always remarry. You’re not special in any way, Demi. Don’t flatter yourself."
"Father, enough." Ashley utters with sagged shoulders.
"Talk so sense into her, Ashley before I lose it." Father warns him. When Ashley tries to console , I refuse his touch and head for the door. Three bodyguards block my path.
"What’s going on? Ask them to let through." I bark, staring at Ashley who only dips his eyes.
"You’re not leaving this mansion until we know whether you’re with us or against us." Father thunders. With the subtlest of hints, my phone is snatched from . "Take her to her room and see that she is monitored."
"What? Why?" Arms link between mine and forcefully steer towards the staircase while everyone watches.
"Father, is this really necessary?"
"Stay out it, Ashton." Father bellows at him with a sizzling look.
"Mother, please. Don’t let them do this! ASHLEY! HELP !" I cry out but no one moves a muscle to help even when one of the bodyguards eventually throws over his shoulder and carry up the stairs. Mila watches with a lopsided grin on her face. I kick and scream until I am carried over the stairs and curved towards my room.
I can’t believe this is happening. I am shoved into my room and the door slamd shut in my face. My security code is changed. I keep banging on the door and yelling at the top of my voice but no one cos to help .
Oh God! What if they go through my phone and my call logs, my chats with Liam and Anna. How do I stop that from happening while locked in my room? My secret will be revealed soon. What do I do?
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