Chapter 118
ASHTON
"Do we know who leaked it?" I ask, storming into the mansion. Ashley is hunched over the antique bar with a forlorn look on his face. Mother has her head in her hands. Father’s jaw is clenched almost as tightly as his shut eyes. Asher is on his iPad, scrolling with a hot glare. Mila is rubbing mother’s back in small circles and whispering soft assurances.
"Who else could it be?" Asher snarls, throwing Ashley a steaming look. "I thought you had it handled. I thought you had her handled. How the fuck did she muster the courage to go against us like this?"
"Nicci doesn’t have it in her to go against me!" Ashley snaps. A bead of sweat lines his forehead as he straightens his spine. "This has to be her father’s doing. He’s been suspicious of her condition lately. Maybe he somehow figured she’s pregnant and is trying to manipulate her as usual."
"There you go defending her again." I snap at him.
I just don’t get how easily he trusts the same woman who fooled and tormented him for months as Shay but finds it difficult to extend the same courtesy to his own brother and his wife. Why is it hard for him to trust Demi and I the way he trusts Nicci blindly.
"Enough with the bickering." Mother intervenes. "None of that will help us deal with the matter at hand, don’t you get it? The longer we wait, the harder it will be for people to believe whatever contrary statement or response we put out. The truth is that Nicci is indeed carrying your child, Ashley. If her father has gotten involved, I think it will be harder to cover this up as we intended. Still, we have to try. I don’t want to lose my grandchild and I also don’t want our reputation to be dragged in the mud." She cranes her neck towards father. "Say something."
Father exhales. "Ashley, what do you have in mind, son?"
His sudden spark of interest in Ashley’s suggestion takes my brothers and I aback with shock. What is father playing at? Does he really care what we think or is this all an act to salvage the opinion we have of him?
Ashley moistens his lips and trades brief glances with us. "Uh, I was thinking of paying Nicci a visit. I want to confirm how the news got leaked. I’m certain her father might have played a role and if indeed he did, then I fear what plans he must have for his daughter. I want to make sure she and the baby are fine before we move forward with any other plan."
"Don’t you think being spotted going into Nicci’s apartment will further strengthen the rumors?" Asher asks, concerned.