<h4>Chapter 200: Chapter 200</h4>


    ASHER


    Demi grits her teeth as she straightens in her seat. "Because his apartment was close to the clinic and I knew Anna might probably have been called early into work. I needed someone to help me with the bill without informing my aunt. I had to put up with Iman till I could get a hold of Anna." Tears actually glisten in her eyes. "I’m still mad at him though."


    She’s not being entirely truthful. I know Iman’s infidelity was being used by her as a ruse to get to my brothers and I. Demi was letting him cheat because she would eventually me his behavior for her fake drunken episode at the Blue Cove. Anna and I lock eyes as though we are thinking the same thing. I check my watch as a notification slides in. A new post from Billion-Err about Skr?


    Fuck. How the hell is this new editor getting scoop of my family secrets? This must certainly be the work of an insider, a rat in our midst.


    Leaping to my feet and fixing my suit, I throw Anna an apologetic nce because I no longer have the luxury of time to slowly uncover the truth of this situation. I am about to rip off the band aid to see if Demi is truly making this up.


    "My time’s up, and so is yours, Demi Branson. Quit the act. You haven’t lost any memories. I don’t know why you thought you could pull this off or why you wanted to do it in the first ce but trust me, it’s a stupid idea."


    "Asher!" Anna belts out, surging to her feet alongside Demi. "She’s not faking it. You think I haven’t had my round of interrogations? She wouldn’t be able to y <i>me</i>. Trust me, she’s being truthful right now."


    "Truthful my ass!" I reply, unwilling to back down. "Look at her! It’s Demi for crying out loud. She pretended to be a helpless damsel in distress. For five long years, she plotted her way to insert herself in my family in order to exact her revenge on us. What’s a little amnesia drama that she can’t pull off? But what I can’t wrap my head around, Demi Branson, is why now?" I edge close to her shocked face. "What’s cooking up in that overworked brain of yours now, huh? Is this a build-up for another plot twist? Is my family in for a new shock? Is that what this is?"


    "What are you talking about?" Demi responds with furrowed brows.


    "Don’t y dumb!"


    "Stop it, Asher, you’re scaring her." Anna warns me.


    Ignoring her, I stand face to face with Demi. "Talk to me. You already had your run. We all know you’re Camille Branson’s daughter and that for the longest time, you tried to bring my family to its knees with Liam’s help, using the Billion-Err blog. What’s the new y now? Are you the new editor of the blog? Are you trying to expose Skr to set off a new strain in my family? ANSWER ME!"


    "That’s enough, Asher." Anna ranges herself between us. "I think you should leave now."


    "Look, I am going to go out on a limb here and say she might have valid reasons for wanting a fresh start but faking amnesia? Really? I could think of a million better ways she could have approached a clean start. Relocating is a good one."


    Anna shoves hard at my chest to push me towards the door. "I SAID ENOUGH!" Her face radiates with anger and a subtle threat. "She won’t lie to me. She couldn’t fake this, not with me."


    I re at her. "Maybe she isn’t lying to you. Maybe you two are just in on it, like old times."


    If my words hurt her, Anna doesn’t show it. Instead, she continues to stand as a barricade between me and her best friend who’s hyperventting while trying to process everything I’ve said so far.


    "You....you told him?"


    Anna whips her head at the sound of Demi’s tearful voice.


    "You t...told him about my m-mom?"


    "NO. Demi, I would never betray you..."


    But Demi ps Anna’s hands away when they try to reach for her.


    "You told him about my ns too? Why? I thought I could trust you."


    "No! Demi, that’s not what happened..."


    When Demi walks up to me, her eyes are red rimmed and blurry with tears. "So, you know who I am. Then you must know what your family did to mine five years ago!"


    It’s the eyes. The rage. It’s raw and untamed, like this is the first time she’s confronting her parents’ murderer. There’s only so much a person can do to express this unfiltered emotion so urately.


    She punches my chest. "You remember, don’t you? The couple that you willfully killed in your mall’s elevator and paid the police to close the case? Paid the blogs and news channels to report it as an unfortunate ident? Where was YOUR dignity then? How do you sleep at night knowing you ruined my life, huh?" The tears stream down her face. She refuses to be consoled by Anna, staring sadly at her.


    "I confided in you and you stab me in the back like this? You were supposed to be my best friend!"


    "I AM. I didn’t tell him about your n, Demi. I swear it." Anna is crying now.


    "Then how did he know about the drunk n at Blue Cove? I only told you that!"


    "I swear on my life that I told no one, Demi." Anna begs her.


    "You know how long I have been hurting, Anna. For five long years I walked around like I didn’t want to slit my wrist and end this painful life. That n was the only thing that kept me going for that long and you blurted it out to please your crush?"


    "Six years ago." I blurt out, not tearing my eyes off Demi’s sorrowful and tearful ones.


    She turns to me. "What?"


    My throat suddenly dries up. "Your parents’ ident happened six years ago, Demi, not five." Before she can refute my statement, I grab her shoulders. "How long do you think you’ve been in Danvarr?" She’s trembling a bit in my grip. Her eyes have gone from fury to fear. "How long, Demi?"


    "A year." Her voice is weak.


    "No. It’s been almost two years. That n you made with Anna to y drunk at the Blue Cove? No one told me about it. I know about it because you already executed it, Demi. Anna snuck you into the VIP area like you plotted and there, you found one of my brothers drunk in there. One thing led to another and both of you ended up with a marriage certificate the next morning. Your aunt dragged you to our mansion to enforce the marriage. There was a media blizzard over the issue thanks to Billion-Err and that’s how you ended up being the first daughter-inw of the Rollins family. Of course, it was all part of your n."


    I edge backwards. "Does none of it seriously ring a bell or do you need me to keep going and share how you colluded with Liam Spellman to destroy my family using the same Billion-Err blog?"


    She is visibly shocked to her bones at my revtion. This is the moment I begin to doubt my doubts as to her faking a memory loss. Anna goes to stand by her side, nodding her head to affirm my words when Demi tacitly asks if I am speaking the truth.


    "He’s right, Demi. I lost my job at the Blue Cove when they found out I helped you that night, remember? I work at the Honey Pot now. You got into a contract marriage with Ashley Rollins and got divorced recently but your heart only yearns for Ashton..."


    Demi pulls away, shaking her head. I inhale a deep breath as her denial kicks in.


    "No...no. That’s impossible. It can’t be. I’ve never been married. I...No, I couldn’t...I would never betray my parents by marrying one of them, not even at gunpoint!" She finishes, stabbing a finger in my direction. "I WOULD NEVER DO THAT!"


    "But you did, Demi." I correct her, then feel a slight pang of sadness when her face crumbles. "You married my brother, Ashley."


    "The flirt?" She turns to Anna in bewilderment. "The flirt?"


    I ignore her and continue. "Everything you’re feeling now led to your decision to torture my family silently while you lived with us, and torture us you did. However, you couldn’t escape your innate goodness. Because of your good heart, you didn’t let the quest for revenge consume you. You had a chance to watch one of my brothers die but instead of letting it happen to satiate your revenge, you saved him, Demi. You chose forgiveness, love and peace over revenge and hatred. When I asked you why, you clearly told me that you knew your mother wouldn’t have been proud of the woman you were turning into while you doggedly pursued your revenge. You chose peace because your parents would have wanted it for you."


    I know it’s a stab in the dark because her grief is fresh again but it’s worth a shot to appeal to her weakness; her parents.


    "You liar! You are trying to brainwash me, aren’t you?" She nces at Anna. "Your sweet talk might work on her but never on me."


    If she was pretending, she’d know that I don’t do ’sweet talk’. That’s more of Ashley’s thing.


    "Look, Demi. I promise you that my family has gone through a lot of positive changes and it was all thanks to you. Since we encountered you, we’ve had to take a deep look at our actions and how it affects themon man. We’re not perfect by a long shot but we’re certainly no longer the monsters we used to be." When I take a step towards her, she shoots out a hand in warning so I stop.


    "Our family doctor, Dr. Ezra is prepared to look at that head wound at no cost to you. I’m certain that with his expertise, you’ll get the best treatment money can afford and regain all your memories in record time. I’m just trying to help but I can’t do that if you don’t trust me." I finish, gesturing at Anna. "Let us help you."


    "Please Demi, we’re not lying to you. When your uncle gets here tomorrow, he’ll corroborate everything Asher has said here. It will all make sense especially after you regain your memories. In the meantime, I promise to visit the doctor with you. I won’t leave your side and I will do all I can to help jog your memories. Please." She implores her friend. "Let us go to the doctor. He treated me too when Iman struck my head with a club. Dr. Ezra is really good at what he does and I am sure he’ll help you as best as he can."


    Demi wipes her wet eyes and stares at each one of us. In a sh, her mind is made up.


    "DEMI!" Anna calls in a futile attempt when her friend storms out of her apartment.


    "Let her go." My hand snags Anna’s wrist, holding her back from running after Demi. "She’s off to her aunt’s ce. I trust Elizabeth and Kira to make Demi realize we were being truthful after all. She’ll be back."


    Anna wrenches her wrist from my grasp and sinks back down on the sofa, burying her face in her hands. "You shouldn’t have done that. We were supposed to gently help her remember."


    "She’ll be fine." My next words surprise me. "She’s no longer alone in the world now. She’s got a bunch of people genuinely interested in her wellbeing." Including me. Suddenly, I feel less of a need to exploit her condition and more inclined to actually help her. Is this the Demi effect?


    My phone buzzes at that moment. A text from Ashal about finding Skr.


    About time, I mutter under my breath. Then turning to Anna, "I’ve got to go. Head over to aunt Elizabeth’s and keep me informed about everything that happens there. I have an urgent matter to attend to." I dash out and make it as far as my car when another pulls up next to it.


    "Asher?" Ashton voices, getting down from his car.


    "Hey." I exchange a brief, worried nce with Anna. "Came to see Anna. What are you doing here? Did you get the notification too?"


    "About Skr?" Ashton replies. "Yeah, she already spoke Ashal on phone, asked to see him alone. He’s meeting her first. Ashley is handling father." His eyes stray towards the door. "Is Demi home? I’ve been trying her number but it’s switched off. I wanted to talk to her and sort out our differences so I can deal with other urgent matters with a clear head." When Anna appears too stunned to speak, he stares at me. "She doesn’t want to see me? Is that it? Look, I just want to make sure she is fine. She was a little out of it when we spokest."


    "What do you mean?" I edge close to him.


    "She...um, she found out about her mom’s condition."


    That’s all I need to know the full details. Demi found out about Camille’s delusions and what she did that night? Now, it’s all starting to make sense. That must have been shocking for her. It might have triggered her current condition.


    "She got hysterical." Ashton continues, streaking a hand through his ck curls. "Ash, it felt like déjà vu. Like Camille was in front of me all over again. I am worried Demi might be showing simr symptoms. She imed to have seen a message in myputer that was never there."


    What are you talking about?" Anna asks worriedly.


    "I’ll exinter, Anna." Then grabbing Ashton’s shoulder, I force him to look up at me. "There’s something I have to tell you but firstly, we need to get Demi. She’s at her aunt’s."


    "Her aunt’s. Is she okay? Why would she..."


    "Drive, Ashton." I hush him while Anna gets into my car.


    On the ride to Demi’s aunt’s house, I manage to fill Ashton in on Demi’s condition over the phone, just to soften the blow as much as possible. He remains uncharacteristically quiet after learning the truth. My bet is that he is overwhelmed with personal guilt and possibly beating himself up about Demi’s state.


    "It’s not your fault, Ashton. You didn’t mean to hurt her or for any of this to happen."


    No response came from him. Instead, he ends the call. I look at my rearview mirror and sigh when his car continues to follow mine. I guess that should suffice for now. I send a text to check on Ashal and Skr. He shoots me a message right back to say he’s handling it and will get back to me.


    Father’s calles in afterward. I wonder what he has to say about the article. I haven’t read it myself but I already instructed Ashley on how to get started on damage control. Ashton and I will join the group effort soon.


    At Aunt Elizabeth’s house, she and her daughter rush out beaming at our entrance.


    "I told you, mom." Kira begins, smiling gaily. "We are still a part of their family despite the divorce."


    "Yes, my dear. Our families will always be united no matter how hard that silly girl tries to destroy it." Her mother concurs while trying to usher us in.


    "WHERE’S DEMI?" Ashton asks curtly, bursting their happy bubble. "Where is she?"


    Mother and daughter exchange surprised looks.


    "Demi? Why would she be here?"


    I nce at Kira. "Demi hasn’t been here?"


    "Not for thest three to four months." Kira rifies. "She cut ties with us months before walking out on her marriage and your family, remember? Why would she dare toe here after treating us like doormats?"


    Tensed, Ashton makes a beeline for me and in hushed tones. "You said she was going to be here."


    "I thought...."


    "You thought..." He catches his breath and lowers his voice much more. "She’s lost her memories, Asher. Where the fuck else will she be if not here or at Anna’s."


    We turn to Anna for answers and thankfully, she nods at us.


    "I can think of one other ce she might be."