Four Brothers and a Bride-Chapter 176

ASHTON

I finally get a moment to pull away from Monaco to get a breather. Talk about a woman being intense! I take the elevator and upon arriving on the first floor, I overhear Ashal’s conversation drifting through the balcony. When I look, he is indeed talking to Olivia. Mother stands behind a wall, eavesdropping with nervousness splattered all over her face.

"Hey."

But she shushes me. I pull her away to the piano room.

"What are you doing, mother?"

"I don’ know how to face her. Nothing I can say or do now will strike her as genuine. She already accused me of pretending to care because of my grandchild in her womb, when I had someone bring her upstairs to rest."

I rub her shoulders reassuringly. "It’s going to be okay. Remember, we always knew this was going to be hard. It’ll take time to win their trust again. The most important thing is that you don’t stop trying." I pull her in for a hug. "Have you thought about Madeline, the sister Ashal is madly in love with? How does that make you feel?"

She pulls back with an easy smile on her face. "As much as it was unexpected, I can’t help but love her too. Have you seen the way she looks at your brother? I prayed for years for Olivia to have that look in her eyes for Ashal. Maddie truly loves him. She doesn’t see a monster or a sick man. She sees a diamond in the rough and is willingly to help shape it into something more beautiful. Ashal is himself around her. He feels SEEN for once. This is the happiest and most peaceful I have ever seen him and it’s all because of Maddie. I am happy for them."

"And father?"

"He’s beginning to have an open mind lately. What other choice does he have? He saw Asher cozying up to Anna and didn’t feel the need to question it. I think he’s slowly giving up on matchmaking his sons to billionaire heiresses."

"Probably because he knows none of those families are eager to arrange a marriage to us right now."

Her smile is thin as she looks up at me. "Your happiness is now his true priority." Her hands curve over my chin. "Ashley’s taking a break from relationships to rediscover himself. What’s your excuse for flying solo?"

An uneasy laugh escapes my lips as I ease away from her and run a finger over the white piano keys. "My feelings are on par with Ashley’s. I don’t even want to think about that for a long while. I’ve got more important things to worry about."

"Ashton, I know what a turmoil this period has been for you but I want you to remember that it took a lot of team effort for us to be here tonight, smiling and not crying. It’s high time you stop torturing yourself with guilt and move on."

Before I know what is happening, she’s grabbing my wrist. "I don’t want you slipping back into your old ways. That always happens when you shut the world out. Please, I want you happy and in love. Those were some of your best moments..." Then in a whisper, "...when Demi was here."

What? The mention of Demi surprises me as I yank my wrist free. What is up with everybody and why are they constantly trying to push her in my face? Don’t they know how hard I worked to resent her? How could they turn around now and serenade her every chance they get? Who’s next? Father?

"Please mother, I really don’t want to talk about all this. We have a company to resurrect and an image to redeem. There’s enough on my plate as it is." Then because I can’t help myself, "By the way, what is up with all of you? Why is everyone suddenly taking Demi’s side? Have you all forgotten the events that transpired over the last week? Ashal was kidnapped and tortured, and while I understand Demi’s motivations for orchestrating that, I don’t have to be cool with it."

"You’re getting it all wrong."

"No." I cut her off. "I’m not."

"Yes, you are." Ashal interjects, joining us. He kisses mother’s forehead. "Olivia is in my bedroom. She’ll see you now."

"Really?" Mother’s eyes light up. "Ok, I’ll go talk to her." She scurries off.

Ashal turns back to me. "Why are you struggling to accept the truth that’s right in front of you, Ashton? Even after I narrated what truly happened at Liam’s basement and all the tiny details of my assault and eventual rescue, you still won’t believe Demi’s innocence? Why?"

"Ok, I think it’s time you tap out bro."

"Don’t bro me." He replies, scowling. "This is exactly why I wanted Demi to leave me at Liam’s. I knew that no matter what she did, she’ll always be our family’s culprit. If she had listened to me and left, Liam will not have forced her to make that call. Look Ashton, I am not saying that you two have to become friends again if you can’t handle it. I just hate the blame she’s forced to bear for something she is clearly innocent of. I WAS THE VICTIM. I saw everything that happened and I told you the truth. If you don’t trust her, why can’t you trust me and my account of the story?"

"I’ve been down this road before, Ashal. I constantly chose to trust her blindly and she always proved to me that there’s more to her than meets the eye. Yes, all of that might have happened before your eyes but it could all have been part of her plan anyway; to lull us into a false sense of security before her next surprise attack."

"I understand your concern but I doubt Demi would ruin her best chance at getting back at our family just to go plan another surprise attack. She knows it’ll be difficult to get us so perilously close to going bankrupt and begging on our knees. She’s never going to have a better opportunity for revenge than the last couple of weeks. SHE WASN’T ACTING, Ashton. I know it. Maybe I don’t know her heart and what goes on in her head but I know what happened in Liam’s basement and the role Demi played to save my life. Can you at least acknowledge that and cut her some slack?"

But I am afraid. If everyone in my family starts trusting Demi the way I once did, who’s going to be on the lookout for her next move? What if none of us sees it coming and we eventually get completely destroyed? There’ll be no end to my guilt in this, because I brought her into our lives. I have to find a way to appease her once and for all so she can permanently shelf her revenge plans against us.

But just what will do it? What does she truly want?

"Fine. I’ve heard you. She saved your life and I will continually be grateful for that." I hug him. Spotting Maddi, I jerk my chin towards the door. "The party awaits."

His smile is full and bright when he sees her leaning by the door. That look painfully reminds me of Demi and a time when her presence quickened my heart rate. I really thought I had found the one. Anyway, I am happy Ashal finally found his person.

Even Asher has been intentional with Anna. Though he ignored the reporters trying to weasel a statement from him about his relationship with the unfamiliar Anna all night, he spared no effort in flaunting her in front of the cameras knowing what the headlines will read. Ashley and I are both on a quest of rediscovery. Too bad we were forced here by the same woman.

"Happy birthday." Josh quips, cheering me with a glass of wine. I clench my teeth.

"Keep moving, Randall. We don’t need this scene tonight."

"Jeez, why are all the celebrants so stiff tonight? It was a great party, way less chaotic than I anticipated. I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday."

"Where’s Nessa?" I ask. He had the nerve to parade her here hoping to spite Asher but it didn’t work. Asher has long moved on. "Did you dump her because you couldn’t pull the right reaction you hoped to from Asher?" I chuckle lightly. "If you’re done kidding around, go find your mummy and get her to drive your drunk ass home." I shove past him and go downstairs to rejoin the party.

Thankfully, Monaco is engrossed in a conversation with some of the lingering party guests.

"Hey" Asher calls, marching up to me. "So, father and I spoke to the victims. We’ve rescheduled the sit-down date according to their convenience. It will be happening next weekend at our resort."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yes. I’ll handle everything."

"Ok." My eyes momentarily stray to the door.

"She’s not coming." Asher quips.

"What?"

"Demi. She never planned to attend. Anna already confirmed that she isn’t coming."

"Good. Should have told me earlier so I could have relaxed a little rather than worrying about her showing up and ruining the vibe."

Asher gives me a lopsided grin. "I find that a little difficult to believe because every time I caught you watching the door for her appearance, the look in your eyes was hardly that of anxiety or fear. If anything, it was anticipation. Even when the crowd was awestruck by Monaco’s appearance, your eyes quickly went flat with disappointment when you realized she wasn’t Demi."

I grab his drink and drain it in one gulp. "Are you quite finished? Yes, I anticipated her arrival all night but it’s nothing remotely close to the reasons you think."

"Really?"

"Yeah." I reply with my poker face. He leans close to whisper to me.

"I will always have my guard up around Demi but this one time, she did save our brother’s life." My phone buzzes in my pocket. "Check your phone, then make up your mind on whether or not she deserves your contempt. I’d respect your decision either way. I just feel obligated to ensure you have the full picture before making a decision."

He strides off to entertain guests as the party draws to a close. I plug in my air pods and go watch the video in a corner.

My expression doesn’t change when I watch Skylar and Liam boss Demi around, forcing her to do their bidding. It doesn’t change when she begs for Ashal to be spared or when she makes the phone call saying exactly what Liam had instructed. Something warm floods my chest when I realize how soon she could have cleared her name by sending the video to me, but she hadn’t in order not to jeopardize my brother’s safety at the time.

I run a hand through my hair and gasp softly. "Who exactly are you, Demi Branson?"

Moments later, I whip out my phone and call Demi. She fails to pick up. Sighting Anna, I head over to her just as she takes a call from her best friend. I signal to her not to drop the call because I need to speak with Demi and just before she can respond, I grab the phone impatiently and hear the words.

"Love you." I know she’s referring to Anna but something still flutters in my belly nonetheless. In that moment, I know our story is far from over.

***

She comes out of Anna’s apartment, looking cute in some jeans and a yellow T-shirt. The face cap is an adorable touch but if she meant to use it as a disguise, I’d say it won’t work. Anyone can make her out in that outfit or is it just me?

"You?"

"Yeah. Me." Seeing how dapper I look in my custom-tailored suit, she struggles not to feel underdressed. I, in turn, try not to make her feel self-conscious by raking my eyes over her outfit, despite what a struggle it is for me.

"Why did you have to come yourself?" She finally asks the burning question on her lips. "A driver or even an Uber would have been fine. Aren’t you missing your birthday party or something?" Her eyebrow slants upward when I help her get the passenger door of my Porsche.

"Hardly any of the guests would notice I am gone. I’ve got three identical faces to keep them distracted in the meantime."

She slides in and draws her legs close in an anxious move. "Those dark curls of yours beg to differ."

I stifle a smile as I climb in next to her. Closed in with our arms almost grazing, my breath hitches in my throat. I start the car and speed off. I drive in silence for about three minutes, painfully aware of every move she makes beside me, every intake of breath, every nervous clasp of her fingers and the fact that she keeps her eyes peeled to the streets.

"Uhm, Ashton, this is not the way to the mansion. You just passed it." She informs me with a hint of concern. I turn to her for the first time since the car ride. Have her eyes always been so brown and captivating? She blushes really hard and turns away, her heart undoubtedly beating wildly.

"We are going in the wrong direction." She mutters.

"No, we’re not."

"But the mansion..."

"We are not going to the mansion." Ignoring her shocked eyes, I step on the gas and zoom off.