Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 180: Chapter 180 ASHER It's been a weird morning. My eyes still burn from not getting enough sleep. I barely shut my eyes for two hours this morning and though I can easily take more rest if I want to, my mind has been whirling with concern. I guess there will never be an end toworrying over my family.

"The party was a success." Mother quips with a huge grin while we're having breakfast. "Did you see the headlines? The reporters were very kind." "Yes darling" Father concurs. "We are not out of the legal woods yet but socially, we might be making a comeback sooner than we think. I already got a couple of golfing invites to discuss reinvestments in Rollins Group." Though their relationship isn't back to what it used to be, I'm grateful that mother is sitting with us again and not throwing shady looks and scathing comments at father every few minutes. Even when he called her 'darling', she didn't seem to mind.

"Ashley, our outfits are getting huge compliments on social media platforms." I inform him as he quietly focuses on his phone. "People want to know how soon you're going to cup with a new fashion line." He angles his head at me. "I'm not sure right now. I'm doing a bit of restructuring of my company. Nothing's in view for now." His eyes glide down to his phone again. When I peek, it appears to be unanswered messages from Nicci. She hadn't showed up last night like he hoped. I hate how sad that makes him feel.

In the past, Ashley would have no problem landing a date in minutes or having fun with multiple women. With Demi, he slowed down a bit and after her, he's not he seems to no longer find fulfilment in juggling women. I did suggest it to him before the party but he ignored me. Now, he sits here moping at his phone like a lovesick puppy. Even the thought of drowning himself with work to pass tisn't as appealing to him as it used to be. Ashal meets my eyes and shakes his head. Then he turns to our parents.

"Mother? I hope you don't mind Olivia and Maddie staying here. It's just till the baby is born. I want Olivia comfortable and she can't be without her sister so..." "Of course, my love. That's absolutely fine." Mother has a big smile on her face. Something about welcoming her first grandchild in three months has her over the moon. "I'll personally see to it that she has the best there." Father remains uncharacteristically quiet.

"And father?" Ashal asks. "Is that okay with you?" Father sips his tea. "You really think it's a good idea to keep your ex-wife and her sister under the sroof, especially given your new found romance with the sister..." he trails off at the icy glare mother shoots him. "I mean, it's your call. I just don't know women who share the slove interest to be that accommodating, least of all sisters." "What?" Mother barks at him. "Are you in anyway trying to compare those sisters to Kristy and I? Were you hoping we would hold hands for the cameras last night?" "Barbara, please, that's not even what I meant." "That's exactly what you insinuated!" Mother lashes, throwing her napkin on the table and pushing her seat back. "You'll be waiting for all eternity if you ever think my sons and I will welcKristy and Josh into our home. I understand if you need to maintain a relationship with your son which is why he struts into our lives every now and then. However, keep your relationship with his mother far from me, my kids and my home!" "Mother, please..." "I'm done." She says, hopefully referring to her breakfast. As she turns to storm upstairs, Ashton emerges from the elevator.

"Hey, I just got here." He says, reading the room and the scowl on mother's face. He hooks an arm over her shoulder and plants a big kiss on her cheek. Then he whispers something in her ear that makes her laugh. "C'mon mom, let's eat like a big happy family. I've missed this." Smiling, he steers her back to the table. "What's got you in such a good mood?" Ashal asks, eyeing him suspiciously. "You're usually the moody one and this morning, you're spreading cheer?" Amateur, I think, shaking my head at Ashal's question. How could he not see it? If it was a woman in Ashton's place, she'd have a certain glow about her. For Ashton, a bright smile and a cheerful attitude is like that glow. He definitely got laid last night. My eyes stray to the only other brother that will notice easily: Ashley. Like I suspect, Ashley is thinking the sthing.

Ashton was very uneasy at the party last night and this morning, he's all sunshine and rainbows. The only thing Ashley might not know is that Ashton went over to see Demi yesterday. Did they do it? Damn it. The timing couldn't be worse. Even though Ashley admittedly has moved on from his ex-wife, it will still sting to learn that his brother finally banged her.

This isn't what I was hoping for when I showed him the proof of her innocence. I just wanted him to stop blaming her unjustly. She saved Ashal's life after all. Besides, I didn't think Ashton was still entertaining such thoughts about Demi in the heat of our family crisis. How could I have known that he would...shit.

I turn to Ashton who's eating and making light conversation with mother. He's still on cloud nine and has no idea how fucking obvious he's being. But it feels good to see him radiating with such happiness.

Conversely, Ashley is a ten-foot pole away from crashing out over Nicci. I massage a throbbing ache in my temple as I wonder why we brothers can't all be happy at the stime. Why must one of us suffer in order to accommodate another's happiness? The answer flashes my head like a banner. Maybe if we didn't circle between the swomen, this wouldn't be happening.

Ashley finally looks up at Ashton, his eyes flashing suspiciously.

"Ok," I leap to my feet. "Bros, I need to speak to all of you. Can we meet back in the groom to discuss the plans for the sit-down?" They nod affirmatively.

"But Ashton isn't done with his breakfast..." Mother starts to whine. "Look, this is the biggest breakfast plate he's ever had. Don't ruin this moment for this happy mother." Ashton beams at her. "It's okay, mom. I'm taking it with me." Mom? Since when did he start calling her mom instead of mother like we are all used to? Ashal's the only one who sometimes calls her mom. Now, it's glaring to everyone that something's definitely up with him. Gently, I grab the plate from his hand and set it back down.

"It won't take long. You can have it brought to you after we're done." Something in my eyes sends him a warning which he smartly picks up on.

"Yeah. Sure." We thank our parents and proceed to the groom. While Ashal takes a detour to check on his girls before rejoining us, Ashley walks off to make a call first. Alone, I steer Ashton into a spare room and shut the door.

"What's going on?" He asks, surprised at my action. I take one look at his shiny hair, leather pants and shirt. He looks good and happy, two combos that never collided in the past.

"Where were you last night? I left you a ton of calls and messages but you didn't reply." He streaks a hand in his hair. "I'm sorry. I was inebriated and my phone must have died." Lliar. He's not even trying.

"You went to see her, didn't you? Don't deny it. Anna told me. What happened over there? You didn't chuntil three this morning." My eyes dim with suspicion. "Tellyou didn't do what I think you did." "Look, a lot happened, okay? I didn't plan to make up with her. Far from it. Actually, I went to beg her to distance herself from our family but fate had other plans apparently. One thing led to another and it just happened..." "Wait." I edge backwards. "Did I just hear you correctly? Are you two like a couple now? It wasn't just a hookup?" A conspicuous frown creeps into his face. "Why are you so alarmed? Everyone here knows how Demi and I have always felt for each other despite the prevailing circumstances around us. It was only going to be a matter of tbefore fate brought us together." "Oh, please, now you're going to call it fate?" "Asher, enough. I don't have to justify my feelings to you or anyone else. Call it whatever you want but I LOVE HER. You know I always have. I'm sorry if the timing sucks but I can't let her go, not again. You said it yourself; she's not the enemy..." "No, that's not what I said." I counter him, blowing a stream of frustrated breath. "I SAID that I am always going to have my guard up around her but the one thing I was certain about was that she saved our brother's life. THAT'S WHY I SHOWED YOU THAT VIDEO, BECAUSE I WANTED YOU TO STOP BLAMING HER UNJUSTLY. I didn't do that so you could go bang her." "Well, I did, okay? And it was..." His eyes turn dreamy and wistful before he finally shuts them to relive the act with Demi. "I lack words." "Jeez, sparethe details." When I try to leave, he yanks my arm back.

"Asher, the point is that I feel truly and completely happy for the first tin a long while. Everything about her feels right and true for me, long before we got intimate. I just didn't have the courage to pursue it because life kept getting in our way but right now, there's nothing standing between us. Hence, we both decided to give it a chance. Look, we don't plan on making this public. Neither of us want that. We just want to see where this leads. Can't you guys be happy forthe way everyone's happy for Ashal and Madeline?" I take one look at him and my heart clenches.

"Don't getwrong. I want the best for you. Your happiness matters more tothan you'll ever know and I love how happy you are." "But?"

"But my guard's still up. You know my guts are never wrong, right? If everything was truly going to be okay Ο Π with Demi being in our lives, I'll feel less tense about hex but right now, there's still a turmoil within me, like the first tshe cin here with her aunt and cousin. I'll admit that she has a good heart and is a good person but there's still something ominous about her that makesuneasy. It's almost like something ugly starts to brew in our future whenever she's in our lives." Ashton shakes his head. "She saved Ashal. She stopped Liam and our sister from ruining us. The way I see it, maybe she's more of an angel than a havoc-wreaking devil. Maybe she's always re-entering our lives because she happens to be instrumental in saving us from future calamities." "Spoken like a fool in love." I chuckle to mask the unease still bubbling within me. I hug him tightly. "I hope you're right, brother. I really do." Then I thump his shoulder. "Check that lovey-dovey eyes around Ashley though before he clocks it. He might still have residual feelings for his ex-wife." "Got it." *** With everyone seated in the groom, I proceed.

"A lot has happened in the last few months. Honestly, I didn't think we'd make it to a day like this that feels as normal as the ones we used to have before all hell broke loose. Father and I have meetings lined up with potential investors for the company. Our PR teams are working hard to restore our family and company images. Thankfully, no life was lost. Rather, we gained two more, a future niece or nephew, and a sister." I take a deep breath. "We'll celebrate another tbut there are spressing issues I need to run by you all. Firstly, our sister. Yes. She's a priority right now. I took the liberty of running a DNA test despite her striking resemblance to us because of how Keith had us fooled the last time. It cout positive." A wave of delight spreads across their faces.

"That's good to know." Ashal quips while others nod with big smiles.

"Last night, Keith stopped by and tried to make a fuss about Skylar's whereabouts. Obviously, I didn't tell him. I had a talk with him at the Sky Lounge but accidentally ran into father hosting one of his guests there." "What? Did he catch on?" Ashley queries.

"No. I handled it. He suspects nothing." "And Keith? I'm sure he made threats. What if he tries to go to the media?".

I give him a lopsided grin. "He wouldn't. His threats are all a bluff. I can tell that he cares deeply for Skylar. Hence, he wouldn't jeopardize the safety of the sister he claims to love can count on that." As the thought marinates in their heads, I continue. "We need to figure out how to make things up with Skylar and to guarantee her safety. But to do that, we have to investigate the truth of her claims against father. We need to get to the bottom of those accusations." The import of my words hit hand like me, my brothers exhibit a hint of unease. My heart clenches as I prepare to drop more bombshells.

"There's more." I inform them. "Apparently, our biological father and grandfather...are still alive." "WHAT?" They ask in unison, straightening in their seats.

"I'm still looking into it. Cree and Demi have more information." I glance briefly at Ashton who's frozen in shock. I was too when I learnt all of this from Anna. I still have a hard tbelieving it myself. "But the only person who can confirm all this is Skylar. That's why we have to go see her...now!" "This is crazy." Ashton voices out as he surges to his feet. Ashley and Ashal remain speechless. I head over to pat their shoulders.

"Take a deep breath, y'all. We can't afford to lose our shit now. There's so much about our lives that's about to be revealed and we must be strong for it, and for the tough m decisions we'll need to make in future. I know it's crazy. Brett is the only father we've ever known. I don't know how to wrap my head around the possibility that Skylar's claims could prove to be true." I stifle a shudder. "I know we all have a lot of questions for the parents we've known our whole lives and the one we're about to meet but for now, it's best we start with Skylar." I pat each brother's shoulder as I herd them towards the door. Ashal's phone starts to ring. He takes the call and before our eyes, all color drains from his face. My heart tightens. When he tries to bolt out the door, we grab him and steady him as we all ask what the problem is.

"It's Olivia." He replies shakily, his voice thick with emotion. "Maddi says she's bleeding."