Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Chapter 26

DEMI

Three Days Later.

I sit quietly, eating my food in silence. It's been a while since I felt this awkward around people that are supposed to be my family. I have no idea why aunt called me home on a Sunday afternoon to have lunch with her and Kira. The fact that neither one of them has dropped a scathing remark since I got here thirty minutes ago is beyond shocking. Though most of their hurtful words never miss causing me great discomfort, I kind of prefer it to this awkward yet palpable silence right now.

I drop my fork. "Aunt, you said it was urgent. I've been here for half an hour but you've barely spoken a word to me. What's the matter?"

"Can't I invite my only niece home to share a meal with her? You've been married for over two months and we haven't eaten from the same table ever since. Is this meal beneath you now, Demi or do I have to have a life-threatening situation before you can come pay us a visit?"

I can't believe how dramatic she's being. "I didn't mean it like that, aunt. You had me worried when you said it was urgent. I came rushing. You could have just told me you wanted to have lunch and I'd be here anyway."

I pick up my fork and twirl some creamy pasta onto my fork and eat. "And what do you mean by me considering this food beneath my station? That will never happen. You know how much I enjoy your cooking."

Kira snorts. "Is there something in that mansion that makes all its occupants terrible liars?'

"That's enough Kira, she wasn't talking to you so mind your business." Aunt's eyes find my face again and warms. "Thanks for the compliment, Demi. That means a lot to me."

Like her mother, I ignore Kira for the rest of the meal.

"So, how has marriage been? Are they treating you well?"

I almost choke on my food at that last part. Aunt quickly tops my glass of water from the water pitcher. "Thank you." I say with a smile after guzzling some. "Yes aunt, everything is fine at home. Thanks for your concern."

Aunt trades a quick glance with Kira. "Demi, you don't have to lie to me. I know I literally forced you into that marriage but I have learnt my lesson now. Money isn't everything. It disappears as quickly as it appears. The euphoria of wealth is fleeting."

I am amazed at her poetic words. Could this be because she lost the ten million dollars Mrs. Rollins gifted her while gambling to double it? I say nothing and make a good show of seeming enraptured by aunt's words.

"I want you to know that you can always come back home if that marriage isn't working. I don't want you to overthink it. Just call it quits. You'll have my full support, no questions asked. You can go back to your quiet and simple life afterward. Things will go back to the way they were."

Ok, I don't know where all this is coming from but this line of conversation is getting very awkward now. "Aunt, I am fine. Thank you for your unwavering support but I made a commitment to that family and I have every intention to see it through." At this point, Kira breaks her five-minute-long silence to counter my words.

"Stop acting so perfect, Demi. You're not sticking close to the quads and their parents out of a sense of integrity. Grow the balls to admit it. Everyone in Danvarr knows you're a dumb fool and treated no less in there. Forget the cars, the chauffeurs and the bodyguards, that family couldn't care less about an orphan who weaseled her way into their home by taking advantage of the press."

Uncharacteristically, aunt doesn't stop her daughter this time.

"Look at the history of the type of women the quads have rolled with. Even their flings have class. Ashton just got with Mila Spellman, the only daughter of the chairman of Spellman group. Ashley, your fake husband, is definitely still sleeping with his ex, Nicola Grey, the daughter of a high-profile politician in this country. Asher has been known to date only within the upper echelons of society; daughters of CEOs of huge conglomerates, a foreign ambassador's daughter one time, an international beauty pageant winner and the list goes on. Don't you see a pattern there?"

Hard as I try to ignore the sting of her words, it gets to me.

on rectifying that mistake really soon. When Ashely divorces you in ten months' time, it will be carefully arranged so the whole of Danvarr hates on you. You'll be lucky to leave that mansion with a sliver of sanity and shortly after you return, you'll only think suicidal thoughts because of all the hate you'll get from our society as a divorcee dumped by the Rollins family. Unless, you divorce

a

look. How long have they been thinking this

she'll never pick you over her family. My point is, Demi, everyone in Danvarr knows how badly this is going to end for you except you. Your best

of water and set

the meal. I'll be on my way now." I slide off my seat and grab my

"Asher was here."

whip my head

Asher Rollins stopped

its effect is lost on Kira as she continues

and has committed to make your exit from his family a memorable one. Demi, those quads plan to disgrace and dump you like used toilet paper. No man in Danvarr

I shouldn't be shocked anymore at this point. Yet, hearing his schemes always manages to send waves of cold chills down my arms. I have not even scratched the surface of my

***

ask, scowling at Liam. He shoves a paperback in a shelf and turns to face me. "Did you know what your sister has been up

little I gathered; Mila never struck me as the type to find love amongst the quads. She has never loved

fangs in the Rollins' family now. Brett Rollins is already toasting to her and Ashton as though they're an official couple." The image from dinner last night seems to irk me more than the distasteful visit Asher made to my aunt's home.

eyes at me. "What exactly are you livid about? The fact that this can potentially pose challenges in our

my face. "In case you haven't noticed, Ashton's attention is the reason Asher's hasn't uncovered my truth yet. It's very important to have a brother on my side, you know that. With your half-sister in the picture, everything will

face rejection from our

book store. Liam steers me further behind the

can't confront her. We aren't close. Just keep doing what you're doing. Hopefully, Ashton

new girlfriend, I don't know if he can turn them down. He

I recall the glint in Ashton's eyes when his father held out a hand to shake him. It felt like Ashton breathed a sigh of relief at finally

the family? I push the thoughts at the back of my

you heard anything significant from the device in the

there for now. Bugging their phones will be

a hand through my hair, ruffle it. "For this unforeseen turn of events, I'll need more time to deliver on that end. Getting close enough to the brothers to get their phones will be even harder now. I'll see what I can do." Surprisingly, Liam doesn't object. Instead,

He spits. "We need you working in

will never sanction that even if I had all the requisite qualifications to hold

to

there and then, he pulls up his laptop from his bag, settles into a couch and begins to write. I know he is cooking

we can get you to work at the damn HQ. I'm

I have already explained to her, she makes a beeline to the back of the bookstore and smiles beautifully at the sight

at him. Liam doesn't look up from his

Just call me

her to a different couch to fill her in on the new Mila problem. She is just as shocked as I am and steals glances at Liam

see the resemblance." She

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