Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 36: Chapter 36

ASHAL

"Welcome sir." Everyone chimes as I make my way into Rollins Media. It’s been days since I’ve worked directly from my office. When I step in, there are gifts and flowers from different departments festooning my desk and sofas. The copywriting team left me a brand new hoverboard. The marketing team stocked my personal fridge with my favorite drinks and snacks. Tears glisten in my eyes at the show of love from my employees.

"Thank you so much guys. You didn’t have to."

"No, but we wanted to." Elyon, my creative lead quips. He beams at me. "We’re glad to have you back sir, hale and hearty."

I pat my eyes dry. "Okay. Enough now. Let’s all get back to work. We have a major campaign coming up. I need great ideas. There will be juicy rewards for the team that knocks this right out of the park."

Everyone coos with excitement as they retreat to their working desks. I sink into my chair and take a deep breath. Gosh, it feels good to be back.

Remote working is not my style. I love the power and control that only emanates from my high-back executive chair. I love hearing the hum of activity from the bull pen filtering in through my half open door.

I love the clomp of my secretary’s shoes over the tiles as she comes to reel out my schedule for the day. I love imagining lunch breaks in the staff cafeteria and eating with everyone.

We are like a family here. We are nothing like the HQ where everyone walks with an imaginary status symbols embellished on their forehead. Here, there’s no power tussle, just a family and their leader.

I am glad I dragged myself out of bed today. I need the distraction. With a lot of faces milling around me, it will be a while before I recall my dead child or Olivia’s bruised body. I’ll feel less likely to commit self-harm with so many people around. When I get my head straight with a few hours of deep work, I’ll go see Olivia.

Just after two meetings with all my team leads trying to strategize for the next quarter, I settle back into my office to prep for lunch when an expected visitor beams at me from the door.

"I was honestly starting to wonder when you’ll show up. I knew you couldn’t help yourself."

"I tried and failed to give you your space." Mom admits with a huge smile and open arms. I embrace her. If I hadn’t insisted, she would have joined me to the office this morning and watched me work all day. I guess it’s one of the perks of being her favorite.

"I told you I’d be fine. You didn’t have to call Elyon or my secretary." Before she can deny it, I add, "They’ve been hovering over me all morning and making hushed phone calls. I know it’s been you on the other end."

Mom’s shoulders sag with resignation. "I had to know you were actually fine. You know I hate being clueless about your state of mind."

Together, we move from my office area to the adjoining room that serves as a lounge area to entertain our guests. I reach into the fridge and grab mom’s favorite can soda.

"I’m glad you’re here. I might need your help." I say, giving her the drink. Worry creases her forehead.

"What do you need help with?"

My face crumples for the first time today. I’ve tried not to think about Olivia and our lost child but right now, the emotions start to overwhelm me again. I wring my hands and gnaw on my bottom lip. Mom drops her drink to come sit next to me.

"It’s okay. I’m here for you. Anything you want."

"Thank you for not telling Asher."

She rocks my head on her chest and says nothing.

"I didn’t mean to do it, mom. I tried countless times to connect with Olivia as myself but she has always loathed me. She despises me even more because of my condition. The only name she loves and responds to is Asher. If there was a better way to make her fall in love with me as Ashal, I’d have opted for it but nothing else worked. I swear it."

"It’s okay."

Asher while I am pretending to be him. I am sick with worry wondering when she’ll discover the truth and how she’ll react. With the death of our child, will she ever forgive

with both hands. Tears swim in her eyes. "That is why this plan is so risky. If you truly love her, you’ll have to be relentless in winning her over as Ashal and nobody else. You have to show

"You and father have been pushing me on her from day one. Maybe that is why she’s sick of me. She never wanted me and maybe she feels

smile. "I’ll win her over mom. I have to be a man for Olivia. She has to know that she can feel safe with me, around me and because of me. That’s why she loves Asher. I didn’t realize it until now.

do you intend to do

I’ll need

***

in my own home, mom and I finally

have to go through all that clearance to get into

three brothers that look just like me and one of them happens to be loved by my wife. I can’t take

in her checkered uniform and welcomes us. She stands, looking a bit confused

Lily,

"Oh, welcome Mr. Ashal."

my mother,

you too, Mrs. Rollins. It’s a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance." Mother beams at

"Where’s my wife?"

a movie in the home theatre. I’ll inform her you’re

me in the living room upstairs. Mention that my mother is here

take the stairs to the second

promises as Ashal, I just might resort to weaponizing her betrayal. I’m not proud of it," I add when mom’s face hardens, "I just want to have a family

"Okay."

living room, she’s looking much better than I expected. She greets mother cordially and

you been,

replies mother with

sit." I point to the sofa. Olivia hesitantly

at this point you have every reason to dislike...hate me." I correct. "I have hurt you more times than I can count and it’s no excuse that those were due to a medical condition I have no control over. Yet, here I am, still begging for your forgiveness and still asking for a chance to do right by you. Saying I love you might sound like the worst thing you ever heard but I will never stop

Olivia gapes at me in shock. The words I just uttered are clearly not what she had been expecting to hear. She stares from mother’s

to see their child trapped like this. However, I am giving you my word that everything will be better going forward. Ashal is prepared to do whatever it takes to fix your marriage and give you the love and the life you deserve. All he is asking is for you to give him one more shot. While you deliberate, please remember that him hitting you has never been intentional. Without his condition, he’ll never even hurt a fly. Please

in mine. "Olivia, ever since you came into my life, I have never thought about my future with anyone else. I am deeply in love with you. This wouldn’t be our life if we didn’t meet the way we did and you didn’t threaten to ruin my

my grasp, I know she’s about to break my heart, again. Nervously, she rises to her

together." She glares at mom. "You promised he would get better and never hit me yet

if you did, you wouldn’t keep me in this marriage against my will. You wouldn’t be selfish with your love and constantly think of yourself and what you want. I know exactly what my life will look like with you in the Rollins mansion. Everyone will turn a blind eye to your actions. They’ll sweep my suffering under the rug like they’ve always done and rally round you to give emotionally support whereas I, I will be threatened to silence. That’s the norm

"Olivia."

your selfish love. Why can’t you understand that? I don’t love you and I may never be able

When Olivia sees it, she

to hit me in

calls me, rising

hand through my face and settle back down on my seat. "I’m trying so hard to win your love and trust despite how many times you’ve trampled on mine, Olivia. Why are you so

stand and square my shoulders. "It’s because you’re in

eyes widen with

or trying to get mad at you. I have learnt to forgive you quicker because I never