Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 41: Chapter 41

ASHER

It all happened in a flash. One moment, I was having a conversation with Anna and the next thing I knew, she was being hefted onto an ambulance headed for the hospital, leaving a pool of her blood on the cobblestones.

My head spun when they wheeled her on a gurney into the theatre. I had thought my blurry vision was due to stress and my tumor until I wiped my eyes and found my palms smeared with actual tears. That was over four hours ago.

What’s taking so long? Why hasn’t anyone told me anything? Is surgery supposed to take this long or is it a bad sign? My fingers are still ice cold as I wait patiently outside the operating theatre. Anna’s blood is smeared all over my clothes and hands. Hard as I try, I can’t stop reliving the last few seconds before she pushed me in my head.

Why didn’t I turn around the second I heard a strange voice? Maybe I could have blocked Iman’s attack. Even if I hadn’t succeeded, I would be the one in there now not Anna. What the hell was she thinking when she pushed me away to take the hit herself? She already lost her father. Does she have a death wish?

"Stupid girl." I mutter through gritted teeth. "Is this your idea of making me indebted to you? You could have just blackmailed me or begged me for money. Why the hell would you put your life on the line like that? I am the one with a short life expectancy and billionaire parents. I am the one that fool wanted to hurt. What were you trying to prove by getting in the way?"

I bury my hands in my hair and pull. I hate feeling like this. I don’t want anyone’s pity or favors. Anna shouldn’t have added to my trauma like this. How am I supposed to forget this night?

My phone continues to buzz in my pocket. To distract myself, I pick it up for the first time and realize it’s Nessa. She has called severally and sent a couple of nudes to my phone. I feel nothing but anger as I read her desperate text messages. Angrily, I shove my phone back in my pocket and cover my face with my hands.

Do I call the boys? Won’t father and mother get suspicious if they all left the house tonight? I have no freaking idea what to do.

I don’t even know if Anna is going to make it. How am I going to handle it if doctor Ezra informs me that Anna has passed? I don’t even know anything about her or her family besides the sob story she told me in the car regarding her late father.

I definitely can’t call Demi. She’ll freak out and because she knows I hate her and have been onto her, she might accuse me of intentionally trying to kill her friend and try to scratch my eyes out. It will be too dramatic and lord knows I can’t deal with anymore drama tonight.

"What do I do?" I wonder with my hands on my head. The doors to the operation theatre swing open and doctor Ezra steps out peeling gloves from his hand. A nurse behind him quickly accepts the gloves and retreats. I leap to my feet, scared to death at the bland expression on his face.

"H-How is she?"

"We did our best. The blow to the head caused quite some injury but nothing fatal. We’ll have to wait for her to wake up and see if there are any lingering consequences."

"She’ll be fine?"

"All things being equal, she should be."

I stagger back to my seat and clutch the arm rests.

"Are you okay, Asher? Let me take a look at you."

I shove his hand away as he tries to check my eyes. "I’m fine. I’m just...exhausted."

"You should go home and rest."

"She doesn’t have anyone...I mean, I don’t know any of her emergency contacts."

"I’ll have someone call to inform you of her recovery progress. We’ll look after her. You have nothing to be worried about. Once she comes to, you can come back and see her." Doctor Ezra’s eyes narrow with precision. "Is she someone close to you? A girlfriend maybe?"

"No. No. It’s nothing like that. It was an accident and I happened to see her get attacked."

"Have you informed the police?"

The police. Iman. No. I can’t involve the police. It will be a media blizzard. I can’t have my family be associated with a criminal like Iman moments after we just concluded the general meeting of the company. Our stock prices will dip. I have to handle this quietly. I don’t know why Iman would attack me but I intend to find out.

"I’ll take care of it, doctor. Right now, I am just more interested in ensuring that the victim is out of the woods." Doctor Ezra nods with understanding.

"Like I said, though the operation was successful, we can only tell that everything is alright when she comes around. That’s how tricky the brain is." He gives me a look. "You should get cleaned up. There’s blood all over your face and body. If you don’t want to go home just yet, try rinsing off in the bathroom."

"Doc?"

"You don’t have to ask. I know you don’t want me telling your family about this incident. Give me some credit, Asher. I know you slightly better now. However, ensure you do what you must and inform the police before they come asking questions that I have no choice but to answer."

"Thank you."

I watch him leave, thankful for his understanding. Just then, the doors to the theatre open and Anna is wheeled out, ready to be transferred to a hospital room. I already paid for VVIP treatment so I am certain she’ll be taken to the special ward with better room facilities and privacy. A nurse comes over to ask me to sign some papers as her guardian. After signing, she entrusts me with Anna’s things.

easily have called any one of them but Ashton is top on my mind

me in Anna’s room when he rushes in. He takes one look at Anna’s comatose state and grits his teeth. Then he edges close to me

my clothes takes

troubled mind at ease. He gives

You only texted this address and

On my way, I saw Anna. Earlier, our parents and I had lunch at the restaurant she works in. I felt I should give her a lift. When we got to her street, she thanked me. I was just biding her goodbye when Iman

Ashton’s face switches from

name as he tried to hit me. Next thing I knew, she pushed me away from the line of attack, making herself the victim." My eyes dart to the sound of labored breathing coming from Anna on the bed. "I have no idea why she did that or why Iman tried to kill

silent with a faraway

TO FINISH HIM OFF FOR

"What?"

between Anna and I. "It’s all my fault. I did something stupid while I was mad at father after my visit to

day. He barely even looked at me. "What

to Iman’s place. I needed to hit something

"Ashton!"

"That man has been nothing but trouble to our family. His house was just along the

pinch the bridge of my nose. So, that’s what all those texts from Iman was about. He thought I had sent my brother to deal with him? That fool. Why would he even think that? We have a working arrangement going.

dared to mess up. That was because I knew he feared Ashton, the violent one. Of course, I never meant it. How was I supposed to know Iman would take me at my word or that Ashton would randomly show up to his door to

Ashton stares pitifully at Anna. "I owe her a debt of gratitude too. None of

out of this. I’ll handle

"Like heck I will."

my brother on a regular day but because he is already laden with guilt over the part he played in

Ashley covered

relief. I can’t let father get a whiff of

"Have you informed Demi?"

will remain that way until Anna wakes up and is strong enough to

"Asher."

especially that Billion-Err blog that’s out to make us socially bankrupt. I can’t involve Demi right now. Once Anna is out of the woods, we’ll tell Demi. That’s final." Ashton clearly has his own opinion but I cut him off with a hard stare, "Final, Ash.

his hair and goes to check on Anna and the ECG.

to my feet. "I need to shower and have dinner. Can you watch her till I’m back?" Ashton’s face creases with worry. "I don’t know who else I can trust. The much I know about her family can’t even fit in

not contacting her family for the same reason why

"Bingo."

hope she pulls through in time." Something worrisome flickers in his

think of death right now. It’ll mess me up in more ways than one. "Don’t say that. She will be fine. Doctor

I didn’t mean to...I’ll watch her. Go

"Thank you."

jacket and passes it to me. "You don’t want anyone

peel mine off and wear his black leather jacket, then zip it

guess Ashley will be the only one that will have a seizure with this fashion mayhem." We both laugh over

so I quickly call one of our drivers to come take me home. I don’t realize how exhausted I

to itch uncomfortably so I start to pull down the

"Ashton?"

heaven’s sake, not

"Ashton, I..."

state flatly, turning to her with a cold gaze. "Not every brother who wears a black leather jacket is Ashton, missy." I can’t even feel bad

my chest and dilate

a stupid club fight. Red wine. Mind your business, okay?" I swerve towards my door. Then, I figured I might as well get

you constantly sneaking

I continue with more steam. "You’re married to Ashley. If you’re desperate for some action, go to him. Why do you keep leading everyone to suspect Ashton is having an affair with

"I don’t..."

I warn her in a dangerously low voice. "You and him can never

with Ashal and Ashley. If he wants me to

"I am his brother!"

adult! Even his father can’t always make the

really don’t know much about father or Ashton. I’m warning you Demi Branson. If you create any rift between my brothers because of your actions, I won’t