Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Chapter 43

ASHER

"Olivia? How the hell does Demi know about Olivia?" Ashton bites down on his lower lips and this tells me he’s been keeping this from me for a while. I stop myself from giving the hospital wall a bad-tempered kick. "How long? How long have they been in contact?"

"I don’t know. Ashley confided in me a few weeks back after Ashal found Olivia’s text in Demi’s phone."

I break out into a short, manic laughter. "So, everyone knew about this except me? Why exactly am I just hearing this? Do you guys not know how livid father could get if your little secret causes a huge mess? Do you know how big a mess it will be if Demi actually finds out the truth about Olivia?" I prance away with a hand on my head and another on my hip.

How could my brothers have kept this from me till now?

"I thought I had it handled." Ashton adds, walking up to me.

"Handled?" I fire back, whirling towards him. "Then why the fuck are they still talking? Olivia doesn’t listen. She is a stubborn woman. The only language she understands is violence and threats. That’s why she’s in the mess she finds herself today." I clench my fists. "You should have told me, Ash. I would have made sure to nip this in the bud!"

I can’t trust my brothers to handle anything, especially not a potential family crisis. Olivia is my mess to begin with. Whatever she does will always ricochet back to me. I shouldn’t have been kept in the dark for goodness’ sake.

Ashton is usually very persuasive so it beats me how Olivia could have defied him knowing fully well what problems it could cause her with my family and especially Ashal. It makes little to no sense.

Ashal. I can’t imagine what he would do if he finds out what Olivia has been up to. I don’t have time to think about all that now. I have to find a way to get to Olivia, convince her to behave for her own good and possibly ensure she no longer has access to any phones. She’s proven she can’t be trusted time and time again.

"From now on, I’ll deal with this Demi and Olivia problem." I tell Ashton. "Tell Ashley to keep an eye on Demi. I want to know where she goes and who she meets or talks to outside of work and her aunt’s." I might need to have her phone tapped but I don’t share this with Ashton yet.

"Mr. Rollins?" Ashton and I turn in sync to find the nurse assigned to Anna’s room standing a few meters from us in the hallway. "The patient is awake. She’s asking for Mr. Asher Rollins."

Ashton and I lock eyes that gradually crinkle in smiles. Finally, I exhale. The frustration and anger surging within me over Olivia’s latest stunt with Demi dissolves to give way to relief. We follow the nurse all the way back to Anna’s room. In there, doctor Ezra is already examining her quietly.

The color has returned to Anna’s face. Her bandage is still on but she looks more alive than yesterday. Doctor Ezra finishes checking the color of her eyes and her vital signals.

"Everything looks normal." He confirms.

"Anna?" My voice is no more than a whisper as I edge close to her bed. Her eyes shift towards me.

"Asher, is that you?"

I clutch my chest and exhale.

"I’m glad you’re okay." Anna continues with a weak smile.

"Her memory is restored." The doctor says with a smile.

"How? Under twenty-four hours?"

He nods at me. "Her amnesia was caused by the blow to her head. It led to her confusion and problem remembering information. Thankfully, the head injury wasn’t severe so her memory loss didn’t last. In my practice, I’ve seen a number of similar cases of temporal amnesia going away in less than twenty-four hours. Still, I always deem it a miracle." He turns to Anna. "Some details might still be foggy but with enough rest and medicine, you’ll be back to your old self in no time."

"That’s good to know." Ashton quips. Anna beams at him. Doctor Ezra leaves with the nurse. Alone with us, Anna twitches on her bed with discomfort. I guess she does remember us after all. Ashton thanks her for saving my life and leaves the room. I bury my hands between my thighs and stare at my feet.

"Why did you do that? You could have...died."

She exhales. "I don’t know. I didn’t have time to think it through. I just...acted." Her voice is low and weak, making me look at her. "I am never saving your life again so don’t be too grateful. I have a family that depends on me. I’m all they’ve got." She stares at her hands. "Iman. Did you find him?"

looks up at me, her eyes warm with tears. "He’ll pay.

he doesn’t hurt anyone else since he couldn’t get to

hiding away in some shithole with the help of friends. I’ll find him and if I can’t, I’ll have to lure

"Thanks"

widen and instantly starts searching the room. "My mom. She must be worried about me. I call her once every day. What’s today’s date? Shit. Where’s my phone." She tries to get down from the bed

tell me what you need and

her lips coyly. "M-my phone. It was in

through her call logs. She gasps at how many people have tried to reach her and begins calling her family back. Right after, she calls Demi.

Why didn’t you

same reason I didn’t tell my mom. I’ll tell them later, in person

I can stop myself. "Thank you, Anna. You’re a

***

memory loss might be short-lived, I had doubted him. Still, I had nursed hope. The guilt over her condition ate at me the whole day at work. I couldn’t even look Demi in the eye unless it

has been lifted off my shoulders. After settling everything to do with Anna’s transportation back home with a plan for her to get regular checkups by a private

the office, I am in a lighter mood. Demi looks up as I make my

"Welcome sir."

new. She must be in a jolly mood after hearing from her friend. I acknowledge her

her up at the hotel. She has been weird around me ever since. We haven’t had a chance to revisit that conversation because I haven’t allowed it. Even now, I can tell she’s itching to talk to me about personal matters. Still, I keep a straight face to

"What did I miss?"

much sir. Your father was

out my phone. No missed calls or texts. It was

said he’d come

not know it but it was traumatic for me. I could have been killed and an innocent woman almost died because of me. Obviously, I can’t tell that to Nessa so I’d prefer we never

said

desk. Next to him are his secretary and across from him is

Father’s guests excuse themselves, beam at me before leaving us alone. I help

had some business outside the

"I see."

"You wanted to talk?"

his infidelity. She is never supposed to know about Josh. With father’s selfish and insensitive

his glasses and steeples his fingers on his

sit up in my chair. "You finally want

dim with surprise. "Let me paraphrase

are you talking

It’s me and Nessa kissing in my office. "Tom is temporarily suspended. Josh brought this to my notice and I couldn’t ignore

or you

this from you. Thank God Josh was the one who found this feed and brought it

trying to discredit me so you that he can usurp my birthright? Really father?"

"Mind your language."

"That sneaky bastard!"

Asher. I won’t hear

brother?" I cackle as father rises. "Just say it. You won’t hear a single

both my

don’t believe that. If my brothers and I weren’t useful to your empire, you would

slumps back on his chair. "Why do you hate him so much? He is not

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