Four Brothers and a Bride

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?"

I’ve been too busy worrying about your state of health." She looks up at me, her eyes warm with tears. "He’ll pay. I’ll make sure of

else since he couldn’t get

someone else’s skull open while he’s on the run. My guess is he is hiding away in some shithole with the help of friends. I’ll find him and if I can’t,

"Thanks"

day. What’s today’s date? Shit. Where’s my phone." She tries to get down from the bed but

shit wasn’t funny. Just tell me what you need

lips coyly. "M-my

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

about you? Why didn’t you tell her the

mom. I’ll tell them

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

***

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 was accidental or necessary, like when I snapped at her for taking Nessa’s calls

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 nurse, I make a few calls

a lighter

"Welcome sir."

mood after hearing from her friend. I acknowledge

awkward energy between us since I stood 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.

"What did I miss?"

sir. Your

did he say?" I ask, whipping out my phone. No missed

said he’d come

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 speak of it. When she’s ready to move on from my disappointment, she will. This wouldn’t be the first time. Some time

Nessa said you stopped

is the head of the legal department. "I’m sorry

me before leaving us alone. I help myself to a

had some business outside the

"I see."

"You wanted to talk?"

the incident makes my body hum with anger and disappointment. The whole point of me keeping father’s dirty little secret was to spare mom the pain of his infidelity. She is never supposed to know about Josh. With father’s selfish and insensitive action the last time, mom will have a face to put to the name if this secret ever comes out. Our lunch date will forever be

his glasses and steeples his

my chair. "You

"Let me paraphrase that;

you

it to me. I don’t have to click play on the video. It’s me and Nessa kissing in

couldn’t or

found this feed and brought it to my notice first so we can deal with

going to sit there and pretend you do not know that your son is trying to discredit me so you that he can usurp my birthright? Really father?"

"Mind your language."

"That sneaky bastard!"

won’t hear another word

father rises. "Just say it. You won’t hear

are both my

that. If my brothers and I weren’t useful to your empire, you would have cast us

do you hate him so