Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 45: Chapter 45

DEMI

"Are you sure you got the full name right? When I mentioned it, Ashton didn’t have much of a reaction. It almost felt like he had never heard of the name before. He carried on like I didn’t just drop a bomb on him."

Liam scoffs. "I guess he’s a sterling actor. It’s either that or he already knew Olivia had already tried to contact you so it was no shock to him." He quirks a brow at me. "Do you think Ashton might have gotten close enough to delete Olivia’s text and contact number from your phone at any point in time? I need you to think hard."

I don’t have to. Ashton has my passcode. He might have snuck in while I was asleep and used my fingerprint to unlock my phone. He seems like he can pull such a thing off. Yet, I keep my theory to myself. If Ashton did do it, I’ll find out myself.

"The only time I was completely knocked out and unaware of my surroundings was the night I passed out drunk in front of the quads. If anyone wanted to get into my phone, that was the perfect chance. However, I don’t recall much about that night after I conked out. I don’t even know who carried me to my room."

Liam sighs. "It could have been any one of them." Shaking his head, he waves his hand dismissively. "That’s not important right now. What’s important is that Olivia Dunn exists and she is the secret wife of Ashal Rollins. If she’s being hidden away at the penthouse, there has to be a big secret the Rollins family is trying to keep under wraps. Olivia is in the best position to tells us everything."

Memories of Ashal come to my mind. We had so much fun picking out our new cars. He’s the sweetest, easygoing guy I ever met. Hence, I am having a hard time reconciling that personality with the truth unfolding in front of me. Even worse is the fact that everyone in the family is privy to the secret about Olivia, even mom and Ashton!

"I casually mentioned visiting the penthouse and Ashal flipped. If Olivia was simply living there as a spouse he wasn’t proud of, I don’t think he would have considered my visit such a big deal. Based on his reaction, I’m certain there’s more to it, like domestic abuse or worse. He told me it’s his play pen for him and his brothers."

The minute I voice those words, my heat sinks. "Liam, what if Olivia is being abused by all four brothers? When I was dragged to the penthouse, they had also threated to sexually assault me as a group. If the penthouse is their play pen, such a sick act might be their idea of fun." Just thinking about it makes me want to retch.

"I wouldn’t put it past those quads." Liam’s lips curve distastefully.

I instantly regret my hypothesis. Would Ashton really agree to be a part of something like that? I recall that he had insinuated something similar in my ears when I had been trying to coax Ashal to let me visit the penthouse. He had whispered in my ear, and asked me, ’what do you think happens when you drop a cube of sugar in the midst of ants?’. Oh god, could Olivia really be the sugar in that analogy and the quads the ants? I feel sick to my stomach.

"Have you been to see Anna?" Liam asks, changing the topic on seeing my discomfort.

"Not yet. She called to inform me that she’s back in town now. I’ll stop by her place right after we’re done here." Hissing, I stare into my drink. "Do you know why she’s keeping it a secret from me? Do you think Asher might have threatened her to keep everything that happened a secret even from me?"

"I think you know the answer to your own question."

Poor Anna, I think. Why do my problems keeping rubbing off on her? The quads were never supposed to get too close to my loved ones but now they’ve infiltrated everything and everyone dear to me. One of them is even trying to permeate my heart.

"How long am I supposed to pretend I don’t know anything about her accident? What if she suspects that you might have gotten wind of it and told me?"

"Pay her a visit first and see if she still refrains from telling you. If she does and you suspect she’s doing so under duress, I’ll take it up from there."

"You’re going to run the story on Billion-Err?"

"Of course. Since we haven’t found any other solid evidence that can hit that family where it hurts, we’ll just have to settle for pricking their egos and making small dents in their reputation with mini stories every now and then."

He has a point. I look outside the window and follow the rattling journey of an old mini-van down the narrow street. The air inside the bookstore is cool and placid. Itching for a distraction as Liam refocuses on his laptop, I stroll towards the shelves and run my fingers through the stems of dusty paperbacks. The new sales boy at the counter isn’t doing Mr. Rahl’s business any justice. He is always too invested in his video games or music to bother about dusting books.

My eyes stray to him through a curtain of books and sure enough, he is on his phone. However, he seems to be on call with someone, whispering and craning his neck to peer in the direction of the table where Liam and I are currently occupying. It’s a bit suspicious. Why is he whispering into the phone and looking at us? Who could he be talking to?

I pop out from the corner and startle him. His phone almost slips out of his fingers but his good reflexes save the day.

"I d-didn’t see you t-there." He feigns a smile to distract me from his deft attempt to hide his phone under the counter. It finally disappears into his back pocket.

"You’re a little jumpy today...."

"It’s Lucas."

he’s been stealing glances at

was just personal, that’s all." His eyes stray once more

to no good. He must know who I am now and for him to make such a statement about Liam and I

bump into three ladies coincidentally entering

well, look who we’ve got here; Demi Branson in the flesh." Nicola tuts her tongue as she stares at Liam’s hand

reasonable force on you all." True to his word, he elbows his way through them and exits the store. Outside, he gives me a quick glance before getting into

a fine specimen. Too bad he’s not much of a gentleman. He left you and took off. Is that the tenor of your affair? He can’t hold your hands in public?" She slaps her forehead as though she just recalled something. "Silly me. Of course it is. That’s the whole point

done embarrassing

Who the hell do you think you are to cheat on Ashely? You come here frequently, hiding away in this bookstore with your little boyfriend at the back doing heaven knows

knows how attached I am to this bookstore." I round up on her now and whisper in her ear. "You’re very shameless

My mother-in-law just gifted me that beautiful car outside so I am in a good mood. You should have the sense to keep your face hidden knowing what you are, Nicola, not just for your own self-respect or to please my husband but

flickers in her

like that, you..." The big

will surely make him worry about losing his job before exiting the store. Through the glass doors, Nicola and her

overly confident woman whom they have just failed to intimidate. What they don’t see is my trembling hands on the steering.

am feeling more relaxed and steadier. I grab the goodies and head over to the entrance. I’m certain Anna would be shocked by my new ride. We can talk about the car before segueing

the door, my fingers are poised to knock when I hear muffled sounds of an argument. I can’t make out much of the details of the argument but I recognize Anna’s voice. The second speaker appears to be a man. When he raises his voice an octave higher, the paper bags slip from my hands. I wrench open the

"ANNA? ANNA!"

I feared. Iman stands in her small apartment, looming like a tidal wave.

"Anna, are you alright?"

you come in." Iman watches me under the dome of his

doing here?" I ask, jerking a chin towards Iman. My face is flushed with anger. I can’t even bear to share the same

my face. He sniffs the nape of my neck and licks his lips, then shifts back to take in my designer clothes, shoes and bag. "So, you think you can raise your voice and talk to me in third person because

the hell away from

what? Huh? What is little Demi going to do? Bring the quads over here?" He laughs boisterously. "Do you control those brothers now? Do they come running at the snap of your fingers? I know they don’t like you so how exactly are you going to make them do your bidding? Will you

him, Anna goes pale. In one leap, she streams across the room to stand between Iman

Iman. She didn’t mean to.

cold fury in

a hand over my neck and slams my back against the wall. My legs dangle mid-air. Slowly, my vision starts to become spotty as I choke for breath.

DARE YOU? I’LL KILL

plow my knee into his groin. He buckles as the slice of pain shoots up his body. Coughing, I manage to crawl

up her phone. "I just texted Asher Rollins and he is five minutes out too. He’s coming here with the police. If you don’t leave now, you’ll be in prison by nightfall, assuming Asher

as Iman releases the clump of my hair in his grip and hustles out of the house. Anna rushes

alright, Demi? Oh my God, I’m

to make certain she’s fine. "Are

tears. "He almost strangled you to death and you’re worried about me?" She clasps her

be back. I’ll make sure he goes away for good this time." I say, hugging her too. We remain like that for a long time, sobbing on each

***

hadn’t been smart enough to lie about the police and

about everything regarding her accident. Iman had stopped by her place to apologize for accidentally hitting her instead of Asher. He didn’t explain why he wanted to hurt Asher in the first place and got pissed off when Anna tried to wheedle

the elevator to my

him. I stroll across the drawing room where the lull of music drifts out from