Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 56: Chapter 56

ASHAL

My heart thumps wildly in my chest as Olivia pours herself into the one-sided kiss. Finally, my hands start to work again and I gently pull her away from me. Her lipstick is beyond smudged now and I am certain parts of it are smeared all over my lips. Tears sting my eyes but the anger swelling within me keeps it at bay.

"Please Asher, I mean every word. You know me and how I truly feel about your brother. I only settled for that arrangement because I thought you had abandoned me again."

"You thought..." I can’t even bring myself to reiterate her words. The line between myself and playing Asher are heavily blurred now by my building rage. "So, if you ever doubt my loyalty to you, you’re going to switch to Ashal as a doting wife? Is that what you’re trying to say?"

"No. No." She frantically grabs my shoulders, shaking her head from side to side. "I’m saying that I have only ever loved you, Asher Rollins. You’re the man in here." She grabs my hand and places it on her chest, just above her boobs. "Every decision I have taken that runs afoul to this truth has been for self-preservation. You know all about that, don’t you? It’s the reason I forgave you for denying me and pushing me off as your brother’s mistake. Please Asher, you know I’ve been faithful to you all this time. Don’t cast me away like this."

The tears threaten to fall now. It was all a lie? She is only with me because Asher wouldn’t take her back? I look away as a single tear rolls down my left cheek. When I deftly swipe it off, my eyes alight on Lily’s form atop the stairs. She’s staring intently at the scene unfolding in front of her.

My face hardens as we lock eyes. I rip my gaze from her pale face and turn back to a weeping Olivia.

"I can’t deal with this right now."

She grabs my wrist when I try to leave. "Don’t walk out on me again! Please, you can’t do this to me again." My anger seeps out and clouds my judgement. I wrench my wrist from her grip and glare coldly at her. I don’t care if Asher would probably not react this way but right now, I am livid and if I don’t leave now like my therapist warns, I could expose myself by hitting Olivia.

Olivia sinks to the floor and sobs as I make my way out. I clench my fists in anger while walking back to the car. How could she? I have been working so hard to win her over. I have spent the last few weeks planning dates and trying to ensure that though the country is unaware of our marriage, Olivia gets to enjoy our union. I have given her my heart, my attention, my money and literally everything there is to be given and this is how she pays me back? How could she switch to Asher’s camp under twenty minutes of conversation? Why can’t she just love me?"

I manage to drive far away from the penthouse and screech the car to a halt at the corner of the highway. My fists beat the steering wheel countless times to channel my anger to something else. I scream loudly in my car and punch the steering wheel some more. Tears run down my face and through the blur, I notice the rain pattering down on my car. I throw my head in my hands and weep.

I don’t know how long I stayed out here but when I open my eyes, it is dark outside. I don’t recall falling asleep at all. I wipe my puffy eyes and check my phone. The battery’s dead. When I plug it to charge in my car, a large number of missed calls and messages stream in the moment I hit the power button.

The article on Billion-Err is gathering steam. My brothers sent me steady updates. Asher called a few times then texted to ask how things went with testing Olivia. He had given me most of my lines after all which I used with slight modifications.

I ignore a slight pain in my chest as I notice Olivia’s desperate texts to my number saved as Asher. She pledges her undying love and loyalty to him in over seven text messages. Her calls to the same number, which I missed, are over thirty.

I feel my anger growing again and tear my eyes off the phone to take deep gulps of air. When I go back and finish reading her texts to Asher, I suddenly notice she also texted me as Ashal.

[Where are you? It’s getting late. I’m all dressed up and ready for our date. Please come home soon, my love. I miss you.]

[Baby, I’m really starving. I gave up dinner for our date. Can you hurry?]

[Baby, answer your phone! What’s going on? Are we still on for tonight? I am starting to doze off in all this makeup. Please text me back.]

Unsurprisingly, these messages trickled in ten minutes after her last text to Asher was left on read.

"Wow, Olivia, just wow. How much of an actor are you?"

I can’t believe how swiftly she switched yet again and pretended to be on her husband’s side. It’s all a game to her; a battle between brothers. Whoever can grant her wish and make her a part of the Rollins family and society again, she’ll gladly swerve in his direction. It’s no longer about love. Asher and I are more like pawns to her now.

I guess she’s indeed a part of the Rollins’ family after all. She has picked up a bad trait of ours which is the tendency to use people to get what we want. I can’t even be mad at her now as a fresh plan to useher as well formulates in my head.

***

My bedroom door bursts open and all my three brothers usher themselves inside. I step out of my closet in a custom burgundy tuxedo and strike a pose for them in the light.

"What do you think?"

"Woah. Ash, is that you?" Ashton chuckles.

"Did you really pull this off without my help? I am jealous." Ashley runs a hand down the fabric and approves.

"What’s the occasion?" Asher asks.

say anything, I preempt them. "I tested Olivia today." With a twinkle in my eyes, I nod

"Really?"

how she stood her ground and refused to be swayed. She even slapped me when

with

taking me back. She threatened to alert the security if I didn’t leave her home. Ah, I was so proud of

I ignore the tug of guilt in

of a deflated ego. I am certain he was hoping to be right about Olivia just as he fervently tries to

for you man. It’s been a long time coming." He shares a hug with

so much

are eager to uncover your mystery lover. If they see one of us with a beautiful woman that isn’t Demi, Nicola or Mila, they’ll likely take a photo her to win the contest. I hope you made secure plans to

isn’t my first rodeo. I know how to be careful. Even before this craziness with the blogs, I have been taking extra measures whenever I step out with Olivia to ensure we are alone and

an eye on

"Always." I assure Ashton.

I didn’t have the uncomfortable memory of her desperately begging Asher to take her back, I’d probably have been spurred to rouse her with a kiss. Lily appears by the kitchen door

run a hand to smoothen Olivia’s ruffled hair. She stirs in her sleep and her eyes flutter open. She

mean to waste your time. I’m so sorry baby. We can still go if you’re up for it." Olivia wounds her hands around my neck and leans into

I need to

before heading upstairs. Lily bows her head to

still here. Are you trying

the island and dips her head. "I’m sorry sir. I am not trying to defy you. I’d never do that. I tried talking to

"And?"

it came out

you

wrong. One ought to take more than one test to confirm. I peed on just one pregnancy strip and rushed to a conclusion. Drew made me do it again and he bought three more. They

head at her, she dips her hand in her apron and pulls out a paper, then hands it to me. "I had to be sure so I went for a test at a nearby hospital. It also came out negative. I’m deeply sorry for dragging you into all of my mess, sir. Drew and I are over and I don’t plan on having

be out of a job really fast. I bet you that you would be hard pressed to find anyone who would pay you as much as I do or give you

of Olivia’s words stating that Lily had referred to me as her lover. "You are such a handsome and loving man. Mrs. Olivia is beyond lucky to have stolen the heart of a

she draws closer to me. "What did you

get me wrong. Your wife is beautiful and a sweet soul but sometimes she gets confused. She has trouble recognizing a good man who loves her to bits

"Shut the hell up!"

am telling the truth. They keep having an affair behind your back and you pretend not to be aware. He sleeps with her right in this house,

"Lily, you’re overstepping!"

boldly declared her love for him and denied having any type of affection for you. It was embarrassing to watch." Her voice drops. "But you already know all that, don’t you? You witnessed it all, posing as your brother, Asher. It’s been you all along, posing as the

at her revelation. I did suspect that she was onto

need someone to care for you too. If you keep at this, you’ll break down eventually. I am not asking to take your wife’s place. That would be worse than a foolish dream.

let her hand make contact with my face. Her

hide yourself from me. I’ll listen to all your stories and thoughts without judgment. I’ll stroke your ego. I’ll ask how high when you tell me to jump. I’ll go on the pill and warm your bed as much as you want me to. I’ll give you a head massage or a foot rub whenever you want. I’ll do whatever it is you want, Mr. Ashal. I just can’t stand seeing you suffer so much for a woman’s

quickly pulls her hand away from my cheek and bows

leave my duties to your wife. I promise never

still wondering why she is suddenly being weird when I hear

"What’s going on?"

into a dangerously sexy black dress. It barely covers a good portion of her thighs. There’s so much skin on display, from her chest to her midriff to her thighs, that my eyes almost pop out of their sockets. She has on a bold

to Mr.

way to me and plants a kiss on my lips. Her hand rests possessively on my chest. "That’s okay. I told you. She was sick or at least she thought she was but she’s done a proper test and it came out negative. She’ll be careful

"Yes, I will, ma’am."

fluttering her thick lashes

take her hand and lead her towards the door. Before we exit the main door, I

***

trailing her legs up my calf. I sit back, wondering in silence how desperate she is being right now. Does she really think I wouldn’t find her behavior suspicious? She has only allowed me to kiss and fondle her ever since we got back together. Whenever

have lapped up her sexual advances right now but knowing what I know, it’s difficult to get that image of her betrayal out of my