Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 67: Chapter 67

ASHTON

"Are you still there?"

"Yes." Demi clarifies. Her silence isn’t doing her any good right now. How did she come by such sensitive information? Father had spent a fortune hiding as much information about Tobias’ death as he could to protect my brothers and I.

He even paid off some of the other security personnel that disposed the body and killed off the ones he couldn’t trust to take the secret to their graves. The ones who survived continue to get hefty checks from father till date.

"Demi? How did you learn all of this?" I leap off my bed now, dissatisfied with the fact that I can’t even see her to gauge her reaction.

"I’m sorry, Ashton. I didn’t keep this from the family because of I believe it. I just didn’t want Ashley breaking down even more."

"What are you talking about?"

"The box. There were two cards inside. The second one claimed that Tobias had been stabbed in his sleep with a pen knife in his neck seventeen years ago and bled to death before his body was dumped over a bridge."

"What?"

"When I saw how Ashley reacted over the first card with fewer details, I worried for him and ripped the other to shreds before we came home."

"What happened to the pieces?"

"I flushed it down the toilet. I’m sorry Ashton. I should have told you sooner but I didn’t want you, Ashley or anyone else to think I had doubts. Given the seriousness of the issue, it kept replaying in my head and that is why I asked. I don’t doubt Ashley. I know him better now. He could never do something like that. I just want to know why this blackmailer is tying the blame specifically on Ashley."

I stay clam to let my temper simmer down. "Did you ask me the question about the bugs because you suspect I am capable of stabbing a man’s throat in his sleep, even as a kid?"

She gasps. "No...God, Ashton, that’s not what I meant. You know it wasn’t." She goes on to mumble apologies for the misconception. I put her out of her misery by telling her I know she didn’t mean it like that.

"To answer your question, my guess is as good as yours. We as a family have no idea why but we know this is no different from an attack on our family. This person probably knows of Ashley’s mental health struggles since childhood and singled him out as prey. In the end, she wants to cast a slur on our character, reputation and ultimately disrupt our livelihood. We’ve had several flimsy accusations thrown at our doorstep but a murder accusation takes the cake. Tobias was like family to us. He and father were super close and his death took a toll on father. The gory details of his passing were smothered by father at his family’s behest. The media attention on them was so profuse they even had to leave Danvarr to grieve in peace. Whoever is doing this isn’t just trying to ruin our lives but to disrupt the peace the Woodleys have been enjoying all these years."

"We’ll do our best to nab this person and put an end to Ashley’s torture." Demi says.

I’m glad she’s genuinely concerned about him. At the same time, I ignore the quiet tug of jealousy. This is the first time she has mentioned Ashley several times in a row while we are talking. Though it makes sense because we are literally discussing Ash, I still feel some type of way especially given her history of babbling my name more.

"Any more questions about the plan?" I ask just to keep her on the phone a bit longer.

"I’ll let you know during our date, Ashley." She teases me before hanging up. I stare at my phone a while afterwards.

I did feel fuzzy inside at the mention of us going on a date but the reason I continue to stare at my phone is because of the difficulty I am having reconciling Demi’s sweet personality with that of a person trying to uncover secrets that could easily topple everything my family has struggled to build.

I wish I can ask her why she spoke with Eliana and attempted to converse with Olivia without affirming her suspicions. I want to believe that her eagerness to see Ashal’s penthouse is far removed from her attempt to rescue the damsel in distress known as Olivia.

Her question refreshes in my mind. It seems a little too convenient that she flushed the second note down the toilet without showing anyone else, including me. Was there really a second note?

"Mila’s call comes through, distracting me from my thoughts.

"Are you avoiding me?"

"Hi to you too, Mila." She sighs deeply.

"Look, I know I haven’t done anything to upset you. If you’re busy and can’t make the time to see or hear from me, a simple text in response to my call and text to tell me so, would do. Don’t treat me like a nuisance."

"Look Mila, I’m sorry for ignoring your calls. Asher informed me you waited for me at the racetrack that day. You and I made no prior plans in that regard. I had other personal engagements which I took the entire day to pursue. I don’t appreciate your entitlement to my time. We both know we’re leagues from getting there."

"I don’t feel entitled to your time, Ashton. I’m only asking that you extend me the courtesy of respect which I do give to you. If you’re sick of hanging out with me, take a walk but until you make that plain and clear, I won’t tolerate being treated poorly by you."

I suck in a breath. Why is she taking this so personally?

"I’ve got too much on my mind to deal with this right now, Mila. Can we do this some other time?"

dare? Are

my eyes and threaten to expose it if I don’t dance to her tunes. What did you think would become of this friendship after you did that? And don’t give me that hackneyed lecture about insisting on the dare for my benefit. I know my boundaries around Demi and I will never cross them for however

was really worried about that. I’m sorry for threatening you. I never plan on revealing your

exhale quietly as relief washes over

chuckles at her own end. "We’ll settle this with a

to court my eyes. Tired, I head downstairs to grab a bottle of water from the kitchen.

ajar unless he is discussing a private matter he doesn’t want just about anyone eavesdropping on. I stare at the door as

I can head back upstairs, father steps out with a hand on Ashal’s shoulder. Ashal nods to something father says before

Father calls to me, slightly unsure. Ashal taps my shoulder and mutters, ’your turn’ while brushing past

his study with a conspicuous frown. I hate it whenever he tries to cozy up

have to keep going back and forth on this." I begin,

words, you’re never going to forgive

accept the kind of parent you are and make peace with it. Maybe I have."

is that you’re right about me, and because you’re right about the kind of father that I am, you particularly

don’t understand him or why he is

a dad who picks up his eight years old boys off the floor and balances them on his hip to spoon feed them, you wouldn’t

of my very close friends and my son’s culpability in his death but

he would have announced it to me for bragging rights. As time flew by, I leaned more towards Ashal until I saw what a person looked like after Ashal hits them in blind rage. Tobias’ cut

are you telling me this now? Am I supposed to pretend I didn’t relish watching that pedophile breathe his last? I don’t care if you think me a monster. I’d gladly slice and dice that motherfucker

this because you decided to give Ashley the credit so I played along with your wishes, thinking you probably became afraid that I would freak out. I wanted you to admit it

sentence continue to play in a loop in my head till I eventually drift off

***

of designer outfits with my jaw on the floor. There are color coded rows of pants, shirts, blazers, suits, belts, mufflers, hats, shoes, and even watches. The play of colors makes my head thrum with

He already left for Brellis at the crack of dawn. What am I supposed to do with all

the plan is strictly a family secret and set

how are you settling

already bored. I miss

be home in no time. Did you talk to

advise you lay it thick with the

sections of outfits for each color." Ashley bursts out in a boisterous laugh. "Is this where you spend

knew you’d be dumbfounded so I already organized a week’s worth of outfits for you. It’s the section closest to my watch collection. I tagged your name as well as the dates and events each outfit would be most appropriate for." I follow his direction and find

are there five sets of clothes for a

for dinner and the last two are just to give you more options in case you need a quick change

don’t need dinner clothes at home. I’d

have a reputation to protect, okay?" Someone interrupts the call to speak to Ash. "Hey, I’ll speak with you later. The doctor is

up and scratch my head as I sample the clothes. This isn’t going to be as easy

lunch with our family. Mom welcomes them with a huge smile and

greeting to our in-laws. I know he doesn’t care for them but he doesn’t want to embarrass mom in front of

all had a meal as one big family. I hope you can forgive me for not

no, Mrs. Rollins." Mrs. Elizabeth says with an ingratiating smile. "We are glad to be here at all. We know how busy you all

her to say hello to her family and I watch Demi’s expression dampen. Kira and her mother

"Welcome aunt. Hi Kira."

mutters her thanks. Both women ignore

doorbell rings, Demi leaps to her feet and dashes towards it. She returns

join us. I hope you

you look resplendent

having me." Demi’s mood seems fully perked up with Anna’s arrival as they huddle close to each other and immediately

brothers finally come down the stairs

"Anything?"

the only person he would be willing to share his time with is his new wife, Demi. I’m sure that bit was more for

fixated ahead of us, a little to the left where Demi sits with her friend. There’s a weird

"Asher"

Anna. Before I can say more, mother

me an idea of how much of a workaholic my Kira is going to be when she is fortunate to land a decent job in the fashion industry." Her eyes settle adoringly on Kira who beams up at us all. "Kira loves