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 you pissed

dance to her tunes. What did you think would become of this friendship after you did that? And don’t give me that

you know how to tread carefully around her, I’ll drop it. I was really worried about

relief washes over me. "For

"We’ll settle this with a car race

and turning. Sleep refuses to court my eyes. Tired, I head downstairs to grab a bottle of water from the kitchen. It doesn’t shock me that the light in father’s study is

he doesn’t want

voices finally ebb but before I can head back upstairs, father steps out with a hand on Ashal’s shoulder. Ashal

Father calls to me, slightly unsure. Ashal taps my shoulder and

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

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

words, you’re never going

don’t want forgiveness, father. You want me to accept the kind of parent you are and make peace with it. Maybe I have."

matter 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

had been 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 have

of one of my very close friends and my son’s culpability in his death but no, I am a different type of father who does all the dirty work

blazing now. He wrings his hands. "I knew Ashley could not have done that to Tobias. My guess was between you and Ashal because if Asher had done it, 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

close to his desk. "Why are you telling me this now? Am I supposed to pretend I didn’t relish watching that pedophile breathe his last? I

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 while growing up but you never did so

continue to play in a loop in my head till

***

designer outfits with my jaw on the floor. There are color coded

How am I supposed to coordinate my looks like Ashley would? He already left for Brellis at the crack of dawn. What am I supposed to do

think of calling a fashion stylist, I recall the plan is strictly a

how are you settling

bored. I miss

no time.

she didn’t quite take me seriously. I’d advise you lay it thick with the security so she doesn’t

what the fuck I am supposed to wear. There are four sections of outfits for each color." Ashley bursts out in a boisterous laugh. "Is this where

of outfits for you. It’s the section closest to my watch collection. I tagged your name as well as

five sets of clothes for a full

for dinner and the last two are just to give you more options in case you need a quick change for an impromptu event during the day." I can’t believe he even

need dinner clothes at home. I’d

I have a reputation to protect, okay?" Someone interrupts the call to speak to Ash. "Hey, I’ll

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

to have lunch with our family. Mom welcomes them with a huge smile and ushers them to the

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

and I thought it weird that we haven’t all had a meal as one big family. I hope you can forgive me for not

are glad to be here at all. We know how busy you all are. Planning this to work with everyone’s schedule must have been a difficult

hello to her family and I watch Demi’s expression dampen. Kira and her mother also shift uncomfortably. Mother ignores the awkwardness between

"Welcome aunt. Hi Kira."

Kira compliments with a forced smile. Demi mutters her thanks. Both women ignore each other while the mothers

returns with a big smile with her hands

Anna to join us. I hope you don’t

not. Anna, you look resplendent in that

arrival as they huddle close to each other and immediately start chatting. Kira rolls her

brothers finally come down the stairs and join me by the

"Anything?"

yet. The official statement has been released on all of Ashley’s socials. Ashley even specifically mentioned that 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

"Asher"

breaking his gaze from Anna. Before I can say more, mother ushers everyone to the dining room after being notified that lunch has been

official statement. He must be at work." Mother nods at her. "Strangely, I think he gives 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.