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

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 long my feelings last. You don’t have to worry

was really worried about that. I’m sorry

quietly as relief

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

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

likes to leave his door slightly ajar unless he is discussing a private matter he doesn’t want just about anyone eavesdropping on. I stare at the

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

slightly unsure. Ashal taps my shoulder and mutters, ’your turn’ while

conspicuous frown. I hate it whenever he tries to cozy up to me or do

and forth on this." I begin,

never going to forgive

the kind of parent you are and make peace with it. Maybe I have." From his desk, I notice him gritting

the kind of father that I am, you

don’t understand him or why he is beating around the

I 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 had the spunk to end the life

would have done the right thing and involved the cops to investigate the murder 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

"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 after Ashal hits them

watching that pedophile breathe his last? I don’t care if you think me a monster. I’d gladly

brother. I never got a chance to tell you 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 while growing up but you never did so I couldn’t say anything to you. Now that you’ve owned

of his sentence continue to play in a loop in my

***

gape at his massive collections 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.

think this through. 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 with all

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

how are

bored. I

time. Did

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

There are four sections of outfits for each color." Ashley bursts out in a boisterous laugh. "Is this where you spend all your money? Why the fuck do you have so many

to my watch collection. I tagged your name as well as the dates and

five sets of clothes for a

mains for the day, one is 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 picked clothes I

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

Someone interrupts the call to speak to Ash. "Hey, I’ll speak with you later. The doctor

the clothes.

cousin show up early to have lunch with our family. Mom welcomes them with a huge

I know he doesn’t care for them but he doesn’t want to embarrass mom in

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

no, Mrs. Rollins." Mrs. Elizabeth says with an ingratiating smile. "We 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 task. We thank

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

"Welcome aunt. Hi Kira."

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

She returns with a big smile with

to join us. I hope you

course not. Anna, you look resplendent

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

down the stairs and join me by the antique

"Anything?"

Ashley’s socials. Ashley even specifically mentioned that the only person he would be willing to share his time with is his new

who is uncharacteristically quiet. His eyes are fixated ahead of us, a little to the

"Asher"

mother ushers everyone to

her napkin and places it on her thighs. "I saw his 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