Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 92: Chapter 92

ASHAL

I leap to my feet like my chair is on fire.

"What did you say?"

Your sister-in-law, Demi Rollins is parked outside and requesting clearance, sir."

This has got to be a joke. Demi doesn’t know this place. She couldn’t find it without my help. How is she outside my house right now? The same house Olivia is in? My blood chills with dread. Did she tail me? I thought I managed to quell her suspicions with my last penthouse trick. How is this even happening?

"Don’t let her in!" I shriek. "You hear me? Don’t let her in here!"

"Yes sir."

"What the hell?" I blurt out after hanging up. "How the hell did she find this house?"

"The house guest."

I whip my head up to find Lily hovering by the door. She’s taken off her apron and looks graceful in a simple top and pants.

"What was that?"

Lily helps herself into my room without bothering to wait for an invitation. "Don’t you find it strange that the very moment you allowed a guest-your wife’s sister-into this home, your nosy sister-in-law shows up unannounced to the very penthouse you’ve sworn to keep her away from because of who lives here?" She folds her arms across her chest and faces me with square shoulders. "Maddie has been texting someone nonstop on her phone since she got here. I found it strange and grew curious to know who she deemed more important to chat with than her sister whom she hasn’t seen in long time."

Anger flares inside me as I recall Maddie texting in the car while I was doing the security checks and then just outside the house when Olivia was thanking me for the surprise. I don’t want to believe it. Could Maddie really be behind this? Heck, has she been planning this with Eliana and Demi? How long have they been seeing each other.

I clench my fist and breathe heavily when Demi’s call comes through my phone. Lily’s hand to my chest quells my racing heart.

"Breathe. Calm down. You can’t let the anger win. You’re stronger than it."

I know how dangerously I am teetering between lashing out and backing away right now. This is the pivotal moment where I decide if I want to follow through and hurt somebody or walk off the steaming rage. Damning the consequences, I ignore Lily’s warnings and go to find Maddie.

She and Olivia are still by the pool. The minute I burst through the door, I note the look on both women’s faces. Maddie doesn’t look as surprised as Olivia. I march towards Maddie who lays still while her sister jerks up with panicked eyes and pull Maddie up by her hair.

"Ashal, what are you doing?" Olivia shrieks as her sister moans in pain.

"Let go of me." Maddie struggles.

"Fine." I reply before pushing her into the swimming pool. Before Liv can jump in after her, I grip her arm and together, we watch her sister thrashing about in the pool.

"Ashal, she can’t swim! What are you doing? HELP HER!" Tears roll down Liv’s face as she tries to break from my grip and save her sister but can’t. I make her sit down and go to yank Maddie’s head up. "Please help her out!" Liv screams.

"I will...AFTER she tells me why she invited Demi to my house!" Maddie spurts out water and stares up at me. Fear glistens in her eyes now. I lean close to her. "It’s going to be Olivia’s head in the water next if you don’t tell me EVERYTHING.

When I pull her out, Maddie is shaking like a leaf but I can’t be bothered. Olivia wraps a towel around her sister and crouches next to her. They both look afraid of me but I am more concerned with getting the truth out of Maddie. When Lily brings a cup of hot chocolate at Liv’s instruction, I flip the tray, spilling the chocolate on the floor.

"That’s it. You better start talking Madeline or I will make good my threat. WHY DID YOU CALL DEMI HERE?"

"I didn’t..."

I grab her phone and force her to unlock it. I thought I couldn’t get angrier until I saw her text to Demi where she pinned the location of my house.

"How long has this been going on? What did you tell Demi about me and Olivia?? What is Demi here for??? SPEAK UP!" Rather than Maddie, Liv is the one who shudders at my tone.

"Lily, take Olivia to her room and see that she gets some rest."

"Yes, sir."

"NO! I won’t leave my sister. Please Ash, please spare her. Maddie, apologize to him. Whatever you did, tell him everything so he can fix this. Talk Maddie!"

Madeline stares up at me with red rimmed eyes. I can’t believe I almost thought she was starting to see some good in me, to trust me. I can’t believe I believed her when she spoke about having a gut feeling that was never wrong about people. She was intentionally messing with my head the whole time.

this really why you pressed me to come visit your sister? You wanted to bring Demi here?" I run my hands over my face and laugh bitterly. "I am such a fool! I have been so lenient with you, so forgiving

her sister’s tearful ones. "I thought she needed help getting away from you. I didn’t expect

if Liv was in chains, huh? Blow the whistle? Send the

of something like this so I gave her a fake name and altered Liv’s situation to be a case of an obsessive boyfriend. Demi promised to get the help of your family to rescue my sister. I sent her the location of this house thinking Liv wasn’t faring any

sorry Mr. Ashal. Demi doesn’t know any more than what I told her. She’s probably surprised to realize that this house belongs to her brother-in-law but I’ll just tell her I got the address

text Demi but I snatch it and chuck it

that deceitful tongue of yours, Madeline? Everything you ever say is a fucking lie. You mentioned my name to Demi, didn’t you? I know you, Madeline. You don’t mince your words. You say what’s on your mind faster

"Ashal, please believe her..."

my penthouse and pestering me to bring her here. It all makes sense

know about this?"

"What?"

must have shared this with you over the phone at least once." Olivia’s lips keep shaking as

the betrayal. Olivia surges to her feet and draws close

talked her out of it, Ash, or I thought

this

"Ashal, wait!!!"

both of them. "You made your point, both of you. I will never be good enough even if I forgive your wrongs for a million times. I am just so slow I keep hoping that you and I..." My voice splinters with emotion. Why did Olivia keep this from me? Why did Maddie stab me in the back like this after everything I have done for her

cries with me

make this right, Mr. Ashal.

DONE ENOUGH ALREADY! GET YOUR THINGS. YOU’RE LEAVING MY HOUSE THIS

knocking down lamps and shredding pillows. My room is a hot mess in a matter of minutes. Why can’t I be enough? Why does everyone around me keep betraying

learn what she knows. Is she also going to start seeing me as a monster now? She was the only one at home

missed your

in the neighborhood and was surprised to learn that the beautiful penthouse close by belongs to you. I tried calling to see if you

I am still at

know you had

of my family. It’s impossible to keep track of them sometimes.

I’m just pleasantly surprised. Sometimes I forget how insanely wealthy my new family is. I’m sorry for bothering you like that. See you at

"Sure."

"Ok. Take care."

"Bye."

stare at the phone wondering if Demi is as clueless as

her it was a false alarm. She already knows about Olivia so I sent a picture Liv and I took earlier today in the dining room. Told her Liv is doing great with her boyfriend and being treated better than I could have hoped. I apologized for defaming you and explained that both of you aren’t actually married. She understands that Liv wants your relationship to remain private for now and that is why

to think I’d believe a word

forgive me. Olivia is hurt. I hate that because of me, you two have drifted farther apart from each other. That’s not why I

precisely why you’re here,

"It’s Maddie."

flinches at my voice. "You came here to find a way to separate your sister and I. You’ve never accepted me for Liv and you never will. I will

baby. Please don’t harm her because of me." She falls to her knees. "Just give me a few days and I

You’d be married and

eyes boggle

again. Don’t worry about Olivia. She’ll be well taken care of after the move to a different house. You can forget about seeing her or your family ever

her tears dry. "As long as Liv and my parents are taken care of, I will be fine. I did all this knowing the consequences of being wrong. You don’t have to worry about me running away. I’ll

try and see. Now, get out of my house this minute because if I give into the

and watch Olivia shedding tears as her sister hugs her goodbye. Madeline looks up at me for a few humming seconds before getting into the car meant to drop her off at her dorm. Before she reaches, there will be a letter confirming the revocation of her scholarship and her

Liv sinks to the ground and cries even more while Lily tries to take her

***

stop but my life is such a shit show I keep finding my way back to bars. When my bourbon is served at the bar,

smiling beautifully and assisting them in one way or the other like a trained waitress. She’s come a long

got here, barely glancing my way. The few times we have locked eyes, she waits a beat for some reason and then returns to her duty. She must

treated poorly because of it. If I hadn’t stepped in to get

drain my glass

glass in twenty minutes. Are you okay? You shouldn’t drink too much. It’s not even 3pm

smile at the bartender. "It’s 3pm somewhere,

you staring over there. Would you like me to