Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 95: Chapter 95

DEMI

"Are you okay? What happened?" Anna asks after Ashton leaves. I lay my head down on her couch and press my eyes shut.

"I’ll be fine."

"But what happened, Demi? I called you countless times and even texted. You didn’t respond and here you are with a broken nose. Who did this to you?"

Because she won’t stop talking unless I answer her questions, I tell her everything.

"That bitch Kira. How much lower can she stoop? What exactly is her problem with you? I don’t mind her going for your leftovers. She can have that dickhead for all I care but deceiving you like that and leaving you alone with him? I am going to pay her and her evil mother a surprise visit at night and chuck eggs and tissue papers around their house."

I know she means it. I hope she does it. With a small smile, I pat her shoulder.

"Thank God Ashton got there on time. Who knows what else Iman had planned."

"Yeah. I guess."

So much happened today that I want to share with Anna. I hate that it ended with Iman and that’s all Anna can fixate on right now given how furious she is. I want to tell her all Amber told me and even what had happened with Maddie.

If I get talking, I’d probably be too distracted to recall the car ride with Ashton and how livid I felt towards him because of Amber’s tale. It was also awkward because ever since his engagement, we haven’t been able to have a proper conversation, especially with our family and his fiancée watching us like hawks but the awkwardness was nothing compared to annoyance I felt.

Would he tell me the truth of that night if I ever asked? Would he tell me if he knew Camille was my mom or would he protect his family first? Because I hate the answers I am guessing, I shake my head to clear it.

"I went to Ashal’s penthouse today, the one where Olivia stays."

Anna snaps out of her angry tirade. "Really? Did he take you? Was Olivia there?"

"No and yes. He took Maddie there and she pinned me the location. However, when I got there, he wouldn’t clear me for entrance but that’s not the shocking part. The shocking part is that Maddie called off the whole save-my-sister mission. Shortly after I arrived, I got a photo message from her and a call. She told me that she had been worried for nothing and that Olivia was doing fine with her boyfriend, Ashal."

"Boyfriend?" Anna repeats with incredulous eyes.

"She said they weren’t married and Olivia wanted to keep the relationship private because of Ashal’s status. That’s why they’ve been hiding it from the media. Then she went on to politely ask me to back off. I don’t know but I strongly feel like something happened in there to make Maddie start sounding like Olivia."

"Of course something smells fishy. This is the same Maddie who was prepared to blackmail you just to get your help in freeing her sister from Ashal’s bondage. Now, she starts to beat his drums after one visit to his penthouse? Nah, I smell a rat."

"She has been ignoring my call ever since. I guess she’ll talk to me when she’s ready but for now, I have bigger worries on my mind."

"Iman?"

"Hell no, he’ll get what’s coming for him." I shake my head. "The quads unmasked Shay. It’s not Cree; it’s Nicola, Ashley’s side chick." I allow Anna to pick her jaws off the floor before continuing. "I couldn’t believe it myself when Ashton told me but it makes a lot of sense. I don’t know how we all missed it."

"That’s unbelievable."

"This puts a huge dent in my plans. Shay was supposed to join us and help take down my parents’ murderers. She was supposed to be another vengeful addition to the team not some ex-girlfriend feeling jilted. Nicola holds no serious grudge against Ashley. She only went so far to get his attention. She’s useless to me."

Anger swells inside me as I recall everything Amber had said. I have to tell Liam everything. I feel so hurt and betrayed. My parents were murdered!

At first, it had been a speculative guess given the holes in the story aired on TV regarding the elevator incident but it hits different now, having Amber’s raw account and knowing for a fact that the Rollins aren’t innocent in all of this. Tears blur my eyes the more I think about it. How can I go on pretending around members of the Rollins family?

I feel Anna’s hand wrap around me.

"Shhh, it’ll be okay."

"I have nothing. Maddie bailed and now Shay aka Nicola can’t help us. It feels like Liam and I are on a hamster wheel; we keep thinking we’re running so fast but, in the end, we are still in the same spot. I don’t have so much time left with Ashley, Anna. I need something or someone to take these people down! I need help!"

did something else

is just as shocked as I was to

"Have you told Liam?"

a moment to take it all in." I inhale deeply. "I don’t want to tell

to Anna’s place later in the day. He remains quiet as I narrate my entire day to him. If he was surprised to learn about Amber and the

halfway through my marriage contract. Ashal is now onto me too, like Asher. I can’t get to Ashton anymore. Whatever we had has been severed with his engagement to your sister." It takes a lot of willpower to not roll my eyes. "Seriously, Mila is messing up our plans. Can you really not get

and Anna stare at me for

If I had such an influence within my family, I wouldn’t need you." He runs

"NO!" I shriek.

exactly

they’ll be able to deny it. I already told you, we need hard evidence, Liam. Don’t be impatient and throw away the

the evidence because I am

about Tobias Woodley’s other children? Won’t they be willing to talk given the injustice done to their father and brother?" Anna asks. "I think you guys should at least ask for an interview. You just

I think they would have done something by now after all these years if they meant to. That

me. "They might not have the courage to fight the Rollins by going

if certain details are leaked to Billion-Err. He’ll trace it back to them and hunt them. Look, Shay fooled the quads for a while and the first place they looked was the Woodley family. Now that Nicola has been unmasked, pushing forward

time here. We have to come up with a solid plan before your time at that mansion expires, unless you plan on making Ashley fall harder for you or having his baby to elongate your stay in

any different. Liam, being as perceptive as he is, nearly clues

thinking about

shake my head. "There will be no need for that. If we feel like we have more time, we’ll start slacking off. We need the pressure of racing against time to execute this fast." I expel a long breath. "I

about DNA samples from the quads to prove that Josh is

thing, Josh’s mom might be willing to help if she is convinced a couple of strangers are willing to help prove that her son was fathered by none other than Brett Rollins himself. I’ve heard quite a bit about her and if she’s anything like her son, she’ll bite the bait. I’ll see if I can

let’s try to get our hands on some hard evidence before our next meeting,

"Okay."

I try to come up with more ideas on how to uncover more secrets of the Rollins family. I have never been more

and I spend some more time in her apartment, I ignore the fact that her whole body smells of Asher’s perfume, more pungent than would be expected if they had

***

fell and broke my nose." I tell everyone who asks about my sore nose. Nessa hustles to my desk every thirty minutes to an hour with a look of pity on her face as she drops off more work on my desk. It’s all Asher’s doing. Since my internship is wrapping up, he’s been finding creative ways to break my fingers and bones. I put up a brave face and do the best I can so he doesn’t get the satisfaction of seeing

help but Asher requires my

can make it up to

I can spare some time." With a spring in her step, she shuffles back into Asher’s office. Though she doesn’t know it, Nessa has a distinct glow on her face when she’s

"Need some help?"

my door. Surprisingly,

I’d love as much help as I can." He strolls in and goes through the files on my desk. To my shock, he hefts them on his arms. I shoot up to my feet. "Josh, I can’t possibly let you take everything off my hands. You have your own tasks

ok. I’m not doing them myself. I have a new intern of my own that has too many free time on her hands and is desperate for work. My secretary won’t mind helping too. You carry on and check back in an hour. They will

"You’re like the brother I never had. I wish I could swap you with

We are family. Don’t

you. She loves anyone who looks out

invite him over to the mansion but if he’s

Rollins

"You’ve met her?"

had lunch together with father

we can

to an opportunity to spend quality time with the people I consider family. Would you ask your mother if she’ll love to have me over? I’d ask father but his wife’s word is

ask her and let you know." Beaming, he nods at me

he would have popped out like he always does whenever Josh is around. I have to find a way

about Josh and intentionally led him to the mansion but if I manage to sell the idea to father and make him take the decision, no one will fault me. Father would never give me credit for something

the files Josh just carried away from my desk with old ones I have finished with and go over to Asher’s office. After two knocks and no response, I walk in. To my surprise, there’s no one inside. That

I suspected, there are muffled sounds of intense

the office space and recognize a golden opportunity. The cameras are on but if I am able to get to his drawer and naturally pretend to search for something, no one would