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!"

else happen?

is just as shocked

"Have you told Liam?"

all in." I inhale deeply. "I don’t want to tell him over the phone;

the day. He remains quiet as I narrate my entire day to him. If he was surprised to learn about Amber and the spine-chilling details of my mother’s last night alive, his only reaction is an arched brow. When I tell him about

and I am almost 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

Anna stare at

approves of? If I had such an influence within my family, I wouldn’t need you." He runs a hand over his

"NO!" I shriek.

exactly are you

you, we need hard evidence, Liam. Don’t be impatient and throw away

the evidence because I am losing

be willing to talk given the injustice done to their father and brother?" Anna asks. "I think you

I think they would have done something by now after all these years if they meant to. That just tells me they’re too afraid to and

look into it." Liam counters me. "They might not have the courage to fight the Rollins by going public. I’ll

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

have to come up with a solid plan before your time at that mansion expires, unless you plan on making

to react any

thinking about those

time, we’ll start slacking off. We need the pressure of racing against time to execute this fast." I expel a long breath. "I might be able to get Josh’s hair sample for

get DNA samples for Brett and Josh, how about DNA samples from the quads to prove that Josh is their sibling? Can’t that

by none other than Brett Rollins himself. I’ve heard quite a

like the way you’re thinking. However, mere thoughts won’t get us anywhere so let’s try to get our hands on some hard evidence before

"Okay."

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

body smells of

***

drops off more work on my desk. It’s

Asher requires my

can make it up

a distinct glow on her face when she’s

"Need some help?"

my door. Surprisingly, my smile is sunny and genuine

in and goes through the files on my desk. To my shock, he hefts

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

brother I never had. I wish I could swap you with my arrogant brother-in-law Asher."

don’t have to, Demi. We are family. Don’t

anyone who looks out for me and makes

over to the mansion but if he’s smart, he’ll jump

Mrs. Rollins is an

"You’ve met her?"

once. We had lunch together

to recall. "I hope we can have

Everything pales in significance 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?

you know." Beaming, he nods

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

I know about Josh and intentionally led him to the mansion but if I manage to sell the idea to father and

and go over to Asher’s office. After two knocks and no response, I walk in. To

suspected, there are muffled sounds of intense moaning seeping through. How

are on but if I am able to get to his drawer and naturally pretend to search for something, no one would suspect me as his intern and sister-in-law. With what I can hear through the