Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 102: Chapter 102

ASHTON

"Where are you? I am sorting out flowers and interior décor with your mom and a horde of her friends. She’s sweet but I really wish you were here with me to take the edge off. It’s our engagement party tomorrow, Ashton. Can’t you try to be more present?"

I turn around and glance at Keith who is stroking a horse in the stable. "I’m sorry, Mila. I know I promised to help but I’m a little tied up handling some business. I’ll try to swing by as soon as I can."

"Ashton, your noticeable absence during the preparations isn’t scoring you any points with my dad. Do you really have no plan to try to be friends with him, even for me?" I only exhale tiredly. "I made dinner reservations for the three of us at the underwater restaurant here in Rollins Towers. It’s by seven pm. You can’t be late. I’ll inform Gris too so he can remind you. Promise me you’ll be here."

"I promise." I reply before she hangs up.

I return to Keith who continues to pay attention to his horse like I am not here. Paul and Collette, his parents are inside the house.

Keith hadn’t wanted to grant me this audience. After he tore up Zoe’s picture and threw it into the fireplace during my first visit, he demanded I leave his family alone. He was very vulgar with hatred glistening in his eyes.

I found it interesting given that we had never met before that day yet he oozed such anger and contempt for me. That can only mean that my little sister might have shared some of her horrible past with him. He knows something about father and his treatment of my biological family. I intend to sift out that information as well as a way of identifying Zoe from her over protective foster brother, Keith.

"What do you want with my sister?" Keith asks dryly, turning to me. "The only reason I granted you this audience is because I want to know that much."

"I think you already know." We lock eyes for a moment.

"No, Mr. Rollins, I don’t. I don’t know why an heir of the Rollins Group would come to my parents’ farmhouse to ask questions about my foster sister. What are the odds that a billionaire will come here looking for no other than Zoe, a nobody." He quits brushing his horse’s mane and dusts his hands. "Mom mentioned that you made a promise to find Zoe and give her a better life. I’d like to know more about that. Who did you make the promise to? How are they related to Zoe? Why do you want to help Zoe?"

So many questions, I think to myself.

"You’ll get all the answers you want once you get me another picture of Zoe, Keith or at least tell me why you tore up the last one the second you saw me." I edge close to his horse, admiring it. "I’m fairly certain you did that because you know something your parents don’t."

"Something like what?"

"That’s for you to tell and for me to find out."

"You’re wasting your time, and mine. I don’t have the information you seek. My sister was a very private person even amongst our family. She kept to herself most times. We gave her grace about it because she had had a rough childhood."

"That doesn’t explain why you don’t want me to see what she looks like."

"I don’t want you putting your men to work to find her when I don’t know why you want to. Wherever Zoe is, I know she just wants to lead a quiet life without looking over her shoulder every two minutes. My sister has suffered too much to have a powerful man like you bothering her with your charity which she clearly wouldn’t be interested in so if that’s the reason you’re here, again, you’re wasting your time."

"Was that what she was like while she lived with your family? Was she always looking over her shoulder?"

My sincere question catches him off guard. If he felt Zoe was afraid of something or someone, then maybe he might have tried to dig around for more information about her, information she wouldn’t share with him, so he could better protect her. Did he find out about father? Is that why he loathes me?

"Yes. Zoe was always tense and paranoid. She wouldn’t say why. She lived like someone on the run."

"What did you do when she refused to share?"

"What could I have done? I let her be and hoped she was overreacting."

"I doubt that. You seem very protective of her. You don’t strike me as a brother who would have sat idly by while his sister lived like that. Even after she destroyed the pictures you took of her, you drew her in her sleep so why am I to believe that you simply sat on your hands when Zoe refused to share anything about her troubled past?" Keith’s eyebrows knit together in a frown. I got him with that one.

He peels off his gloves. "You also appear to know more than you’re letting on, Mr. Rollins. This social call is more than a charity case, right? You’re not here to assist an orphan. There are so many orphanages that would worship the ground you walk on if you make a generous deposit but you prefer to be here on a sunny day, away from the multiple businesses you run, asking dumb questions about a young girl." His eyes darken. "What exactly is it about Zoe that’s got you so invested? You can fool my parents with the charity crap but not me! Why Zoe? Why are you looking for her?"

"You know where she is!" I decipher from his eyes. "You’ve been keeping an eye on her!"

"WHY ZOE???" He repeats firmly.

I can’t tell him the details of how Zoe and I are related. Even my brother, Ashal couldn’t believe that story so I am refraining from sharing the details with just about anyone. I don’t want father to get a whiff of it either.

I stare into Keith’s eyes. If he knows the truth, then he must be worried that I am working with father to find and harm Zoe. He must think that I am not aware that Zoe is my biological sister. Is he trying to test my loyalty to my kin before divulging more information? It’s hard to tell.

I back away from him. "If I told you, would you help me find her?"

"No! I’ll never betray Zoe like that but I may be able to answer some of the questions you might have."

"Only Zoe can answer the questions I have so how does that work for us?"

"Good bye, Mr. Rollins." He eyes me and makes a beeline for the house.

"Keith, wait!"

"What?"

I exhale deeply as I catch up with him. I don’t want to regret this. He is the surest link I have to Zoe and I am running out of time here. If things go south after I tell him the truth, I’ll have to resort to threatening him with the lives of his parents even though I’d hate to do that.

"What?" He repeats.

of going back on your word after I share this secret with you, Keith. I can be a very dangerous man if I please. This stays between

"Related in what way?"

"She’s my sister."

at me quietly. He doesn’t look surprised. He already knew. He keeps

elaborate how Zoe is

"No." I reply stiffly.

snag. You don’t expect me to share personal details of my sister’s life with any stranger who walks in here claiming to

can’t share more at this time. I need to find

and convince me that I am

I’d have you begging for the lives of your loved ones by now. I have the money, the means and the men to get the information I want

"Why aren’t you?"

I just want to find my little sister and end her loneliness in this world. I just learnt of her existence and it’s killing me that she’s been living such a rough life

your brothers

safe. I was worried about raising their hopes too early. Once I am reunited with my sister, I’ll

stares at me for

promised to answer your questions but I have exhausted my quota for today. We’ll pick up this conversation much later. I’ll text you." At the sight of my dissatisfied expression, he smirks. "You’ll work with my schedule

much progress in finding my sister. Another thought crosses my mind. Can I protect Zoe from father if I find her? What if I am putting her life in danger by looking for her? Duncan might be on my tail. Would father really hurt my sister again? I wish my brothers were all in on

parked in front of St. Lucy’s church. What is she doing back here? I wonder as I pull into the church as well. This was where we had our drunken, night wedding. I know I shouldn’t have pulled over but this nostalgia hits different because of my engagement that’s happening tomorrow. Hopefully, Demi doesn’t see through my excuse when I tell her I stopped

almost stumble into her at the entrance. Her eyes double in size at the sight of me.

"Ashton." She breathes softly.

by." A nervous chuckle follows. "How are you? Does your nose still hurt?" My fingers touch the tip of her nose before I can stop myself. She

"It’s all healed up."

that’s good." Another awkward

thought this would be the one place you’d hate to be reminded

first but then I was driving by and...I couldn’t continue without stopping." Her wistful eyes find mine again. "I guess I needed some kind of

in my chest. "Actually, I wanted to see if the priest would be available to officiate

that washes over her face following my explanation. I could have thought about a million other nicer things to say but

me. Of course that’s why you’re here." She avoids my eyes. "I

"Yeah. Drive safely."

away. I hate that I did that to her.

one day,

come face

It’s been a while." I bet he doesn’t know the last Rollins wedding he officiated

wife

my wife but my sister-in-law." I

same. She’s a good woman. Comes

this was her first

Ashton. Your sister-in-law finds some kind of peace here. She has been faring better ever since I found her parked outside here under the rain, crying in her car. Whatever

crying

brings you here?" The

Demi was

be on my way. Have a lovely day." I dash into my car and drive off. Demi mustn’t have gone far. She isn’t much of a fast driver. I need to find her. I don’t know what I’ll say when I do but I just need to see her. I try calling her phone but she doesn’t

in front of a pharmacy. Is she still sick. I

eyes are drooping. She rolls down her window. "Are

She utters weakly. "I just feel a

her window to feel her neck with my hand. Her temperature is normal. She flinches at my touch and stares at me with wide eyes.

guess I have been

Demi.

I insist. Her eyes flare with anger. "I said I’m fine and even if I wasn’t, I am an adult. I can take care of myself. My health is none of your business, Ashton. You’re not my

was that? Why was she making such a fuss about a quick hospital visit? Does she hate hospitals like Asher does or is there some other

came back negative. What are the chances that three tests came out all wrong? My eyes drift

dinner with Mila and her father, I keep thinking about Demi. I have to find out the truth somehow.

Mila nudges me. "What?"

asked you

up at Hugh Spellman who is staring at me

I didn’t

his daughter who dips her eyes to her

I’m not going over this with

been discussing

you. Why are YOU marrying my daughter? I know you don’t love her so spare me that lame lie. Did daddy threaten to cut you off if you don’t put a ring on

the way I addressed her father on first name basis. "You are so eager to pass her off to my brother, Asher, even though you know he doesn’t love her. You are okay with him marrying her because he was asked to so why

orders like Asher. You obey orders UNTIL you don’t feel like it anymore which can be five minutes, five days or five weeks after

brings her wine glass to her lips. I can tell she’s very uncomfortable right now. I feel her hand on my thigh,

your daughter, Hugh. Try to make peace with that. You might not like me but she does and I like her too. Love isn’t everything. We have both consented to this union and we are committed to making it work. That should be

of mine?" I lean back on my chair. "Why exactly are you not okay with Mila doing car races?" Hugh’s face hardens. "Do you know what

it." Mila begs in a low voice. Her father