Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 110: Chapter 110

ASHER

Today has been unreal. Father has never spent this much time with me personally unless it had something to do with work. We’ve spent the first part of the morning in a private shooting range. Then we proceeded to play mini golf which father enjoys. Finally, we are at Soul foods to refuel ourselves after a fun but exhausting father/son day if I can call it that.

A small smile keeps playing on my lips no matter how much I try to get rid of it. I haven’t had this kind of quality time with father before and it beats me why he just spent over four hours of his morning with just me.

"Something on your mind?" He asks, quirking a brow at me as he butters his bread. I exhale and lean back on my seat.

"A lot actually."

"I was wondering when you would share."

I narrow my eyes at him while the smile remains in place. "You can’t blame me for finding all of this a bit strange, can you? I’ve lived with you all my life and yet, we’ve never really done anything like this."

"And by this you mean?"

"Bonding. I know we spend a lot of time together but mostly, we just talk shop or work. Today was different, unexpected and I want to know why."

He lets out a short laugh. "You boys are funny indeed. You complain that I suck at being a dad and when I make an effort, you get suspicious. Why can’t it be normal between us? Why do you have to have that suspicious glint in your eyes every time I break character to do something nice with my boys?"

"I appreciate the effort but you still didn’t answer my question."

He thought me to be this distrustful and to never let my guard down. I took that lesson too seriously and now, I don’t really trust anyone but myself. Brett Rollins rarely breaks character, unless you’re his wife, Barbara Rollins or his son, Josh Randall. When it’s outside those two, one should really not ignore their guts. Father regards me with his watchful eyes as I study his as well.

"That’s why you’re my favorite son. You remind me so much of my younger self."

I scoff at that. "Don’t. We both know who your favorite son is."

"No, you’re wrong. I love each of my sons for different reasons and I have favorites for different things. You’re my favorite because of your business acumen and your unwavering focus on what’s important. You indulge yourself in somethings and people I don’t approve of but in spite of such distractions, you remain laser focused on the goal ahead of you. No other son of mine is that focused. That’s why I love you the most in that regard."

I don’t know whether to feel giddy or silly. Did he just give me a pat on the back for refusing to live and being a slavish workaholic?

"And if I stopped being those things? Would you still love me?" I lean on the table and peer deeply into his eyes. "If I stopped expanding your business reach and net worth, if I stopped being relevant to the success of Rollins Empire say because I suddenly fell terminally ill, would you still consider me your favorite for whatever reason?"

He only laughs and sips his coffee. "You’re not planning on falling sick, are you? We have a lot planned for this quarter. We can’t afford any inconveniences. You know I need you every step of the way." At the disheartened look in my eyes, he leans back with a weird look in his eyes. "What is this about, Asher? Why are you testing me?"

"This is about Josh and how he never has to live up to any expectations to earn your unconditional love." I blurt out dryly. "This is about how you love him because you made him and how you will never toss him aside even if he gets crippled or blind or even dies."

"Hey, don’t say such things!"

"See? That’s what I am talking about." I slam my hands on the table, spilling our coffees on the white linen.

"Control yourself, Asher. You’re better than this."

"And if I am not? Huh? Would I be considered less than?"

"Everything okay here?" A waiter asks with a meek bow. Father assures him we’re fine and dismisses him gracefully.

"Why exactly did you bring me out here to pretend to spend time with me? Is it some kind of guilt over spending quality time with Josh but not my brothers and I?"

"You and your brothers hardly take me seriously when I want to spend time with you. You know how many times I have literally begged you to come eat with me here but you keep turning me down."

"I didn’t want to be a third wheel!" I snap at him. "You and I have worked at the company for so long. You never offered to eat with me or accepted my invitation but the moment Josh joined us, you made every lunch break a father-son date between both of you and you expect me to be thrilled at being invited to that?"

He shakes his head. "I have told you countless times that you and your brothers do not have to be jealous of Josh. He is not a threat to you and you all are in no competition for my heart. I love you all."

Ok. I am done with this delusion.

"Just ask me what you want to know, father. Enough with this charade."

Whatever it is, it has to be good since he spent a good amount of his precious time with me and not his favorite son. True to form, he nods his head.

"Fine. I want to know what your brothers have been up to."

I thought as much. He wants me to snitch on my brothers.

think they’ve been up to

mess or another and you swoop in to clean their mess hopefully before I notice. I commend you for that, I really do. However, I know that you haven’t

and there but nothing major. I’ve got it handled." I take a long sip of my coffee and beam at him over the rim

them. Let’s start with Ashal. He’s gone and knocked up that wife of his. I don’t have

for Ashley. Father will freak out if he learns

convince Ashal to divorce that woman? How long are we

and Maddie. Whatever it is, I have to end it. The last thing we need is another

stubborn, father. You’ve met him. I have to be very careful so I don’t trigger him. It’s a dicey area. I’ll keep talking to him and let you know what

expires." He gets suspicious over my silence. "Talk to me, Asher! You’re the only sane son I can rely on. You and I have been shouldered with the responsibility of shepherding your brothers. Don’t keep secrets from me because

clench and unclench my fingers. "Demi is

few minutes. He works the anger bubbling inside him

know why she lied to him about it but this works for us. If he catches a whiff of it, he’ll stubbornly want her to keep it. We can’t let that happen. Father," I reach for his hand. "Trust me, no one wants that woman out of our lives

"And Olivia?"

has been discharged from the hospital. Ashal is very protective of her. There’s no way I can get past his security

also handling it. If Ashal won’t end their marriage, I can talk to Olivia and convince her to leave him. I am sure she’s done

away just like that? You trust

Her family has also been apprised of the risk if they try to talk. They’re done playing activists and heroes. They just want their daughter back and to lead

a deep breath

What’s up

of. He’s resigned to his fate as Mila’s would-be

Father disagrees, shaking his head. "He’s been too quiet and compliant with my decisions lately. If he wasn’t distracted by whatever it is he’s doing, he would have put up

"You’re just being paranoid."

know he searched my study,

the butter knife. I stare up at

"What?"

a hurry to find any documents relating to work in my study, you would have called me first to try to narrow down your search

***

chew as calmly as I

fight. The truth about us being adopted slipped out. Ashton has been having a hard time swallowing that one

against our parents, he’ll kill them in

he just

furious at you for the whole Josh situation and for not telling us all the truth of our adoption sooner. Secondly, he doesn’t believe you’ll tell him the truth so he chose to find out for himself. He thinks you’re a pathological liar." I scoop more eggs and chew with a

that the adoption papers exist so my mind can stop drifting and making up scary assumptions as to how my brothers and I

no problem at all. It’s in the safe in my bedroom. I’ll personally hand them over to

I can’t believe how relieved I

love that. Hopefully, this will be the

"I truly hope so."

the last two people I want to

"Brett?"

Josh grins next to

grab my gear. He closes a hand over my

to, I already promised my son here that today

I turn to Kristy and her son who have shock

"Yes. That’s right."

spare time bonding with ALL my sons now. It’s

okay, dad.

always a brownnoser. Mother and son feign an understanding smile before going to get

appreciation for the nothing he just did by giving me, his oldest son, his precious time but I refuse to give him any accolades. If ours was a normal father-son relationship, I wouldn’t have to

keep texting on my phone. I am waiting to hear from a few people today regarding a few things. They assure me over text that all is

with

to go.

with them so we can spend more time

Kristy and Josh who keep stealing glances at

brought me out here to bond with me. You got the answers you wanted. We don’t have to keep up appearances. I’ve got to go. You’re welcome to rejoin your other family. I won’t take it personally. Just

"I won’t."

son and he deserves your attention too. However, I sincerely hope your relationship

great day, Asher. I’ll meet you

say nothing and leave him to

I feel some type of way going over to Anna’s place. I don’t know if I’ll be able to pretend around her. Plus, she’s always going to talk about Demi every thirty minutes. I’d hate to

with father’s piqued interest in what my brothers have been up