Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 119: Chapter 119

ASHAL

The moment the words leave Demi’s lips, a startled hush falls over the dining room. We could have heard a pin drop at that moment. I press my eyes shut as memories of Olivia making a similar demand merely hours ago hits me.

She keeps trying to convince me that our separation would be the best thing for the baby. Every time I walk through the front door of the penthouse, she subtly reminds me that true love could be waiting for me outside. She demands to know if I have been trying to go on dates, if I have met anyone new. It’s sickening how eager she is to throw everything we once shared. It hurts to realize how easily she has moved on and how badly she wants me to move on too.

"Have you thought about it?" She had asked in between licking off some of the cake mix she was whisking. I am glad she feels stronger nowadays but it has its disadvantages. She’s got too much energy to discuss uncomfortable topics with me.

"Thought about what?" I asked, swirling wine in my glass.

"Our divorce. Are your lawyers drafting the papers?"

My fingers tightened around the stem of my glass. Slowly, I lifted my eyes to meet her hopeful ones. "You’re very eager to leave me, aren’t you?"

"Don’t be like that. I’m looking out for you and our baby. Delaying the inevitable won’t be good for either of you. Look at us right now. There’s hardly any tension. We can speak freely. I’ve been breathing easier lately and that’s all because I don’t feel the pressure of trying to pretend to be who you want me to be. This is all we were ever meant to be, Ashal; friends. Anything more would be forced. It’s already stolen two years of our lives. We can’t continue to trudge down that path."

I sipped my wine. "I need some time. I know you never felt anything for me but I do feel something for you. Suffice it to say that I am going through an emotional rollercoaster right now. There’s a lot of shit going on in my family too and I have to add my personal problems to the fray. It’s too much for me. I am going through heartbreak, a potential divorce and so much more." Angrily, I drained the rest of my glass.

Lily shuffled forward to do a refill when Olivia beat her to it. Meekly, Lily returned to her invisible spot by the kitchen wall.

"You need a distraction." Liv suggested, pouring me more wine. She smelt like cake. "That’s why I keep suggesting you find a new girl, someone to take the edge off. How about that Cree girl? Those pictures felt like sparks flew between you two."

I shook my head. "False sparks. She never really like me. I was just her meal ticket." That wasn’t entirely true.

"Ouch. Do you have anyone in mind that you like?"

Before I could stop it, Madeline’s image clouded my head. Immediately, I took another bracing gulp of my wine.

"Woah, easy." Liv said worriedly.

"I’ll talk to Elyon at work. He’s very good at organizing blind dates for me. Maybe I’ll just go on a few to see what happens."

"That sounds great." Liv added, rushing to continue her baking. "You never can tell what will happen. Madeline also put herself out there and now she’s got a new boyfriend."

A loud sound like tinnitus rung in my head. "She what?"

"After you saved her from that asshole, Hunter, I feared it would be difficult for her to give love another chance. You know she also suffered heartbreak with her ex, Carter. The proximity of all these hardships in her love life gave me cause for concern but luckily, I was worried for nothing. She told me the last time we spoke that she’s been talking to this new guy and he seriously wants to be her boyfriend."

If Liv hadn’t been busy rifling through the kitchen cabinets, searching for God knows what, she would have recognized the pure look of shock and constipation on my face. Is that why Maddi has been avoiding me? I wondered. She has refused to take my calls or texts despite how harmless they’ve been.

I sent her back to college and helped her family move on from that arranged marriage disaster like it never happened. What could I have done wrong to warrant the frostiness from Maddi? She hasn’t shown up in my office once to say thank you to me for saving her life. I was kind of counting on that as an excuse to see her again. When that didn’t happen, I broke character and called to see how she has been doing since she returned to school. There’s been no single reply from her. At some point, I thought she might have lost her phone or changed her number.

I gritted my teeth as I realized how fast everyone seemed to be moving on from me. I knew Maddi and I weren’t romantically involved but I thought the few moments that we shared (like the kiss in the car and at the hospital after I saved her from Hunter) meant something to her. Though she hadn’t allowed herself to voice it, her eyes were speaking volumes. Did she really go out there and get a new boyfriend? Why did she have to avoid me? I wouldn’t stop her so what’s with the weird energy? I continued to wonder.

Lily was watching me when I lifted my head. She made her way to me and raised the bottle to top my glass.

"Stop, Lily. He’s had enough." Liv cut in.

my hand over the bottle, softly brushing Lily’s hand and poured the wine. "I’m

the oven. I finished the bottle of wine and to my surprise, Liv asked Lily to help me to my room even though I could manage just

drawer, there were cupcakes and a pitcher of orange juice with a note from Olivia

blink as father’s voice cuts through my thoughts. We are still at the dining table with Demi’s shocking demand hanging thickly in the

Ashley can speak. He steeples his fingers and inclines his head. "You are not

flash angrily. "You can’t keep me

made me pop open my oldest wine in the cellar, I regret that the circumstances we find ourselves in leaves me no choice but to demand you uphold your end of the contract. You can’t divorce Ashley now, not in the midst of this

HE created." Demi

We need a mother for his child. After the contract expires, you will be free to go back to your plebian life. If you insist on walking away right now, I’ll get my legal team to slam you

the room as no one

are all evil!" She shrieks before stomping away to

to marry their

toasts to her. Ashton looks

Mother calls. "Go check

my life. My whole world seems to be falling apart. Nothing makes sense anymore. I head to the movie room and slink into a padded chair. I have no intention to see a movie. I just want to sit in the dark for a bit and pray no one comes looking for me. It’s a shit show

Why does it matter so much that Maddi has a boyfriend now? What right do I have to be suspicious of how fast she found this guy or to think she’s using him to fend off whatever she must have felt between us over the last

us lately? Is that supposed to be a sign that she’s contemplating anything or that she’s trying

hand rests on

"Are you okay?"

wonder how Ashton found

me. A tired breath whistles from his lip. "Hey, thanks for covering for me. Asher mentioned

"Not a problem."

corner of my eye, I can tell he’s watching

embarking on soon. Ashley is in a shouting match

"Ha"

Ashton

"And your fiancée?"

sent her home in a car. I’ve had my fill of her ass licking for one day." We laugh to

"You’ve got something on your mind.

things I must have missed these last few weeks. Ashal, I’m sorry

We all have our different lives. You don’t

how much I worry over you. You’re my baby brother..." He flashes his index finger in my face when I start to protest, "...and it’s my right to worry.

I am feeling right now to retain a shred of my sanity, I probably won’t cave

I’m so sorry man. That must be

a hand over my face. "I tried, Ashton. I really tried to be everything she wanted and more but somehow, the stars never aligned in our favor. I guess it’s true what they say; the heart wants what it wants. She has always been attracted to Asher and not me. Two years and a baby on the way

to do? Will you grant her the divorce as she asks? Will you find someone else to

the last two years. If I can’t see her at the penthouse anymore, I don’t know what my life will look like. Plus, being a dad scares me too. What if I suck at it? I know how much hell I’ve given father over what a shitty dad he was

been through a lot of shocks this year so I

baby before we go our separate ways. It felt good watching her bake cupcakes today in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant. She was back to her bubbly self. Even if we’re nothing more than friends now,

think it won’t hurt to try. See how sparks flew with Cree. I don’t care if you go in search of someone that has Liv’s qualities as long as it’s a

his message but I drown

noted, cupid."

mentioned Madeline to him and as Ashton coaxes me to see a movie

***