Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 128: Chapter 128

DEMI

"Are you sure you’re ok? You suddenly disappeared from the hospital."

Anna drags a deep breath on her end of the line. "I’m fine. I’ll be back to see him some other time."

I can’t help but feel like she’s hiding something from me.

"Did someone say something to you, Nessa perhaps? Anna, if that’s the case..."

"No, Demi, it’s nothing like that." Another indulgent sigh. "I don’t know if I can be around him yet. I rushed after you when you got the call but I am not prepared. I know Asher and I ended things on a very rough note but before we even got together, I always promised him I’d be there for him when he finally booked his surgery. He used to worry that he’d be alone at the hospital and I assured him he’d wake up after the surgery and I’d be by his bedside. I broke that promise for good reason but seeing Nessa at the hospital today and learning that she had brought him there...I don’t know how that makes me feel."

I exhale deeply. "You don’t have to force yourself to hate him on my account, Anna."

"I don’t hate him. I strongly dislike him at best and that is owing to the fact that he betrayed you and I. However, I can’t seem to hold on to that dislike seeing his condition. I would love to be there when he wakes up but not with his entire family in the room. I’d like a moment with him if only to fulfil the promise I made to him. I think he’d appreciate it if I do. He would understand if I don’t visit but I feel like he would be hopeful that I do."

"That can easily be arranged. You have nothing to worry about. I’ll let you know when the coast is clear."

"Thank you." The sound of sheets rustling follows. "What’s going on over there? Have your in-laws arrived? Liam is hitting hard with his posts on Billion-Err. I hope you aren’t being suspected for it."

I crane my neck to reaffirm that I am alone in the restroom.

"I don’t think so. Ashley is pissed at me and Ashal is distracted. We’ll have to wait for Brett and his wife to get here to know if any blame or accusation makes it my way."

"How about Nicci? Has she contacted you since then?"

"No." I shake my head and play with the running water from the faucet which I intentionally flicked on to coat the details of my phone call. "I can’t reach her on the same number with which she called me the last time. I am worried. I managed to sway Ashley to let me join him in visiting her but then Asher collapsed. I’m sorry but his timing sucks. I need hard evidence. I am running out of playing cards."

"I’m sure Liam is working on something."

"It’s MY revenge plan. I can’t leave it up to chance. I have to make it happen no matter what. I’m running out of time. I don’t think I can wait six months. I have to find a way to deliver my revenge and be done with the Rollins."

Anna remains silent for a few seconds. "Is this about Ashton? His upcoming wedding with Mila must be a hard pill to swallow."

"I couldn’t care less who he married or when. Sure, it stings to see him with her but as time passes, that’s no longer as painful to watch. I am more worried about losing my rage the longer I take to execute my revenge. I have to avenge my parents without batting an eyelid, just like Brett and his family do when they trample on people’s lives."

The sound of the entrance door to the female restroom swinging open cuts me off. A lady rushes in, crying profusely. She looks startled to see me. Before I can say Jack, she locks herself in one of the stalls and bawls her eyes out. I stand a bit perplexed.

"Turn the damn faucet off. You’re wasting water!" She croaks out from behind the door. When I end my call and turn off the water, she resumes her wailing. Indifferent, I slip my phone in my bag and walk away.

When I return to the waiting room, I am informed that my in-laws already arrived and they were now consulting with doctor Ezra in his office. With a lot of restraint, I refrain from rolling my eyes as I backtrack to the doctor’s office.

"What do you mean by that? He’s been living with it for months and you didn’t deem it necessary to tell me?" I hear father yelling at his friend, the doctor. One of the specialists who assisted doctor Ezra, a young lady in her early to mid-twenties, stands with her head bowed next to her superior. Silently, I let myself into the office and stand mute by the door.

Mother is sunken on the couch, tears streaming down her face. She is flanked by Mila to the left and Ashal to her right, both of whom continue to console her. Ashley is competing with his father in staring daggers at the poor doctor for keeping Asher’s secret irrespective of the fact that the doctor was right to keep his adult patient’s medical info confidential.

"I’m sorry Mr. Rollins but Asher is not an infant. He is my patient. It was my duty to keep our sessions confidential. Beyond our relationship as doctor and patient, I encouraged him as a friend of the family to have the surgery on time but despite taking the horse to the stream, I couldn’t force it to drink. You know how stubborn your son can be. I did my very best to sway him but his phobia got the best of him."

actually find it astonishing that he looks deeply hurt and just a tad bit scared. "I could have lost my son today. Would you have had the heart to tell me this load of bullshit? I don’t care if you have to strap him to the damn table and induce him with anesthetics to get the procedure done. I

Ezra cuts off the young doctor with a hand on her wrist. Her eyebrows slash up at him, miffed at the

out of this,

Said Erin

"Keep quiet!"

doctor had a child that also practiced medicine. Erin apologizes and drops her head. Someone raps on the door and informs us that Asher is finally awake. This helps

help

She asks

if he’s lying to calm his mother’s nerves or telling the truth. Where exactly is Ashton

doctor and his daughter on behalf of the family before we all head over to see Asher. Just then, my phone rings on the way. I slow down to take the

This isn’t really a good

good making that painfully obvious around the hospital by appearing nonchalant over his condition, such as being on my phone while the rest of the family are huddled around Asher’s

like over there." He replies crankily. "Do you want to know the result of the DNA tests run for Brett and his quads

quirk up.

having it confirmed is a different thing. All I can think

I ask him. That will hardly create a huge buzz. It won’t be a big deal if Brett legally adopted the quads

"Who’s adopted?"

face Ashton’s impatient face. I end the call and struggle

over his face. His voice is on the brink of shattering

2301, down that way." I

after him. It’s as I suspected. Doctor Ezra is done checking on his patient and reports that

Mother grabs one of his hands and holds it to her cheek. Everyone else pulls a sad face even though the

necks snap in the direction of the door as Ashton and I make our way in.

hell have you been? Your brother almost died!" Father growls. He

the outskirt of town and got stuck in traffic while rushing back." Ashton sidesteps his fuming father, pats Ashley on the shoulder

a smile. With a little gesture, doctor Ezra helps him take the mask off. He draws in a lungful of air and stares across the room at all the worried faces. On cue, the doctor and his daughter exit to give our family a

him under any kind of stress that could aggravate his condition." Behind him, I see Asher link his hand with Ashton’s. A small smile finds its way onto my lips. They might not be Brett’s biological children like Josh Randall

Mother adds before planting a kiss on Asher’s forehead. The doting starts. "How are you

Barbara."

have to, though?" She responds, making

kept procrastinating. I was partly in denial because I take great care of my health and a sudden brain tumor didn’t seem right to me." Now, his eyes find father’s. "There was always something to do at work that made taking some time off to check into the hospital and get my surgery done pale in significance. I was getting by with my drugs. I didn’t think it had gotten so bad until I was on the brink of collapsing." His eyes track to Nessa at a corner of the room. "Thanks Nessa.

tears and

to echo in everyone’s head. Silently, we all begin to exit the room. Nessa finally agrees to go home and get some rest while

with Mila and our eyes meet. It’s been so long since we exchanged warm

makes the effort to cheer mother up and win her heart and all I can think of is how badly that will backfire. Unless a daughter-in-law

in, with Mila in tow, to

saying?" Father

as to our health but so far, nothing concrete. I think they’ll eventually

guessing for too long or they’ll end up fabricating lies that could hurt us. Let’s give them something believable to run

track to me and settle with a dark glint, I instantly realize I am about to be used once again by the family. He doesn’t even have to say anything. One look at his sons and they get the picture. The next thing I know, I am being given a scripted response for the media and being forced to check into the hospital for as long

in my hospital room, assuring them that my pregnancy scare had the family in a panic but that everything was being taken care

almost fling a pillow at the TV. Once again, my feelings don’t matter. I

at Ashley as

going to have Asher discreetly transported home. His treatment will continue