Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 130: Chapter 130

DEMI

I sit quietly at the breakfast table, eating alone while the news channel is turned on. No one else came down for breakfast today. Since father’s cheating scandal hit the news, a cold chill went through the entire mansion. It’s been awfully quiet and empty like a ghost town.

Brett and his sons keep having closeted meetings. Mrs. Rollins, as Halle tells me, has been a shadow of herself and shuttles between her bedroom and her sick son, Asher’s. Save for the domestic staff who I run into regularly; I am mostly by myself.

The stocks of the Spellman Group skyrocketed on the capital market today. I bet father must be biting his fingernails in anger. I must admit that I honestly didn’t expect this move of mine to hit the Rollins family as hard as it has. What then would happen when I use up all my trump cards? Josh’s paternity. The death of my parents. The truth about Tobias, Olivia Dunn and all other secret crimes the Rollins family have been involved in over the years. How terribly they will crash makes my heart hum with anticipation.

Inwardly, I want to do a happy dance because I finally hit the right nerve and hurt them but thoughts of my uncle weigh heavily on my mind. Nevertheless, I allow a small smile as I watch the news on my phone. Kristy Randall is hounded by the paparazzi on her way out of a supermarket and bombarded with questions about her relationship with Brett. Of course, she refuses to give a comment but what she doesn’t realize is that her silence only fuels the rumor.

"Oh Kristy, you’re not that dumb. This must be your ruse to torture Barbara Rollins, isn’t it? Sly fox." I mutter quietly to myself. I have to visit the Randalls soon and fan the flames. I need mother and son to drive the wedge of my revenge plan through the hearts of the Rollins.

Liam texts me to ask how I am enjoying the show. I reply with a happy emoji and tell him not to let the heat go down so soon till Brett starts sweating bullets. Anna’s call interrupts me.

"Anna, hi."

"The hospital staff are all acting weird and not letting me see Asher. Could you come over and talk to them?"

I slap a hand to my forehead. "Oh shit, Anna, I am so sorry. It completely skipped my mind given everything that’s been going on here at the mansion. Um, Asher is back home. His parents insisted his treatment continues at the mansion." I wait a moment for her to digest that. "Do you want to come over here instead?"

"No." She replies. "How is that going to be any different from visiting him at the hospital with the entire family present. I can’t show up there with everything going on."

"Then come visit me. I am all by myself here anyway. You could sneak into Asher’s room to see him. Trust me, everyone’s too busy trying to calm the storm to be bothered by someone showing concern for Asher. It’ll be fine."

"Demi..."

"I need you, Anna." I inhale deeply. "I’ll be going over to my aunt’s place soon. I need moral support before I visit that house."

"Why do you want to pay them a visit?"

Mother walks into the dining room just then. We lock eyes for a moment.

"I’ll be waiting for you, Anna. Bye." I hang up. I can feel mother’s eyes on my breakfast plate. Did she really expect me to starve like the rest of them for a family that has treated me like scum for the past couple of weeks? Quietly, she pulls out a chair and sinks into it. I impale my fork in my sausage and take a bite.

"Is this what we’ve become, Demi?" I hear her ask weakly.

Her eyes are bloodshot so I know she barely slept a wink last night. I also suspect she shed a few tears last night too given the redness around them too. I don’t feel an ounce of remorse as I take in her face. She can’t be completely naïve about who her husband is and what he is capable of. She must know of his heinous crimes and possibly has been covering for him. Why should I pity her? Did she pity my parents when she knew how they died?

"Good morning, mother." I force out. With my appetite lost, I push my chair back and try to leave but she stops me.

"I know you’re still upset with us for a number of reasons but we’re still your family, Demi. Can’t you even pretend to sympathize right now? Have you truly lost all feelings for your husband?" When I turn to her, she lowers her voice. "Have you lost all feelings even for Ashton?"

How dare she? She’s such a manipulative bitch. So, all of a sudden, she uses Ashton to get to me? It’s okay now because she’s desperate and hurting? Disgusting!

"Why would you say something like that, mother? Ashton? The same son you got upset with me for loving? How could you put him and Ashley side by side like that? What kind of reaction do you hope to get from me by saying something like that?"

hand over an ache on her eyebrow.

heard you talk like that? I have moved on with Ashley and here you are trying to stir a pot simply because I am minding my business around here. Wouldn’t you consider it weird if I huddled close and cried my eyes out at a time like this? I am still sad over how

I have begged

I was going to have your grandchild. The second the mother of your unborn grandchild changed, you and the rest of the family kicked me aside. Nobody here could care less about my feelings because I am not the daughter of a billionaire. I have learnt to live with that, mother. All I ask of you for the remaining months I am forced to stay by your son’s side is that you don’t insult me by having expectations of me as your daughter-in-law. I am human too. I have feelings that have been

Ashley’s chest. He grabs my shoulder and breaks my fall. Our eyes meet and hold for

okay?" He asks me. I just nod softly and walk away while

work and so did his sons. The weird thing is that Ashton went with him in place of Asher. My guess is the old game of switcheroo is

my room. Tired of waiting, I go downstairs to check on lunch. I’d like my friend to eat a good

"Demi."

eyes as

She shoots a quick glance upstairs and I preempt her before she can say anything about my friend. "Anna stopped by to see me. I am getting some food for her. She’ll be

countless times unable to keep their hands off each other during our house parties." Again, she looks up

she knew everything after

"Noted, mother."

It’s killing me. Can we really not patch things up between us? You’ll always be my favorite daughter-in-law.

my teeth, looking a little past

walks towards us. How pathetic. Why the hell is she trying too

will always have a special place in my heart as my

I completely understand." The beaming spinster turns

because your father’s company stocks

sends you his best wishes. He is working with Mr. Rollins and the boys to quell the

mother’s eyes glowed. "That’d be lovely.

mother towards the elevator while listing all she has planned for their full day of fun. I can’t help but

to me. She talked some things over with Asher that got her

you okay? Are you still willing to help me?" I ask, studying

ready to smack Kira

the other thing I need help with. You assured Liam and I, remember? Are you still

if you can trust me, Demi?" She leaps from my bedroom couch. "Really? Do you think a few cuddles, a long kiss and cheesy promises from THE Asher Rollins is enough to throw me off course? Wow, thanks for the vote of

cuddled, kissed

How am I supposed to fulfil my promise

was

have something to do with her altercation with Nessa

my aunt’s place. I decided I wanted to go alone and dropped Anna off. Aunt Elizabeth and Kira open the door like they were expecting me. I bet they were. Who else would be behind my uncle suddenly showing up in Danvarr? I

I am seated in the small living room, I continue to stare at my aunt and Kira quietly. Kira has a proud look on her face as she sits with her legs crossed at her knees. Aunt Elizabeth looks

is a surprise, Mrs. Rollins." Aunt begins. "I never imagined you would deign to grace us with your presence in our humble home

Demi Rollins." Her daughter quips.

am so sick of their

uncle Marcel, didn’t you aunt?" I

deeply for me. Growing up, I learnt he was a social pariah and a hothead. After my parents died, I chose to stay with my cold aunt rather than my uncle who cares so much for me for a few reasons. Aside from his lonely lifestyle,

my plot, he would shut everything down and insist I go back to live with him. He stays far away from Danvarr which explains further why I chose aunt’s house instead. Aunt refused to tell him her exact address in Danvarr so he couldn’t come visit me for years. If he is here and even stopped by the

favorite uncle over to

I can’t believe her.