Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 143: Chapter 143

ASHER

"What is that supposed to mean?" Father queries me when I bluntly refuse to be a part of fixing Ashley’s mess.

"It’s exactly what it sounds like, father. I’m done being your puppet. You never truly valued my hard work anyway. Despite how many times I tirelessly poured my soul into crushing company goals, you never made me feel like I was past the point of begging to be your successor. At every minor inconvenience, you dangled that dream in my face like a carrot. Conversely, Josh’s chances as a strong contender for the same seat never shook no matter what he did. I’m done being your pawn. You’re welcome to do your worst."

"ASHER!"

"DON’T ASHER ME!" I snap right back at him. "How dare you?" I ask, charging towards him. "How dare you continuously underestimate the man you created? You molded me into this subservient, slavishly obedient son and hammered it home that your love and trust could only be earned by more hard work. All my life, I’ve felt like I’m on a hamster’s wheel, constantly running but never truly meeting your standard. Look where it’s gotten me." I chuckle dryly. "While one brother selfishly dumped his fiancée without a thought and got away with it, my father’s reward to me for my obedience all these years was to serve me up on a platter to the Spellmans in order to achieve his selfish agenda. You have absolutely no regard for me or my feelings on the matter."

Father slams his right palm on his desk. "What rubbish feelings, Asher? Are you seriously uttering this nonsense? I thought you knew better!"

"I do and that’s why I know that you are a hypocrite!" I ignore the anger simmering in his eyes. "You dare to proselytize me on the cons of believing in and marrying for love but you’re happily married to the love of your life. How hypocritical of you!"

He scowls at me before mumbling. "No. Not hypocritical at all." He sinks back in his seat. "Get out then. Duncan and I will handle it. I don’t need you. You and your brothers have done enough damage."

Something about his demeanor makes me anxious. "What do you mean by ’not hypocritical at all’? I ask him. My eyes dim with understanding. "Are you trying to say mother isn’t your true love?"

"GET OUT, ASHER!"

Refusing to think about the import of his words, I storm out of there. How am I just realizing how much my family sucks? I feel like smashing something. I badly want to go to a rage room but the closest one is quite a distance from our mansion. Maybe I’ll have one set up on the second floor or the basement for moments like this.

Ashley is sulking in his room after Demi’s departure. Ashton, that piece of work, is upstairs too but I don’t want to run into him right now. However, I am more pissed at Ashal who is still in rehab.

It was his idea that I forge a new path. If he hadn’t gotten into my head using my post-surgery experience as an analogy, I would still be the Asher who didn’t balk at his duties. I wouldn’t be fighting with father for sure. I’d be ecstatic about my engagement to a woman of his choice.

Instead, I am feeling selfish and desiring to break a few rules myself. Now, I am struggling to enjoy being told what to do, especially who to marry. While I have been lording over my brothers this whole time, and forcing them to obey father’s commands like they’re issued by God, I was under the impression that I was better than them all. I had no idea how difficult it was to tread a different path. It’s the scariest thing I ever tried.

It would be easier to try to become father’s favorite son again but I just seem to have lost my rhythm forever. Now, I am stuck in between, unsure what path will both fulfil and liberate me.

Confused, I find my way to Anna’s house. I have no idea what I want to say to her but I am drawn to her for some reason. When she opens the door and finds me half drunk on her porch, she only emits a sigh. I barely finish reeling out a disoriented apology before she lets me in.

***

time coming late in over five years and I

marriage." He pretends to think

head steams as a billion snide remarks fill it to bursting. With a deep breath, I fend off the rage. It amazes me how much control I still

I

would be futile. Frankly, I am still feeling depleted and discouraged after my exchange with father who is always looking for an opportunity to give the company to his favorite son. There’s no point in wasting my precious energy arguing with Josh over

my wing now. She’s become my executive assistant with a juicy salary

I did threaten to fire her-which I was never going to do-but how could she accept an offer from Josh knowing exactly how I feel about him?

best for them. Why do I feel so guilty doing the same? Why am I second guessing my plan to inform the media that my engagement to Michelle is untrue? Why am I seriously contemplating the pros of going along with father’s plan and hoping against hope that he keeps his word

you do it?" I query Ashton the second he

"Do what?"

decisions that could drive a stake through the core of

and family interest. It’s easier when my ostensibly selfish move is less about what I want and more about being a good human and doing the right thing at that moment even if it foils my family’s selfish plans." He inhales a deep breath. "Hey, Asher? Look man, I am deeply sorry that father made

me a few hard truths about myself and my life.

are you going to do about

"Never mind. Talk later."

kind of tough but I have my own unique charm. While Ashton will get out of a sticky situation forced on him courtesy of our father, by taking rash decisions, my methods are a little more subtle and

happening in the first place? Is it all to finalize a deal

father wants both families to become one and marriage seems like a good way of making that

if their reputation is smeared or if Rollins Group

I knew where

for you unlike Ashton. So, do you. Wriggle out of this situation the way only Asher can; by showing your father he can have what he wants without

during lunch. Unsurprisingly, Josh is there, trying to coax father into going to lunch with him but father is

"Father?"

both look up, surprised

"Asher?" Father replies.

cue that Josh excuses us.

I cut right to the chase and dump a stack of files on his desk.