Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 147: Chapter 147

DEMI

I knock over my coffee when news footage of Liam being led away in handcuffs airs on TV the next morning.

"Oh dear, are you alright?" Mrs. Regan bolts to her feet, wiping off the brown smudge on her new table cloth. I am too distracted to even feel the scalding burn from the spilled coffee on my hand. My eyes remain glued to the TV.

"No. No." I continue to hum. Liam? How could this happen? I reach for my phone and dial his number but it’s switched off.

"Demi, do you know him?"

I continue to ignore Mrs. Regan unintentionally while I try to make sense of the shocking news. How did this happen? I thought Ashton has everything handled with respect to the Spellman and Rollins deal? How was Liam exposed as Billion-Err? Does he have a lawyer to fight for his defense? How could his own family throw him under the bus like that?

Ashton’s phone is turned off as well when I try it, and this worsens my anxiety.

"Demi, are you going somewhere? You can’t go out right now, remember?" My host reminds me with concern etched all over her face after I lurch to my feet. She comes around the table to calm me down. "What is it, dear? Why has the news got you all tensed up? Shouldn’t you be happy that the notorious blog that constantly bullies you and your family has finally been stopped?"

I sniffle. "I’m sorry, Amber. I didn’t mean to make a mess." I grab the towel from her to pad off the rest of the coffee but she stops me. She cups my chin and makes me look directly in her eyes.

"Should I be worried?"

I tear my eyes away from her maternal ones that strangely feel like looking into my own mother’s eyes.

"No." I respond, shaking my head. "I was just caught off guard. I’ll be fine."

"I feel bad leaving you here all by yourself the entire day."

"She won’t be by herself." Someone chimes, entering the kitchen. We look up to find Maddox beaming charmingly at us. "Hey mom." He turns and winks at me. "Hey, you."

"Demi, Maddox happens to have some time to kill and volunteered to keep you company while I am away at the HQ."

Normally, I’d be grateful for their sacrifices but right now, I don’t want a babysitter. I want to talk to Ashton or Anna and figure out how to get Liam freed because without him and Billion-Err, my revenge is as good as botched. More importantly, my cover could be blown depending on how much the likes of Asher incentivizes Liam.

I surge to my feet. "I’m sorry but I have to meet up with someone. It’s urgent. Maddox, thank you so much for being considerate of me. Maybe we can hang out some other time. Amber, have a great day at work." They stand speechless and watch me sprint up the stairs to shower and prepare for my day.

In between my shower, I call Halle at the mansion and she informs me that she’s just as shocked at the news. She’s also worried. According to her, she warned Liam the previous night after Brett boasted to his sons that Billion-Err had been unmasked and Liam would be arrested soon. She didn’t understand why Liam didn’t flee.

I get that Liam is arrogant but he is not stupid. Why did he think he was untouchable?

Halle adds that Ashton spent half of the night with his father in the study. I silently wonder what that’s about.

"You’re still here?" I exclaim when I go downstairs and find Maddox waiting for me.

"I thought you might need a ride to wherever you’re going." Something warm blooms in my chest at his gentlemanliness. "Oh, Kat arrived too. She brought a friend." He adds with a coy smile.

when Kat strolls

Skylar. Sky, that’s my mom’s friend’s

She looks like a painting with lush gold locks that glint under the slivers of sunlight washing into the room. Her eyes are more mesmerizing and unapologetically pulls you into their depth. It’s almost as daunting as

We

she promptly asked to accompany me today." Kat grins at the mortified look

very brave to marry

unequivocally agree with my perspective. Somehow, they feel like they’re admiring and judging me at the same time. "Are you a fan of the quads too?" I move to break the awkward silence that ensues. "Which one’s your favorite? Every woman

voices firmly. "I think

interrupts, then blushes when Skylar turns and notices him. Kat steps between them, bids me goodbye before yanking her friend’s arm to give her a tour of her

me off at

you sure you don’t want me to

She’s a beauty." I give him a wink before he drives away. I pull down my face cap and walk to Anna’s door only to realize

in!" Asher orders

***

him a spare key to her home without warning me first. Did she know he was going to be here? Is that why she isn’t taking my

I hope Ashton handled it like he promised. Asher tosses a brown file at me. I pick it up and reach inside. My fingers go numb as I find a picture of Liam

papers you were

of pure irritation on his face only deepens

He laughs hard with a hand on his belly. "Whoa, I really thought you were a formidable threat. I spent months fidgeting for nothing. If that fool right there is the length and breath of your revenge scheme against my family, then consider yourself saved." The humor dries from

crumple the picture and chuck it in his face. "If you have nothing better to

Asher is indeed a mini version of Brett Rollins regardless of what their DNA samples say. I feel tempted to

you thought

You’re

wealth?" He laughs derisively. "If you think we’ve toiled with our blood and sweat to

my parents’ death." My eyes, to my annoyance, begin to sting with tears. "It’s one thing to accidentally cause the loss of innocent

He takes pleasure in the pale sheen of my face as I look away. "Are you really going

fingers to stop

amazes me how much you and Brett Rollins have in common despite not being biologically related to each other." When his eyes widen in surprise, I relish the second and smile brightly. "What’s the story, Asher? What’s the reason Brett insists on keeping his biological son hidden from the world

but his cockiness got the better of me. I sincerely hope I don’t regret opening

that came from." I tell him, knowing he’s wondering where I got such classified information. "Don’t test me, Asher Rollins. Don’t

a silent plea which makes

won’t be locked up forever. If your family didn’t thrive on offending the law and stomping all over

you claiming to be

I don’t maim or even kill people in blind rage or keep them

clenches his jaw on realizing I know Ashal’s secret too. I love how each reveal chips away at his confidence till his shoulders start

believe can be leaked. Don’t test me, Asher Rollins. I’ve been too good to your family for keeping my mouth shut for this long considering how much you guys have wronged me besides the death of my parents. Revenge? I was having a change of heart but seeing how unremorseful and unsympathetic you are to me, I think I might just put my real plan in gear. I hope you all

splattered on his face can only be fear. I am beyond glad I could pull such a reaction from him. I need to ram it home that if they dare to come after me, they’ll be risking

ASHER ROLLINS

Wordlessly, he whips out another document from the