Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 156: Chapter 156

ASHTON

"Mr. Rollins, I hope the house is to your liking. If it isn’t, there are a few other options you can check out." The strange man in casual jeans and shirt tells me. We are standing in the middle of an opulent duplex with a sprawling staircase and impeccable décor. I have a hard time understanding half the things he’s been saying to me since we met at a bar because I can’t fathom why he won’t just tell me who sent him.

"Otto, right?"

"That’s right."

Otto, who exactly put you up to this?"

"I’m sorry, Mr. Rollins but I already told you that information is classified for the sake of your benefactor. All I can say is that my employer cares about your wellbeing and wants you to live comfortably while you’re going through this hard time."

Whoever is employer is, it’s certainly someone that knows my taste to the tee, I think while observing the minimalist touch of the house and the sport car collection I spied in the garage. That employer also happens to have a truckload of money to dish around if my new bank account balance is any indication. That tells me that it’s definitely a family member. Could it be one of my brothers anonymously trying to help me out? Could it be mother?

"You don’t seriously expect me to live in a house and drive the cars without knowing who’s behind it all, do you?"

"You should, Mr. Rollins..."

"Sawyer."

"What?"

"I go by Ashton Sawyer now. Do you mind keeping up?"

A short flash of bewilderment flits across his pupils but he remains composed.

"Mr. Sawyer, I’d really advise that you accept everything you’re being given from my employer. They’ve gone through great risk setting you up comfortably. It’ll break their heart if you rejected it. They just want you to be happy and safe."

Something warm blooms in my chest. I stare around the house. It’s definitely better than my survival plans.

stay but tell my mother I want the cameras out. If she wants to see my face, she can call me through an unregistered line." I head

mean...Sawyer, your mother

my mind." He fails to see the smile on my face as I exit

there it was. I had only ever mentioned wanting

mocked for my sentimental attachment to the type of car we drove to school in as kids, the car that reminds me of a time in our lives when we were still uncorrupted by

centers me. It reminds me of who we were as boys, our innocence, our happiness while we were still oblivious of father’s dark side. I run my hand over the grey van. This is definitely mother’s love letter to me, a reassurance. I know she must have been hurt by my doubts. I know she must worry that I question her place in my life and it hurts me to realize how much I

without father knowing. Sighing, I blink away the tears threatening to fall from my eyes. I’ll just wait for her

and drive off to Keith’s. It’s great because no journalist will be looking for me

to school. I used to wonder why he wouldn’t step on it. I complained about his speed, wondered if he was trying to get us there safely or too afraid to scratch father’s car. I guess my love for fast cars was born out of the frustration I felt

helps in life. My life just got upended. I am still figuring out how to navigate this new life of mine, one where I fear that I can’t protect the ones I love from the man called Brett Rollins. I’ve just realized I’m nothing without him. I’ve

by going after the ones I love

number you’re calling

and again. My heart clenches in

overthink it, Ashton." I tell myself. I’m sure she’s fine. She’s with her uncle in a different city. I’ll try

couple

bump into you and your wife since our

and his wife exchange shy glances with each

wife and I checked off one lingering wish on our bucket list. With the money you gave us the last time, we took a trip to my wife’s dream, honeymoon destination which I couldn’t afford at the time of

therapeutic than

glad I could help." Smiling, I take

notice the brief exchange of awkward stares between the couple before Collete turns

your family. I hate how much people tend to target you guys because of how ’up there’ you are. If I hadn’t met you, I probably would have joined that bandwagon in criticizing you but from what Paul and I have seen, you’re such a

the vote of confidence,

are your parents and brothers? Hope they’re all

Then, to digress, "Keith has been super helpful to me in

hear. I was worried he’d be difficult about it given how

he had drawn of her in her sleep, and chucking it into the fireplace before his mom could hand it over to me, flashes in my memory. "But a lot