Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 163

Chapter 163: Chapter 163

DEMI

"Yes, uncle Marcel, I am fine. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just needed a few days to myself. I had a lot of thinking to do. I’m sorry I got you worried."

Anna almost drops the serving tray in her hands when she spots me entering the honey pot. I wrap up my call with my uncle just in time to accept her embrace. She quickly grabs my hand and takes me outside. We go around the back.

"Anna, are you sure you won’t get in trouble for taking an unsanctioned break?" But all she does is pull me into a longer hug.

"Where have you been, Demi? How could you scare me like that? It’s so unfair. Tell me now, was it your in-laws that detained you? Was it Liam? Why didn’t you call once?" She continues to bombard me with questions without giving me a chance to answer them. I grab her shoulders and shake her.

"I’m fine, Anna. Look at me! I’m really fine. I’m sorry I scared you. That won’t happen again. "I flash her my pearly whites. "I JUST CONCLUDED MY DIVORCE. Ashley and I are DONE."

A big smile tugs at her lips. "Really?"

"Yeah."

She hugs me again. "Are they going to make it public? The people have to know so they can stop associating you with the Rollins especially now."

"I don’t mind informing the media myself or living through whatever backlash might come with that. I’m just glad that sham marriage is all over."

Anna dims her eyes. "So, what’s next? What’s with you and Ashton."

The sound of his name nearly shatters my resolve to go ahead with my new life being unpredictable to even the closest people around me. I grit my teeth when I recall the response he gave to his family when asked about us. I know he’s trying to protect me from his family by pushing me away. I just wish he hadn’t usurped the position of being the decision maker about MY life and what’s best for me.

At the very least, he could have asked me first and respected whatever decision I took regarding us. He shouldn’t have made me feel like the family’s distrustful enemy.

"That’s over too, Anna. I’ve decided that romance isn’t worth putting my head on a chopping block for. I just got my freedom back. I’m not about to ruin it by bonding myself to another brother, to the same sick-twisted family that oppressed me for months. That would be insane, especially now that their secrets are coming to light." I scoop some hair out of my face and pace a bit. "Speaking of secrets, Liam’s been awfully silent. That can’t be good. I wonder what he and Skylar have planned."

"Skylar?" Anna reiterates. "Who’s that?"

Right. She has no clue. Best to leave her out of it too before she’s roped in like I am.

"Oh, no one of consequence." I shrug before texting Liam. I need to know his plans with Skylar. They had sent Cree all the way to my uncle’s place to threaten me. I’m certain they’re not just going to let me off the hook for going radio silent on them for over twenty-four hours. I need to know they aren’t nursing plans to make my loved ones suffer just to punish me.

Liam calls me almost immediately.

"Where have you been?"

"In Danvarr but I needed some time to finalize my divorce for good."

to talk." The call ends. I assure Anna that she’s got nothing to

to say about your family’s crimes that are

your husband truly responsible for the death

going to stick by your husband in these trying times or follow through with the

squint as the cameras

divorced. You can just call me Demi

I mean Ms. Branson, what about the baby? Are you

the baby a while back." I reply to

anyway by the death of your parents

forgive them? Did you accidentally miscarry because of

ways. That’s all

through the wall of limbs and cameras

on TV with a blank expression on his face. I scan the living area but can’t find Skylar. Is she not around today? The last time

switches off

"You’re late."

hounding me after

no longer

Crossing my arms over my chest, I incline my head to the side. "Don’t deny it. I already

you, she will. You don’t call

did you meet her? Did she also convince you to go down this rabbit hole of revenge the same way you convinced me to go after the family that was connected to the death of my

didn’t already have plans in place to exact your revenge one way or another. If I hadn’t stepped in to steer you correctly, you’d have been caught long ago by the Rollins family and maybe your body would have been pulled out of a bridge leagues from here."

uncover the undiluted truth about my parents’ death. I wanted to shine some light on some discrepancies between the facts of that night and the story told by the Rollins’ family. I wanted them apprehended if they were guilty. I NEVER intended to hurt them outside the confines of the law. That was all your idea, and Skylar’s apparently. And now when I choose to back out of this ridiculous revenge scheme, you two are conniving to use me as a scapegoat. How are you any less guilty of the very same thing you’re accusing other people for? You’re lying, manipulating and stomping on others because

"SHUT UP!"

rush out and panic seeing blood dripping from his tightened fist. "I didn’t call you here to question me. I don’t need a moral compass, Demi. Save your lectures for that rotten family.

to tend to his hand, grabs the towel from her and wipes the blood himself. I struggle to calm my beating heart.

me by the tail of my hair and pulls me down

hurting

You wanted to see Skylar, right? Well, I’ve got another guest you’d like to meet even more." He shoves me head first into a dimly lit room with a single,

before hitting a switch. The room is instantly blinded by bright light. When my eyes adjust, a man is roughly tied up like an animal to be slaughtered. His

been through that makes him barely recognizable, I instantly deduce his identity. That

cradle his head. I deduce as much because I am certain that he was the only brother noticeably absent before I left the Rollins mansion. Tears blur his eyes as

glare up at Liam. "How could you, Liam? You had no right! Even if you have a bone to pick with him or his family, there are proper

to untie the ropes but get warned

How could you defend the same people who had you tied up in their mansion for almost two days, Demi?

you know that?" Then it clicks. "Halle

and even the HQ. If they ever tried to

go, please. He

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