Four Brothers and a Bride

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."

I assure Anna that she’s got nothing to worry about before leaving her restaurant. On the way to Liam, I make a

you have to say about your family’s crimes that are coming to

for

you going to stick by your husband in these trying times or

squint as the cameras continue

of this moment, Mr. Ashley Rollins and I are officially divorced. You can just call me Demi or Ms. Branson. Thank

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

baby a while

in anyway by the death of your parents at the

Ms. Branson, can you ever forgive them? Did you

have parted ways. That’s all I have to

plow through the wall of limbs and cameras because they wouldn’t let

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 we had spoken, she had used Liam’s phone

switches off

"You’re late."

media won’t stop hounding me after I announced my

no longer fettered

arms over my chest, I incline my head to the side. "Don’t deny it. I already spoke with her over the phone. In fact, she and I have been formally introduced once. Where is she?

wants to see you,

throat. "When 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

lie is that? You stand there and make it appear like you 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

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 you feel you’re entitled to. THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT GOT THE ROLLINS FAMILY

"SHUT UP!"

shatters the glass in his hand. Some of his domestic staff 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

from her and wipes the blood

he grabs me by the tail of my hair and pulls me down to the

you’re hurting me. Please,

up. 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, flickering light bulb in the middle. Someone groans in pain, startling me. I get on all fours and try to make sense

room is instantly blinded by bright light. When my eyes adjust, a man is roughly tied up like an animal to be slaughtered. His face is swollen, bruised and bloodied. His lip is cracked open. His eyes have dark patches as a

I instantly deduce his identity. That lush gold mane

am certain that he was the only brother noticeably absent before I left the Rollins mansion. Tears

Liam. "How could you, Liam? You had no right! Even if you have a bone to pick with him

ropes

familiar, right? Don’t think I didn’t see the welts on your wrist. How could you defend the same people who had you tied up in their mansion

you know that?" Then it clicks. "Halle told

you’re underestimating me. You really think Halle is my only source? I have eyes all over that mansion and even the HQ. If they ever tried to get rid of my moles, their empires will crumble faster than it already

go, please. He