Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 164: Chapter 164

ASHTON

"Are you sure?"

"Yes sir. I ran a deep background check on Ms. Cree and discovered a specific timeframe when she volunteered at a home for the elderly two years ago. The records show that she was particularly fond of one of the patients there. His name is Patrick Sawyer."

Chills run down my back.

Patrick Sawyer? I mumble in my head. Who is he? Is he my biological father who’s rumored to be dead? If he isn’t, how is this man related to my family? What’s his relationship with Cree? Why did he tell her those secrets? Does father know about this man?

Speaking of the devil, I jolt in surprise when father pats my shoulder. Instinctively, my informant hangs up the call.

"What’s the problem, son? Why are you so jittery?"

Son? It’s been a while since he used that term.

"Want to have a meal with us?"

I glance at my brothers and mother who beam up at me. Is father seriously being kind to me because he believes I have gotten rid of Demi, his enemy? I shrug my shoulders.

"Sure, but we’ll wait till Ashal returns. Where is he by the way?"

"I can’t reach him." Asher replies. "His phone’s turned off. Maybe he went to blow off some steam. Come on, Ashton. We can have a drink with him later. Let’s all have a late lunch." He swings an arm over my shoulder and steers me towards the dining table. "Don’t turn this down. This is the first time the family is speaking about eating together since the lid on Josh’s paternity was blown open." We both glance behind to see Ashley pulling mother and father along. "Mother’s been avoiding it for a while but because of you, she’s willing to eat as a family today. Let’s just make it through this meal without hitches. It’ll be a win in my books."

We get to the dining room and our lunch is served. Naturally, everyone is awkward at first. Mother and father eat like birds while avoiding each other’s eyes. They literally have to be reminded, prodded or coaxed to take the next spoon after swallowing. Otherwise, they space out. Asher and Ashley steer the conversation but no matter how tact they try to be, there’s no escaping the elephant in the room.

I try not to stare at Demi’s chair. It seems like ages ago when she used to join us for a meal as a whole family. A lot has changed since then and frankly, I fear that things might never go back to that point again when we felt like a formidable unit.

"Where have you been staying?" Father asks me out of the blue. My brothers almost choke on their meals. Before I can reply, mother beats me to it.

I set my son up in one of MY properties. As long as I am still alive, my boys will not be treated like orphans, you hear me? You can snatch his inheritance and shove it up your bastard’s throat in the guise of reprimanding my son. We all know you’ve just been dying to weasel your biological son in here. Go right ahead but if you stomp on the future of any of MY sons just to satisfy

the room is

sighs. "Why can’t you let go of the delusions in your head for one second

I pretended not to understand the silent cues Josh and his mother kept flaunting in my face at every opportunity. I gave you enough chances to deal with that mess without blowing up our beautiful family but what did you do? You kept seeing Kristy secretly and inviting Josh to the mansion to

"Mother, please..."

flashes her palm at Asher to

are finally going to

of them?" Father

turns to each one of us. "I have grown to expect your father to keep things from me but it hurts to realize my sons have been doing the same too. You might

You’ll be a father one day. You’ll start a family with the right woman. All of

like a fool who’s oblivious of what’s happening in her family are gone. I won’t sit back and watch you ruin everything we collectively built. I trusted you once and you failed me. I’m stepping out of the shadows to protect

children too, Barbs. Stop talking like

a heartbeat all in the name of punishing him. You disinherited a child you raised for twenty-five years; a child who was instrumental to the wealth you’re enjoying today. You threw him out in the cold and stripped him of everything he is entitled to and you call that discipline?

"Mother, that’s enough. Please."

you an inheritance. Unlike the other billionaire families in this country with heirs that didn’t work for their inheritance, you boys built this so-called empire. Right from infancy, you garnered the attention we’re

it through Ashton’s thick skull how wrong he was to doubt my love for you all. He stubbornly kept upsetting my plans because of his obsession with..." He trails off

reinstate him. You have enough resources to settle Kristy’s son. Don’t you ever take what belongs to my boys to throw into the lap of your son,

Barbara.

went

replies, smiling when Asher kisses her knuckles. Before I can wallow in the euphoria of this moment, my phone buzzes with a

have our meal like a regular family without ruining this moment with

been a rare sight for weeks. Let’s not ruin it." He slides his phone

and Ashley follow

just call Ashal one more time? It’s not fair

my brother here more than anything, I’m also eager to see what else my informant has uncovered. This is the wrong time to be away from my phone. Maybe Kayla’s the one trying to reach me with info on my sister or maybe

"Fine. Call him."