Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 168: Chapter 168

DEMI

"What was that?" Anna lashes out the minute Ashton leaves. She chucks the rag on the table and folds her hands across her shoulder with a stern look on her face. "What was all that about, Demi? Why would you say something so insensitive to him despite knowing everything he’s going through?

"Stay out of it, Anna." I move to stow the dress in her bedroom but she follows me.

"What exactly is going on with you, Demi? You’re being weird! Ashton was literally worried sick about you when you went missing shortly after returning to Danvarr. I thought you agreed to let bygones be bygones, to forgive and move on with your life and leave. Why are you back with this grudge and quest for revenge?"

I blank out her worried face as I pull the dress out of the box. What the hell was Skylar thinking when she got me this dress? There’s no way I am going to Ashton’s birthday party half-naked.

"I am talking to you, Demi."

I roll my eyes before turning to Anna. "Fine. You want to know where I was after I returned to Danvarr? Take a wild guess, Anna. I was stripped of all forms of communication. I was locked in a room in a very big mansion and tied to a bedpost. I couldn’t even speak because I had a gag over my mouth."

I huffed out a breath. "I tried so hard to forgive that family and everything they have done to hurt me. I tried to be the bigger person and take the high road but what did I get? They snatched me from the airport and tied me up like a petty criminal in their mansion just to force me to stop exposing them. How many more crimes can I forgive? When will they learn, Anna?"

When Anna tries to console me, I move away from her. My eyes sting with tears because of the frustration I am feeling over Ashal’s condition and my inability to tell Anna the truth. I wish I could confide in her without jeopardizing my plans. I am sick of acting this way even with her.

"I didn’t know that and I am deeply sorry that happened to you." She replies.

I turn around so she doesn’t see the tears threatening to fall. "I think it was for the best. I was starting to believe that family deserved to be spared but clearly, they’re irredeemable. They’ll only continue to hurt more people. Someone has to clip their wings and remind them that they’re not invincible."

Anna wheels me around to face her. "Demi, you had nothing to do with Ashal’s condition, right? I agree that Brett Rollins’ family isn’t a model one but we already established that you are going to let the law run its course. Look me dead in the eyes and tell me Ashal’s condition is all Liam and you had nothing to do with it."

There’s something in Anna’s eyes that simultaneously communicates fear and a warning. She is afraid that I may not be the woman she defended to Asher and she’s subtly warning me that things may not remain the same between us if I have soiled my hands by hurting Ashal.

"And if I had something to do with it? I ask her brazenly, and stupidly. "What then, huh?"

Her hands slip from my shoulders. She edges backward with a pained expression. "Demi, please! Cut it out. I can clearly see how much you’re hurting. Why are you putting up this act even in front of me? Don’t you trust me anymore or did Liam threaten you to secrecy?"

The timing couldn’t have been worse for a single tear to flow down my cheek. Before I can swipe it off, Anna beats me to it. She pulls me into her arms.

"I’m not going to force you to share if you don’t want to. I just want you to know that you’re not alone. No matter how stuck you might feel, I’ll always be here for you." She pats my back gently and when she hears my sniffles, her arms tighten around me. "Don’t cry. I’m sure you have a good reason for shutting me out and I am sure that whatever Liam’s doing, it won’t break you. You’ve been through hell and back. Everything will be okay."

I press my eyes shut and try to see that future. It used to seem so close even while I was in the Rollins mansion. Now that I am out and free from the marriage bond, I can’t even picture it anymore. Every day, things seem to take a turn for the worst in my life. Nothing’s gone right for me in a very long while.

I pull back and keep my head low. "I wasn’t lying. Ashal got hurt because of me. Liam was trying to prove a point."

"You can’t blame yourself for his willful actions." She counters me. "Don’t let him get into your head like that. I’m sure he’s trying to absolve himself of the blame by making you the culprit." She gnashes her teeth. "I can’t believe he turned on you like that. He was literally like a big brother. I trusted his intentions were noble but all this time it’s been a lie? He was basically using you to fulfil his selfish revenge."

I stare at Anna deadpan. "Sometimes to fight the devil, you might have to become one. There’s no other way to deal with pompous billionaires that treat the rest of the world as their doormat. Maybe Liam hasn’t lost his way. Maybe he’s only doing all that’s necessary to put an end to the toxicity of the Rollins’ clan and after that, he’d be back to the guy we used to know. Have you thought about it like that?"

course, I don’t believe that Liam is putting on a show just to have his

not going to run into the same pitfalls as them, and that when I am done giving everyone what they deserve,

knock on the door draws our attention. Whoever is behind it seems to be in need of urgent

is behind the door is likely here for me, I choose to get it myself. My eyes almost double in size when I check

"Madeline?"

***

she brushes past me, wringing her hands worriedly. She even ignores the seat Anna offers her after they

can’t find Ashal. I know he’s missing, Demi. He stopped by my new house to see me...to see my sister I mean. She’s carrying his child." She winces at the irony of the last bit and avoids my eyes. "Liv wasn’t happy to see him. She had been telling me about her new

"Okay, sit down Madeline."

her to the couch. Pacing, she bites her lower lip. "You have to believe me. I don’t know where she took him! She made me dash to the pharmacy to get drugs claiming Ashal was having an episode or something. I stupidly believed her but before I could return, he was gone and she wouldn’t give me a proper excuse. I know Ashal wouldn’t have left like that. At the very least, he would have returned my calls. I’ve even been to his office but there’s no word from him. I feel it in my gut that my sister isn’t telling me

Maddi. Have a seat,

and whips her head to me. "Why are you being so calm about this? The ink on your divorce papers haven’t even properly dried yet

your dear sister hostage. You spoke of him with so much venom but here you are after almost knocking down my friend’s door, worrying for the same man because you’re in love

doesn’t bother

a lot has changed." I add before pointing to the couch again. "Now, you can either sit down or leave. Your choice." I plunk down on the couch,

she recounts the story again as clearly as she

Ashal’s in some kind of danger and not just

"He

that telling her the truth will only

is fine, Madeline. I spoke with him yesterday in fact. He’s family is in dire straits right now as everyone knows. Are you really alarmed that he’s not prioritizing relationships that could potentially cause more damage to his family’s reputation? If the media gets wind of his marriage to your sister and whatever relationship you and him now share, think of the headlines. What would happen to the quiet

and rub her knees in circles. "You have to get it together, Maddi. I’ll speak to him and get him to call you back if that helps. In the meantime, go back home and stop looking for him. The last thing he needs

get him to

"I promise."

counting on you to keep your word. I just want to know he’s

she leaves. I cradle my head in my hands, momentarily

out is. I just have one thing to say. You are not going

up at her in shock.

loud and clear. You are going to lose this war to him, Demi." She takes a seat next to me and grabs my hands. "That’s because he has something you don’t. His strength lies in numbers! He’s got spies everywhere to tell him every move his targets are making. He rubs minds together with his team and they collaborate to execute their plans. You? You’re under the illusion that you

point. It’s too much for me to take everything on myself. I don’t even believe I can pull it off myself and God knows now is not the time to play hit or miss with Ashton’s life. I want him safe. I want him happy and he can’t be if his brother is harmed or his

hug and dry my eyes. I

***

I’ve found myself staying up at night, wondering if I only made your life worse and what consequences would follow if you misused that information. I’m glad you’ve chosen

reaches forward to squeeze my hands. "I’m so sorry you’ve been going through so much all alone. I promise

with shock at the revelation

She rears her head up and registers the full room; me, Madeline and my uncle on Zoom call. Anna would have been here but she had to dress up like me and

trying to take all of this in." She expels a deep breath. "Ok. Ok. I’m good. My best friend isn’t as sweet as I thought she was. It’s clear as day from that video. She literally had her own brother beaten to a bloody pulp and is on a mission to eliminate her siblings

Ashton still hasn’t replied any of my messages. The number might be unknown to him but I bet he’ll know it’s me if he reads the messages. When