Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 171: Chapter 171

ASHAL

I have been slipping in and out of consciousness all day. Each time my eyelids fluttered open amidst my drowsiness, Skylar was either walking away after leaving me some food or after replacing my bandages with fresh ones. I struggled to keep my eyes open each time because I wanted to get a better look at her face. She has the cutest freckles I have seen and up close, her blonde hair has tints of grey at the tips.

I bat my eyelids open again after what seems to be hours of sleep and realize I am in a proper room, and on a bed. The lights are turned on low. From a small window, I can see dusk on the horizon. With some effort and a stab of pain shooting up my spine, I heft myself into a sitting position. I ignore the fact that my right hand is handcuffed to the bed and concentrate on the window, and the balmy breeze whistling outside.

How long have I been away from my family? Has my birthday passed or not? My memory keeps getting all jumbled up because of the stuff they kept injecting into my bloodstream through syringes while I was in the basement. Though it helped numb the pain all over my body for a few hours, I hope all that is over now.

My mind drifts to my family and how they must be coping. How’s mother holding up? I wish I could assure her that I am okay. I wish I could calm her nerves. And my brothers? I hope they’re being strong.

I’m certain father is holding up well. He must blame me for being gullible and visiting the same family he tried to warn me against. Anyway, I can’t deny how right he was. I shouldn’t have gone to see Maddi just to escape from my thoughts being haunted by Demi’s words about my sister.

It’s terribly ironical that the same sister is now punishing me. Why though? Why does she hate my brothers and I so much? Did someone poison her heart towards us during her childhood? I don’t just get it.

Though hearing about her existence felt like a lie at first, my brothers and I have been thrilled at the discovery. We’ve looked forward to spoiling our baby sister with all the good things if life she never had as a child. We’ve mapped out strategies to keep her safe. We’ve loved her from a distance without necessarily knowing the full story about her so why is the feeling not mutual when it comes to Skylar? Why does she bear a toxic grudge against us that’s so strong she’s prepared to end my life without batting an eye?

A small movement in the shadows tell me that I am not alone. I blink severally, trying to make out the silhouette of a person standing by the door, watching me intently. Something about the stillness and the grim stance gives off a coldness that I have come to associate with my estranged sister.

"Are you just going to stand there? Come forward, Sky. I also have a lot to get off my chest."

She flicks on the light to a higher setting, revealing herself. She’s not by the door after all, but lounging on the chair close to it. Her legs are crossed. Her eyes are frosty. She inclines her head with a slight curve of her mouth.

"Tell me," I begin, propping my back up against the bed frame. "What’s on your mind."

"Call me Sky again and you won’t live to find out."

Though she literally just threatened my life, I can’t help but stifle a smile. "I’m sorry."

She scoffs at that.

"May I call you Skylar?"

She gets on her feet but doesn’t take a step forward. "No, just shut up and go back to sleep before you piss me off enough to lure Ashley to join you here." She sucks in her teeth. "It’s amazing how much the Rollins quads care for each other without giving a flying fuck about others. I called him from your phone while you were knocked out, you see. Even though he knew it was likely a trap, he was prepared to come meet me. Can you imagine the sentimental buffoon?" She cackles loudly.

"He wasn’t necessarily coming for me. It’s you he wanted to see." I explain Ashley to her as I realize my brothers must be aware of Skylar’s true identity. Skylar isn’t touched by the import of my words.

"Oh, he’ll see me really soon but it’s not going to be the reunion he’s hoping for."

existence a couple months back but we were thrilled about the change, about having a little sister. You seem to have known about us all your life and yet all you feel

turns to me. "How did you come to find out

not what I expected she’d pick up from everything I just said. Her curious eyes darken to suspicion as she approaches

"HOW???"

sister. This was shortly after we learnt about our adoption. The stranger kept leaving us

a guy there, Keith. The rest is history,

He wouldn’t..." she shakes

face. I don’t know why he did that to us despite our best intentions or why you..." I trail off when she bursts into a laugh. She cackles for a bit but when

You lie so smoothly. You almost had me

are you talking

entire nation loathes your family right now? You don’t know

more upset with how confused I look. My mind is racing. Lily? Lily is a part of this? Even Halle, our domestic staff at the mansion? My heart skips with fear. Mother trusts Halle blindly. Who knows what Halle’s been up to this whole time. But the growing list

the proof I need to know that though you might look like the man who fathered me, you’re NOT

who raised you is vengeful and vile because that’s all I’ve seen from

mouth! You’ll not speak of my

my left hand. "God, you punch really well for a

I get it. She

for it, aren’t you?" She surges to her feet and stomps

you never tried to reach out or to tell us the truth about our real parents. Still, you hate us because of the man who raised us. You blame us for things we knew nothing about." I struggle to sit up straight and instantly regret it when a riot of painful sensations make themselves known

were reversed and you had been taken from us in your infancy, we’d go to the ends of the earth to find and bring you back. We wouldn’t blame you for not having a choice as a baby. We wouldn’t ’punish’ you because you loved and trusted the only family you’ve ever known. All that will matter is that we have the

Isn’t that what she’s been

I told him his sons died the night they were taken." She mutters through gritted teeth. "I told him it was useless pining for you bastards!" Tears shimmer in

You’re the only child he should have been focused on and not the ones he lost." Her eyes flash at me as though I

these years while mourning the loss of his sons? Is that part of

giving you hugs after years of our separation? Because I don’t consider myself as having siblings. You are all dead to me! That blood means nothing when your entire

you shouldn’t have dragged us into this fight. You only blew the lid off your secret life and the relationship we share. Now, you can’t go back to being unknown

the door is followed by Olivia walking in. Skylar gives her a quick

"You’re early."

"I need to clear up a few things with him. It’s of a personal nature." She closes a hand

Whatever emotion I almost pulled from her with my

hiding. I’ve been doing that my whole life but you know what I’m even better at? It’s giving my enemies the idea that I am not that big of a threat. They fall for it every time, dismissing me as weak." She chuckles. "You think I don’t know about the fake neighbors your parents hired to keep watch on Liam’s house or the moves Demi has been making

all figured out right now or the way Demi thinks I lack the heart to truly take your life." She retreats towards the door without taking her eyes off me, then stands next to Olivia. "People continue to

The glasses inside the house were to

the fake belly

an hour ago and she’s out of town. She never visits my prisoner without informing me first." She whacks Maddi in the face,