Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 173: Chapter 173

DEMI

"What do you mean you’re not going?" Anna reiterates my words in shock.

"Exactly that. Ashal is back to his family. Skylar’s been stopped. Liam is...well royally pissed at me but what else is new?" I shove what was supposed to be my dress back into the closet and shut the door. "Skylar was the one who was forcing me to attend the party. I have no reason to go there much less as Ashton’s date. I’ve had enough embarrassments to last me a lifetime. No need to add to the long list."

Saying nothing, my best friend drops on the closest couch and stares intently at me while I fuss round the dresser, tidying up.

"So, you believe you’ve played your part in assuaging your guilt and your mission to stop Liam is complete?"

"It appears so." I try to grab my phone off the bedside drawer and knock it down accidentally. Anna arches her eyebrows at me.

"You seem a little disoriented, don’t you think?"

"It’s not polite to stare, Anna." I snap back.

"I just don’t understand why you’d ask me, Kat and Maddox to go to the party when you weren’t planning on attending yourself."

"I know you want to be there, to see Asher." She doesn’t even try to deny it. "I’m sure he’s still Asher but I can feel something simmering beneath the surface. Can’t put a name on it yet but for the first time, I’m starting to think he isn’t...completely hopeless. As for Kat and her brother, they’re fans of the quads and would secretly loathe me if I didn’t smuggle them into a high-profile party like that."

Anna chooses to be understanding.

"Ok. I get it. They’ll be expecting you though. What do I say?"

"Keep them expectant till they figure out later that I am a no-show."

She inhales deeply, staring at me with warmth in her eyes. "So, what’s next for Demi Branson?"

What’s next? If only I had the foggiest idea. I give her a thin smile before going into the bathroom to fend off the tears. The last time I felt this empty and clueless about my life was when I lost my parents. I feel like I am dropping head first into a bottomless pit, too emotionally drained to scream for help. I slide to the floor of the bathroom, press my hands to my lips to stifle the moan of pain as misery overwhelms me.

"Hey, are you okay in there?" Anna calls, knocking softly.

"Yeah, I just need a minute." I mutter, then hate how spineless I sound. Before she can insist, her doorbell chimes. I expel a breath of relief when she leaves to get the door, while half-praying that the visitor isn’t here for me. Anna doesn’t come back to me until after ten minutes. In that time, I manage to get the worst of my emotions under check.

"Hey, Demi?"

"Yeah?"

"That was Kat and Maddox. They’re off to the party."

"Why aren’t you leaving with them?"

She says nothing until I unlock the door and find her poor attempt at taking off the beautiful dress Asher sent for her. "What do you think you’re doing?" I zip her right back up and spin her towards me. "You’re going to that party! You hear me?"

this. You’re not fooling anyone with that brave face." She reaches for the diamond studs on her ears, still a gift from Asher, and grunts when

to babysit me will only make me feel worse for ruining such a beautiful day for you. You deserve to be

will be expecting

in my eyes because she pulls me into a hug that feels warm and safe. "I just need...I need some alone time. Please, I feel a bit lost and unsure of my next moves. I want to soak in the bathtub and convince myself that though it feels like I failed my parents by not avenging them, they’re still

want me here? I can be a fly on the wall while you process

be fine. Now, off

of life. Love you." She kisses my cheeks

deafening silence hits me like a punch in the face. The emptiness I

easier on my heart to go be with my parents? But each time I start choking under the water, I surge to the

here. Though it’s not at all what I envisioned the AFTER would feel like, I certainly won’t be a coward and take my own life. If all the pain I went through never drove me to the edge of that cliff, I don’t think

pull out a bottle of wine and a bucket of

do it. Don’t do it, my inside voice cautions me. Curiosity gets the better of me and before I can think better of it,

my heart thuds with joy at the sight of Ashal, safe and back with his family. The reporter teases about the big

diffused the threat. To smother the awkwardness of not getting his question answered, the reporter pushes with yet another uncomfortable question. This time, I abandon the bowl of ice cream for the bottle

least of all at their own birthday party. Apart from Ashley who just went through a divorce, what’s the update on the relationship status of the rest of the quads? Will we be seeing anymore arranged marriages or what?" Stupidly, he shoves the microphone under Asher’s mouth, nursing a big grin that

but before he can answer the question, Ashton beats him to it by swiping

reporter like you who’s privileged to have an audience with us is doing a poor job of asking the right questions. As everyone knows, this is more than just a birthday party to us. Though our personal lives are none of your business until we say otherwise, we’re the least bit concerned about flaunting women on our arms tonight. That’s not

Ashton saying something they’ll all regret. "The only reason this party was organized this way was because it was our best shot at getting the people’s attention in spite of everything going on, and not because we’re insensitive to the situation around us." He gives his brothers a quick stare. "We do intend to address the rumors. In fact, we plan to run a proper investigation of the allegations made

disappointed as the response wasn’t what he set out to stir up from them. He bobs his head as an afterthought and congratulates them once more on their birthday. He scurries off to interview Kristy Randall and

off and instantly feel less tensed

have you been.

I still have

good to know. Changed your mind yet?" I sense a flicker of hope in

"Nope."

guess. You’re

empty. "What? Are you the only ones entitled to make merry because you’re at a party? I’m having the time

be home as

sound of the doorbell interrupts

Got to go. Love you." I hang up and try not to feel bad about the lie. When the knock persists, loud and impatient, my heart skips a beat. Who could it be? Everyone I expect to come calling at this hour is at the quads’ party. I sidle to the peephole and gasp in surprise at the

invite to the party get lost in

ask you the same thing." Cree Baxter replies, struggling not to roll her eyes at me. "Look, I’m

for your versatile services?" When I start heading into the living area, she

have time to banter with you, Demi. This is personal business, one that happens to be dear to my heart." Her seriousness captures my attention but I tread cautiously with her. For all I know, she could still be here to fulfil Skylar or Liam’s instruction

Cree?" Folding my arms across my chest, I ease my butt on the wall and glare at her. Maybe this is part of the reason I’ve been feeling quite uneasy, because everything isn’t completely

bone to pick

"Why?"

a breath, rubbing at her eyebrows.

"What?"

very high-spirited, funny, bubbly. Although he struggles with Alzheimer’s, there are moments when he often shares detailed stories about his life, his children and even his