Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 173

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?"

leaving you like this. You’re not fooling anyone with that brave face." She reaches for the diamond

Anna. Staying back here to babysit me will only make me feel worse for ruining such

Ashton will be

go over there. I DON’T WANT TO." She must have seen the fear 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

hands tighten around me. "Are you sure you don’t want me here? I can be a fly on the

fine. Now, off you go. Have fun. I’ll keep my phone

hour for proof of life. Love you." She kisses my cheeks after I fix up her dress and hair,

deafening silence hits me like a punch in the face. The emptiness I feel swaddles me. Why do I

in the foamy water. Wouldn’t it be easier on my heart to go be with my parents? But each time

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 anything will at this

pull out a bottle of wine and a bucket of ice cream,

think better of it, I turn on the TV. The quads’ birthday is on

the sight of Ashal, safe and back with his family. The reporter teases about the

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 of

own birthday party. Apart from Ashley who just went through a divorce, what’s the update on the relationship status of

the question, Ashton beats him to it by

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.

situation around us." He gives his brothers a quick stare. "We do intend to address the rumors. In fact, we plan to run a

his head as an afterthought and congratulates them once

of my ringtone tears my eyes away from the party. I turn the TV off and instantly feel

have you been. I called

still have breath in my

Changed your mind yet?" I sense a flicker of hope in

"Nope."

guess. You’re

Are you the only ones entitled to make

it easy, Demi. I’ll be home as soon as

sound of the doorbell interrupts our

pizza’s here. 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

your invite to the party

to roll her eyes at me. "Look, I’m not here on Liam’s or

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

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

really about, Cree?" Folding my arms across my chest, I ease my butt on the wall and glare at

what Liam’s got on me, right? Why I was doing his bidding slavishly even though I had no bone to pick with the Rollins family? Well, it was never about him. It was between

"Why?"

rubbing at her eyebrows. "It’s because

"What?"

home. He was 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 grandchildren. When he does, his eyes light up. At first, I thought

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