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?"

with that brave face." She reaches for the diamond studs on her ears,

make this harder for me, Anna. Staying back here to babysit me will only make me feel worse for ruining such a beautiful day for you. You deserve to be there. Asher

be expecting

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

want me here? I can be

at her misty eyes. "I’ll be fine. Now, off you go. Have fun.

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

a punch in the face. The emptiness I feel swaddles me. Why do I feel so hollow inside even after doing what I consider ’the right

be with

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

oversized T-shirt with my hair freshly washed, I pull out a bottle of wine and a bucket of ice cream, unsure

cautions me. Curiosity gets the better of me and before I can think better of it, I turn on the

joy at the sight of Ashal, safe and back with his family. The reporter teases about the big reveal but

since we already diffused the threat. To smother the awkwardness of not getting his

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

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

this is more than just a birthday party to us. Though our personal lives are none of your business

he is afraid of 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 in order to get to the bottom of things. We’re not perfect and if our decisions and actions have caused

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 Josh,

instantly feel less

have you been. I called

still

that’s good to know. Changed your mind yet?" I sense a

"Nope."

guess. You’re drinking,

only ones entitled to make merry because you’re at a party? I’m having the time of my life here as

Demi. I’ll be home

the doorbell

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.

here? Did your invite to the

roll her eyes at me. "Look, I’m

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

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

my chest, I ease my butt on the wall and glare

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 me and

"Why?"

a breath, rubbing at her

"What?"

while back while volunteering at an Old age 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 he was just making stuff up but there were days he would cry his eyes out over the death of his precious daughter-in-law or panic