Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 176: Chapter 176

ASHTON

I finally get a moment to pull away from Monaco to get a breather. Talk about a woman being intense! I take the elevator and upon arriving on the first floor, I overhear Ashal’s conversation drifting through the balcony. When I look, he is indeed talking to Olivia. Mother stands behind a wall, eavesdropping with nervousness splattered all over her face.

"Hey."

But she shushes me. I pull her away to the piano room.

"What are you doing, mother?"

"I don’ know how to face her. Nothing I can say or do now will strike her as genuine. She already accused me of pretending to care because of my grandchild in her womb, when I had someone bring her upstairs to rest."

I rub her shoulders reassuringly. "It’s going to be okay. Remember, we always knew this was going to be hard. It’ll take time to win their trust again. The most important thing is that you don’t stop trying." I pull her in for a hug. "Have you thought about Madeline, the sister Ashal is madly in love with? How does that make you feel?"

She pulls back with an easy smile on her face. "As much as it was unexpected, I can’t help but love her too. Have you seen the way she looks at your brother? I prayed for years for Olivia to have that look in her eyes for Ashal. Maddie truly loves him. She doesn’t see a monster or a sick man. She sees a diamond in the rough and is willingly to help shape it into something more beautiful. Ashal is himself around her. He feels SEEN for once. This is the happiest and most peaceful I have ever seen him and it’s all because of Maddie. I am happy for them."

"And father?"

"He’s beginning to have an open mind lately. What other choice does he have? He saw Asher cozying up to Anna and didn’t feel the need to question it. I think he’s slowly giving up on matchmaking his sons to billionaire heiresses."

"Probably because he knows none of those families are eager to arrange a marriage to us right now."

Her smile is thin as she looks up at me. "Your happiness is now his true priority." Her hands curve over my chin. "Ashley’s taking a break from relationships to rediscover himself. What’s your excuse for flying solo?"

An uneasy laugh escapes my lips as I ease away from her and run a finger over the white piano keys. "My feelings are on par with Ashley’s. I don’t even want to think about that for a long while. I’ve got more important things to worry about."

"Ashton, I know what a turmoil this period has been for you but I want you to remember that it took a lot of team effort for us to be here tonight, smiling and not crying. It’s high time you stop torturing yourself with guilt and move on."

Before I know what is happening, she’s grabbing my wrist. "I don’t want you slipping back into your old ways. That always happens when you shut the world out. Please, I want you happy and in love. Those were some of your best moments..." Then in a whisper, "...when Demi was here."

What? The mention of Demi surprises me as I yank my wrist free. What is up with everybody and why are they constantly trying to push her in my face? Don’t they know how hard I worked to resent her? How could they turn around now and serenade her every chance they get? Who’s next? Father?

"Please mother, I really don’t want to talk about all this. We have a company to resurrect and an image to redeem. There’s enough on my plate as it is." Then because I can’t help myself, "By the way, what is up with all of you? Why is everyone suddenly taking Demi’s side? Have you all forgotten the events that transpired over the last week? Ashal was kidnapped and tortured, and while I understand Demi’s motivations for orchestrating that, I don’t have to be cool with it."

it

I cut her off.

joining us. He kisses mother’s forehead. "Olivia is in my bedroom. She’ll see

up. "Ok, I’ll go

you struggling to accept the truth that’s right in front of you, Ashton? Even after I narrated what truly happened

time you tap out

family’s culprit. If she had listened to me and left, Liam will not have forced her to make that call. Look Ashton, I am not saying that you two have to become friends again if you can’t handle it. I just hate the blame she’s forced to bear for something she is clearly

me that there’s more to her than meets the eye. Yes, all of that might have happened before your eyes but it could all have been part of her plan anyway; to lull

family just to go plan another surprise attack. She knows it’ll be difficult to get us so perilously close to going bankrupt and begging on our knees. She’s never going to have a better opportunity for revenge than the last couple of weeks. SHE WASN’T ACTING, Ashton. I know it. Maybe I don’t

her next move? What if none of us sees it coming and we eventually get completely destroyed? There’ll be no end to my guilt in this, because I brought her into our lives. I have to find a way to appease her once

it? What

She saved your life and I will continually be grateful for that." I hug him. Spotting Maddi, I jerk my chin

the door. That look painfully reminds me of Demi and a time when her presence quickened my

no effort in flaunting her in front of the cameras knowing what the headlines will read. Ashley and I are both on a quest of rediscovery. Too bad we were

a glass of

Randall. We don’t need

so stiff tonight? It was a great party, way less chaotic than I anticipated. I just wanted to wish

pull the right reaction you hoped to from Asher?" I chuckle lightly. "If you’re done kidding around, go find your mummy and

Monaco is engrossed in a conversation with some of

Asher calls, marching up to me. "So, father and I spoke to the victims. We’ve rescheduled the sit-down date according to their convenience. It

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yes. I’ll handle everything."

eyes momentarily stray

not coming." Asher

"What?"

Anna

relaxed a little rather than

I caught you watching the door for her appearance, the look in your eyes was hardly that of anxiety or fear. If anything, it was anticipation. Even when the crowd was awestruck by Monaco’s appearance, your eyes quickly went flat with

you quite finished? Yes, I anticipated her arrival all night but it’s nothing remotely close to the reasons

"Really?"

with my poker face. He