Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 182: Chapter 182

ASHLEY

I don’t understand what is happening today. My brothers and I have seen blood and a hospital room twice in under two hours, from two different women that are valuable to our family. Is this going to be the new normal? Just when I was starting to think that things were taking a turn for the better?

Doctor Ezra appears from the theatre and we all dash forward.

"How’s she?" Ashton enquires, mirroring our thoughts.

"She’ll be fine. We stopped the bleeding. Thankfully, there was no skull fracture or internal bleeding, just a mild concussion." Everyone exhales in relief.

"Thank you." Asher tells the doctor. Doctor Ezra nods his head while glancing meaningfully at each of us.

"I don’t mean to pry but I couldn’t help but notice some striking features between the patient and you guys. I want to believe I have been introduced to all members of your family but that woman...how is she related to you, if you don’t mind me asking of course."

Asher pulls a straight face. "You’re right. She’s indeed a relative, one you haven’t met. I hope the next time I make a proper introduction would be under more favorable circumstances. In the meantime, I trust I can count on your discretion?"

"Of course." The doctor replies, bobbing his head. He gives us a paternal smile before walking away. When I follow his brisk steps down the hallway, I spot Demi taking cautious steps towards us. Her head hangs low and a contrite expression is smeared across her face.

I haven’t seen her in a while. The only thing I recall right now as she edges closer is how she played games with my family only to change her mind when her plan went south, and pretend to save Ashal’s life. I don’t trust her. She must have pushed Skylar down the stairs.

"You’ve got some nerve coming here, you know that?" I spit angrily, ambling towards her with clenched fists. My brothers all turn at my outburst. When I draw closer, I realize there are tears in her eyes but they only serve to rile me up even further. She’s such a drama queen. Does she really expect us to fall for the act?

Yanking her wrist, I push her away.

"GET LOST OR I’LL PRESS CHARGES!" I warn her with sizzling eyes.

Ashton appears next to me. "Hey, calm down."

"Don’t ask me to calm down. This she-devil tried to kill our sister days after she had Ashal kidnapped and assaulted."

"That’s not true." Demi counters me. At her defense, I slide a burning look towards her.

"You’ll do well to shut the fuck up when I am talking to my family."

"Ashley, that’s enough." Ashton warns me.

"Whose side are you on? Have you forgotten so soon all she did to us in the last few weeks?"

Ashal comes to pat my shoulder. "Don’t be like this, Ashley. I told you what happened. Demi was also a victim."

"To hell with that!" I rebut him, shoving his hand off my shoulder. "Who got the ball rolling in the first place? She worked with Liam. She’s been plotting our ruination even before she stepped foot into our home. Asher always had a hunch that she was a bad omen for our family and it turned out to be the truth. Every time we’re in a crisis, guess which stranger is always in the picture: DEMI! Look at the state our sister is in. We literally just found her and this woman was already plotting to take her life."

Ashton ranges himself in front of me when I try to reach for Demi who is fake crying.

what they seem. She didn’t mean

back on Ashton. What the hell is he doing taking her

even want to hear her name uttered around you and now you’re defending her?" Eyes ablaze with disappointment and rage, I turn to Demi. "You finally sunk your fangs into

cautions me to my disbelief. "This is a hospital, remember? We can hash this out some other time but right now, our baby sister needs us. I’m going to see her. You guys should come

to go check on our sister. Ashal joins him. I wait for Ashton to leave but he continues to

I’d like to speak

by a gentleman for an ostensibly helpless woman; this

sense of jealousy and betrayal, dismissing the possibility that both of them could hook up so soon after my divorce was finalized. If that was the case, Ashton would definitely have told me. Hence, I decide not to read

Ashton. What do you think I’m going to do to her in a public place like this?

the far end of the hall,

to. There’s a reasonable distance between them yet the wheels of my

dismiss the unpleasant imagination. Yes, Demi and I are divorced for almost two months now. Yes, she’s free to do whatever she wants with her

with everything she’s done to my family, I don’t think Ashton still looks at her the same. I bet he was just being his normal self and

It’s clear she’s very uncomfortable being surrounded and nursed by the very people she had tried to hurt. Though her eyes look tired, it also manages to convey pain and anger over her plight. I take one look at her and

gritted teeth, knocking down the water Ashal tries to give her. "Stay away from me, ALL OF YOU." Tears

Ashal thanks the nurse who hastens to clean the mess. He sits at the corner

case,

him. The rest

or baby sister?" He goes for her hand in a flash but she wrenches it free and calls

are you feeling,

"What?"

find a way to make it

big toe to her horror. "Of course, we can have it redecorated if

Ashal’s hand when he tries to scoop a stray hair out of her face. Our humor dies when tears stream down her face. "You’re mocking me,

Sky, that’s not what’s happening

breath,

don’t cry. You just came out of surgery." Ashal exchanges worried glances with the rest of us as Skylar continues to bawl her eyes out like

were just being playful to ease the tension you must be feeling. They are

the sound of Demi’s voice,

I brayed for your blood essentially and you expect me to believe you don’t

continues, ignoring her annoyed face at the nickname he keeps using. "You’re our baby sister, and God knows we always wanted one.

to be understanding as we navigate this phase of getting to know each other. We just

eyes has slowly faded to something akin to remorse. When I take her hand, she doesn’t

a wholesome family again. Look at us. There’s no mistaking that we’re blood. We’re family. Please Sky, give us a chance to make up for lost time, to love and cherish you four times over. You have four

single tear that tries to fall

for a hug, her head in range with his stomach. Though her arms

rocks her

until it’s

leave? I don’t

"What’s wrong?" Ashal asks.

shakes her head. "I feel she’s two-faced and very skilled at getting people to believe what she wants them to