Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 188: Chapter 188

ASHAL

I’ve been having sleepless nights ever since Olivia begged me to give our relationship one more chance for the sake of our unborn baby. I wake up earlier than usual and spend hours on the treadmill, hoping to distract myself from the dilemma. I am yet to give her a response and frankly, I don’t know what to say.

She was right. There’s still a part of me that cherishes her and the memories we share from my penthouse, the days before Maddi filled my thoughts and my dreams. However, those residual feelings are nothing compared to the love which burns inside me for the first woman to accept me, flaws and all. I love Maddi now, better than I loved Olivia before. Olivia used to be my world, but now it’s Maddi.

But Liv’s words got my wheels spinning though. Is it possible that my feelings for her sister are not as deep as I imagine and merely a reflection of everything I wanted from Olivia? Could my feelings for Maddi be subject to change eventually if the circumstances differ between us?

No, I could never allow that. I love Maddi through and through, but what will Liv do if I decline her plea? Will she hurt herself and our baby? Distracted, I almost slip off the treadmill. Jumping down, I turn the machine off and dry my face with a towel just as Ashley strolls in. From the look on his face, I can tell he hoped to have some alone time in the gym.

"Trouble sleeping too?" I ask him before downing some water. He merely shrugs. The scene at the hospital comes back to me, him pulling Demi by the hand to go have a talk outside and Ashton losing focus on our discussion with Skylar afterwards.

I have no idea what is going on between the three of them but it appears to be a strong love triangle, just like the one I am having with Liv and Maddi. A thought crosses my head. Maybe my brother and I can help each other.

"Hey, that scene at the hospital between you and Demi seemed intense. I’ve noticed you getting riled up by her presence every time she shows up. Is it what I’m thinking?"

His face is smeared with a massive scowl as he looks at me. "And what is it that you’re thinking?"

"That you might not be over her?"

He grits his teeth. "I was never into her. I just wanted to have her because we were married. That’s in the past now. We’re divorced and after everything that’s been revealed about her lately, I just find it hard to stand her. I don’t know how any of you can. Fine, maybe she did save your life but guess what? That doesn’t compensate for the other atrocities she’s committed against us. How can you let your guards down around that manipulative, home wrecking..."

"Wow. Ok, dude, I get it."

I can’t believe how angry he’s getting over the mention of her name. Ironically, it reminds me of Ashton a couple of weeks back and how the tides have turned now and Ashton is playing Demi’s knight in shining armor.

Sometimes, loud emotions like this can be masking a hidden truth which in this case could mean that Ashley doesn’t totally hate Demi like he claims. Maybe he’s frustrated and hates that a part of him still fancies her despite everything that happened between them. However, I keep these thoughts to myself.

on the bench press and chugs some water. "Tell her in whatever language she understands to keep her distance from our family. She’s a bad omen.

very involved, it’s too late to cut

"What?"

even found out about our father and grandfather. Don’t you think she wants to know how everything plays out? Besides, I believe we are still going to need her."

I just don’t like having Demi around. That’s

still in

"Excuse me?"

stare. "C’mon, it seems like it. You don’t look like you’re over her and this agitation to

CASE." He yells defensively into the quiet morning. "Don’t confuse me for Ashton. He’s the one

you

swore whenever her name was uttered around him especially after you were kidnapped suddenly starts defending her before everyone. Shameful. It’s not just the classic chivalry we’ve come to know

eyes widen in shock. "You can’t just

deem it necessary to tell me. If she had been his ex-wife, I wouldn’t touch her with a ten-foot pole without pre-informing him first. It’s common courtesy. Instead, he goes about defending her in front of us even when it makes

stemming from. Ashton and Demi are secreting seeing each

to him

doing is wrong. Anyway, all I care about is that Demi not get in the way of our family’s happiness ever again. I don’t believe for a second that her intentions are pure. She’s very good at getting people to believe what she wants them to believe. She came into our family like an innocent victim of a drunken night only for us to realize she was the mastermind of a five-years long revenge plan aimed at our destruction. That’s no longer hatred; it’s an obsession and obsessions just don’t disappear overnight. She’s still hiding something and the sooner you all realize that, the better for

here I was hoping to gain some insights from him on how to handle my own problems. I dab my face with my towel, thinking about Ashton and Demi. I can imagine why they’ve kept us all in the dark about their relationship; because

was for them to go back to being at least civil with each other after the misunderstandings that occurred. I for one thought Ashton would need time to fully embrace his feelings

It must sting, terribly. Demi even spends nights at Ashton’s home? That’s...a whole other level. They’re a ring

crawl up next to her and nibble her neck. She flips over, crushing her lips to mine almost ferociously. Feeling the massive band of her

throat. "What the fuck is

last night, Madeline’s idea not mine. She figured it’d be better for me and the baby

do such a thing, not without telling me."

A HUMAN WITH EMOTIONS TOO!" The waterworks start as her eyes grow misty. "Why is it so difficult

what this is about. I LOVE YOUR SISTER. I need you to respect that. Whatever you’re trying to do...it’s only going to ruin four lives. You and I can’t be together that way. My heart yearns for

yanks off the bedsheet and climbs down. Her hair is disheveled. Her