Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 14: Chapter 14

ASHER

I'm not gonna lie, Demi is one fascinating woman. | am sitting here at the dinner table, watching her babble

mom's praises like nothing happened, like she wasn't just scared shitless less than an hour ago. It's the

boisterous laughter for me. I love a woman that knows how to make smart decisions. She understands her place

now and won't dare cross the line.

Still, something bothers me. It's the fact that though she avoids meeting our eyes, she doesn't seem rattled or

scared. Even a good actress will fumble at spoint but this dinner has been the liveliest | have ever seen of

her. | glance at Ashely. He is also watching her with worry lines etched on his face.

After dinner, Demi joins mother in her room to finish up their conversation. Ashely tries to go after her but | grab

his arm and herd him to the groom.

"What's with the sappy look on your face? You looked like a lost puppy running to its owner." Ashely yanks his

arm from my grip.

"Something's wrong with Demi. | can tell. Earlier, she looked scared to death and flinched every t| took a

step close to her. Now, she's acting all hysterical."

| huff out a breath. "I have eyes too, you know. It's all good."

"Good?" Ashely barks. "I told you that was a bad idea. She's got nothing to hide but you won't drop your

suspicions." He roughly brushes pastto lean by the pool table. "Why did you makedo that to her? She

calleda freaking monster, Ash. And she's right. | am a monster for making her go through that. The way she

looked atwhen she thought | wanted to rape her..."

"Don't." | warn him.

"It's the sway | looked at Tobias when he loomed over me. | hate you for makinga monster like him."

The sharp bite of his words and the anger blazing in his eyes hithard. "You're an asshole."

"I didn't exactly force you, Ashely. If | remember correctly, | wanted to get that shit done myself but you opted to

do it instead."

"Because | don't trust you to not use unnecessary force."

Says the man who led Demi to believe she was about to be raped, | think to myself. Talk about unnecessary. | join

him by the table. He totally regrets his action. "I'm sorry okay. | should have known you're too sentimental to

execute this without your moral compass taking a blow."

"Stay away from her, okay. No more games. Don't even think of impersonatingto slide information from her. |

don't think she has ssinister plans up her sleeve | mean why the fuck would she? She simply resents our

guts, if anything. Just because she doesn't fawn over us like ninety-five percent of the women in this country

doesn't mean she is our enemy."

| want to believe him but I'll just have to see and make double sure for myself. "Take it easy now. | hear you. |

must have been wrong about her." | knead his tensed shoulders. Humor slides warm into my tone. "Now, just

how good of an actor were you that you managed to scare the Demi Branson like that? Are my brothers getting

better at playingthan me?"

Ashely doesn't indulge me. His frown remains glowing on his face.

"C'mon Ash, you're making it hard forto believe you haven't fallen in love with this woman."

"If you can't tell the difference between being humane and being in love, then that's too bad." Ashely stands and

looks around. "I need a fucking drink."

He strolls to the wall and presses a button, then orders drinks to be brought up to us. A servant appears a

minute later with Brandy and snifters. Ashely dismisses him and pours himself a quick drink. "I don't know how

I'll be able to face her with the guilt drowning me."

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"You don't have to feel guilty." | tell him. "There's a bright side to our hasty plan; you were playing me! She

doesn't suspect you; she suspects me! You have nothing to feel bad about."

"I'm afraid | might have derailed in playing you." Ashely stares dejectedly at his drink. "I might have been more

of Ashton than Asher." My eyes bulge.

"What do you mean by that?"

Our heads snap towards the doorway where Ashton stands with both thumbs hooked in the pocket of his pants.

Ashal is right next to him, a curious expression on their faces.

"Nothing." I quickly say. Ashton's eyes dim with suspicion.

"If it has my nnext to yours and | can't fathom what you're talking about, it doesn't sound like nothing." He

takes slow steps to us while Ashal trails closely behind.

We are standing with our shoulders squared now. | note that the annoyance that has been simmering in his eyes

has risen to the surface. "Let's try that again." He glances at Ashely now. "What did you mean by you might have

been more Ashton than Asher? Is this about Demi? What did you guys do?"

"Leave it, Ash." | try again. | don't like where this is going, especially with Ashton already pissed for sreason.

It's futile reasoning with him when he's fuming.

"Maybe he shouldn't. He deserves to know what you got up to behind his back." | stare blankly at Ashal. What

the fuck is his problem now? He's been acting weird since | botched his suicide attempt.

"Now what exactly is that supposed to mean?" | ask, walking up to him. Shockingly, he plants a firm stance to

rival mine. His deep gaze is confrontational. Ashal hates confrontations because they can be a trigger for him.

Tonight, he moves no muscle but stands with a silly smile on his face. He looks like a psycho killer.

"Ok, guys, cut it out." Ashely comes between us and shoves each person apart. Ashton insists on learning what

was done to Demi and demands we tell him.

"Why don't you start off by telling us where you went earlier this evening? You didn't even tell Gris. What was so

important that you kept everyone in the dark, huh?" His face hardens at my question.

Ashely shootsa scorching look. "That's enough, Asher. Don't antagonize him. You know better. Ash," he says,

turning to Ashton. "It's nothing deep. Asher was suspicious of Demi's true intentions and askedto try to

ferret sinformation from her. That's all." Ashton's heaves a breath and backs away.

Ashal chuckles. "Classic Asher, always playing people like a fiddle."

"Excuse me?"

“| didn't stutter, did I"

He's baiting me. | reel my hands backwards and slam my fist into Ashal's jaw. Blood sputters from his nose and

broken lip. Ashley and Ashton rush to help him, screaming at me.

| wipe my sweaty forehead and plant my hands on my hips. Ashal totally deserves it for ruffling my feathers but

before | can apologize, Ashal shoves our brothers so hard they fall like felled trees. Eyes wide like a madman's,

his fingers close around the brandy bottle and once in his grip, he charges towards me. Purgatory flashes before

my eyes as certain death approached.

ork

We are all in father's study, our faces crestfallen like naughty middle school children who have been called into

the principal's office.

Ashal took a longer tto wake up from his blackout, about two hours. He sits at the farthest couch from me,

nursing his throbbing head where Ashton had knocked him out with a fist.

Everything had happened so fast. In seconds, my life flashed before my eyes; everything | had done and the

ones | was yet to do. Whenever | think of dying, | imagine the cancer beating me. | have never imagined one of

my brothers being the angel of death.

| steal surreptitious glances at Ashal and he locks eyes with me. The evil in his eyes has fizzled away, leaving

remorse and shin his bluish orbs.

"You all never cease to disappoint me." Father hisses from his high chair. "I honestly thought we were past the

fights, especially with Ashal's peculiar condition. Asher, you are supposed to be the most responsible one. Yet,

you stupidly let him prey on your pride? You could have been killed!"

| want to believe father is speaking from a place of care and normally | would bask under his worry forbut

my eyes stray to Ashal instead. With his head hung low, he stares at the floor. My heart goes out to him.

"| didn't forbid the fights to stop you from bruising yourselves and making it easier for people to tell you apart, |

did it for your own safety. With Ashal's condition, it's not a fight but certain death."

Ashal sniffles. | can't imagine how he's feeling right now. He literally just attempted suicide days ago. Being

addressed as a monster will take a toll on his mental health.

"Dad, please." | interrupt, rising to my feet. "It's all my fault. We all had a tough day and | wasn't sensitive

enough to not escalate a hapless argument. Please, don't heap this on Ashal. We all know he isn't to blfor

his condition. | am to blfor triggering him."

With a low grunt, father turns away to make a call. We all lead Ashal to his room so he can get smore rest. |

apologize tirelessly to my brothers for the way | handled myself. Before we all retire for the night, | make a

mental note to talk to Ashal in private and get to know what is going on with him.

The next morning, | skip breakfast and head to work ahead of father. At work, | try to distract myself by studying

business trends and the silent moves being made by our biggest rival, Spellman Group to knock us off our

cherished first place position on Danvarr business rankings.

Nessa walks in, a somber expression on her face.

sir

One look at her and | know the easiest way to get my mind off things, especially as the glowing reviews on our

rival's latest community development efforts is gaining traction. | push away from my desk and range myself in

front of Nessa.

"Sir, you need to see this..."

My fingers cup her chin but the moment I lean down to kiss her, she wedges a hand between us, stopping me.

"It's urgent sir."

A knock interrupts us. Nessa moves to create a professional distance between us just as Josh walks in.

"If you're not here strictly for work-related purposes, | don't want to hear it, Josh." | circle back to my desk and

drop into my seat.

"I'm only ever here for work, Asher. | don't know what you mean." His smile grates on my nerves. "I take it you

haven't heard. That cockiness lends credence to the fact." | have no idea what he is yapping about. "I know

Spellman group is steadily working their way up the business chain but now is not the tto put Rollins Group

on the radar for..." he scrunches his nose, "...for non-business-related reasons."

"You better stop speaking in Morse code and tellwhat the fuck you mean." Josh throws a look at Nessa who

dips her eyes with an embarrassed hue on her cheeks. | don't get the weird energy in this office right now.

Josh taps his phone and then passes it to me. | take one look and my blood chills. It's the fucking video of Anna

and | kissing, all zoomed close, on Billion-Err.

My eyes dip to the article that's been viewed by over a million people and garnered a over fifty thousand

comments. Billion-Err calls out my family, accusingand brothers of being shameless. The article hints that

Ashely is a serial flirt and possible adulterer.

Demi is also dragged for her pathetic choice of a partner and challenged to quell the cheating rumors by proving

within forty-eight hours that she can distinguish her husband Ashely from the rest of us. She is also tasked with

exposing which brother is in the video. Else, it would be assumed that she is sleeping with all four of us.

"What the fuck is this?"

Josh snatches his phone. "You tell me. Look, | don't care what you and your brothers get up to. Frankly, nobody

does but if you're going to indulge yourselves, try to be discreet so your actions don't cback to haunt this

company and bite us all in the ass." He storms out after glaring at me.

Nessa's face is at the verge of tears but she shows admirable restraint, puts up a brave look before leaving for

her desk. | ignore the calls coming through and hurry out. The entire office stares atas | make my way to

father's office. Josh is already by his side. They both turn to look atas | enter.

"Dad..."

Father slams the iPad in his hand on the floor. "Find your brothers and go clean up this mess! Now!"

The image of Josh smirking by father's side makes my head throb. On my way home, while zipping through the

highway, | smile darkly. This is all the proof | need. Demi is not so innocent after all. She's the only one | sent that

video to. If Billion-Err has it, then it can only mean Demi intentionally sent it to them. But why? She must have

known that it will reflect badly on her too. The tagline of the article flashes through my mind. I also recall

Ashely's little bedroom performance.

"Demi, you're one sneaky bitch." | blurt out before pounding on my horn to clear my path. Demi is smart. I'll give

it to her. She used my own move to corner my brothers and I into revealing our distinguishing features. Maybe

it's tshe feels a few thorns like the other daughter-in-law of the Rollins family. Obviously, Demi has been

pampered too much. She needs to be taught a lesson. As | pull up in front of the mansion, | change my plans and

take a cue from her. As | step out of the car, | maintain a calm demeanor before walking in.

Mom, Demi and my brothers are in the drawing room on the first floor. Demi is working hard to play the hurt

wife.

"You all promised this wouldn't happen. You promised to treat her with respect. How could you be careless

enough to go back to that stigmatic Blue Cove. And worse still, you openly kissed her best friend knowing Demi

is married into this family. Do you not see how bad this looks?" Mum sinks into her seat and blows out a

frustrated air. Ashal goes to her, mutters placatingly. | watch Demi. She meets my eyes and holds my gaze firmly.

"I'm sorry mom. It's all my fault. | didn't realize we were being filmed. Demi, my deepest apologies. It was a spur

of the moment thing between Anna and I. | shouldn't have let it happen. I'll fix this."

"How?" Mom asks. "Everyone wants to know how Demi can differentiate Ashely from the rest of you. Will you do

that?"

| sigh deeply. "We have no choice. We can't let this fester for a day longer."

Demi glances atas | crouch by her feet. This is where | plant seeds of doubt in her head that | didn't send her

the video or plan to use Anna from the outset. | need to buy more time. "I'll handle the PR. This matter will be

doused by nightfall. I'm sorry, okay. | didn't set out to embarrass you like this."

| know just how to pacify the people. They want to be able to tell us apart, I'll throw a bone at them to nibble on

while | go fry bigger fish. Demi gets a call on her phone from Anna. Perfect timing. | rise as she excuses herself to

go take it by the piano. | know exactly what this call is about. When Demi turns to us, | have already schooled my

face to be blank. Her red eyes say it all. Donna has fired that bitch like I instructed on the way here. | turn to hide

the smirk on my face.

"Mom, I'll just make a quick call. I'll be right back."

Down the hall, | turn into an empty guest room and shut the door behind me. The number | asked for has been

forwarded. | dial it and wait while it rings.

"Hello?" A voice drawls.

"Hi. Is this Iman Burke, Demi Branson's ex?

Pause. "Who the fuck wants to know?" My lips curl in a smile.

"Someone who is about to make you very rich and help you get back at your ex, all with one move."

"Keep talking."