Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 44: Chapter 44

ASHAL

"Cool ride." | sputter when | see the red, spanking new Lexus RX 350 that graces the driveway with a bow on it.

Ashton leans on the bumper while Demi stands next to me, a contemplative hand on her chin. "This is beautiful,

Demi. Go for it. | can totally see you behind the wheel."

Demi tosses her hair back and circles the car. Ashton and | know she has no idea what to look out for in a new

car but Demi likes to pretend she does so we humor her and watch in silence.

“I don't like it."

"What?" Ashton leaps off the car like the new paint isn’t dried yet and goes over to Demi. "Demi, this is the fifth

car I've shown you in a week. You said you wanted a simple car. You rejected the previous ones for silly reasons;

the lack of a cupholder, the advanced technology of the car, the way the tires looked and the way the car keys

felt in your hands. What could possibly be wrong with this one now?"

Ashton is at his wits end. | have no idea why Demi is punishing him like this but it is funny to watch.

"Those were all valid reasons in my book!" Demi insists with a scowl.

Ashton calms himself by sucking in a breath. "Fine. What's wrong with this one now?"

With her hands on her waist, Demi jerks her chin towards the car. "I don't like the way the engine sounds when

you start the car."

"OH, FOR GOODNESS’ SAKE..." Ashton throws his hands up in the air but Demi maintains her stance. | quickly

pull my frustrated brother aside and grab his shoulder while he glares icily at Demi. "She's toying with me. |

know it."

"Yes, it's as plain as the nose on my face. What exactly did you do this time? C'mon, tell me."

He hisses a breath and shakes his head. "I blocked her number, okay. | was pissed. | didn’t mean to. She's been

mad atever since. Mother wants to gift Demi a car but instead of coming over to the showroom and

choosing herself or picking one from the pictures | send her, she insists | bring them down here one after the

other till she finds "the one’." He ends his explanation with air quotes around the last two words.

I stifle the urge to laugh. Then head over to Demi to repeat the therapy session.

"Simply because | don’t know much about cars beyond their fancy names doesn’t mean | don’t know what | like

about them. | want to find the perfect car for me." She explains herself with her mouth curved in a petulant air

and hands akimbo.

"YOU SAID YOU WEREN'T PICKY" Ashton counters her behind me. Then mimicking Demi’s voice, he goes "I'll be

fine with whatever | get. Those were your words!"

"Fine being the operative word. The cars I've looked at so far haven't been fine by me!"

"Ok, calm down, Demi. Don’t mind him. He's being silly, not you."

"Thank you."

"How about you and | go over to the showroom and do swindow shopping. There are more cars over there

and I'm certain you'll find ‘the one’ among them, especially withby your side." Demi eyes twinkle with

suspicion.

"You're not doing this because you think | am being silly and you want to help your brother out of a tough

situation, are you?"

"Of course not. I've been thinking of getting a new car myself. Yeah, Out with the old and in with the new, right? |

want something new and different for the new phase of my life that | am stepping into. | guess we could just

shop for our cars together." | genuinely mean that. | am thinking of getting a new car with more swag than |

usually go for. Demi smiles.

"In that case, | think it’s a lovely idea. After we both get our cars, can you whiskaway for rest of the day? My

friend’s out of town and my cousin just got a job. Can we spend the day playing games at your penthouse? |

thought it was cool the last t| was there, even though | was dragged and threatened." She chuckles while my

body stiffens. "Ashal? Did you hear me?"

| shake my head. "Oh, um, sorry. My penthouse is off limits. Quads only." She grabs my arm as | try to move

away.

"C'mon. | literally have no friends..."

"THEN MAKE SOME." My sharp tone shocks Demi as she steps back. Ashton’s hand on my shoulder douses the

anger in my eyes. "I'm sorry." | quickly spit out. "I didn’t mean to be rude but my penthouse is like a play pen for

my brothers and | exclusively. It’s always been that way. I'm sure you and | can hang out someplace else." | hope

my smile is natural and alluring.

Ashton perceives the situation and weighs in. "Sorry Demi, | broke the rules by dragging you there back then but

the penthouse is actually a girl free zone." He edges close to Demi and whispers into her ear. Her eyes dilate at

his words. Smirking, Ashton tugsaway, leaving Demi baffled.

| gnash my teeth thinking | handled that situation poorly. "Why is she suddenly interested in visiting my

penthouse? How long do you think | can stall her for before she gets suspicious?" Ashton squeezes my shoulders

to calm me.

"Calm down, bro. You're overthinking it. She just made a harmless suggestion. I'm sure there isn't much to it.

Deny her as many times as she asks and she’ll get used to it like she has gotten used to staying away from the

groom."

We cross the small flight of steps into the mansion.

"| was reminded of the text she had gotten from Olivia. Do you think they might still be in contact? What if she

knows about Olivia staying in my penthouse?"

"I doubt it. Look, we only saw one text and it was the one where Olivia invited Demi to the penthouse. You

deleted it before Demi could see it. That was weeks ago. If Demi actually knew about the penthouse, she would

have brought this up a while back, don’t you think? Besides, | was crystal clear with Olivia. She wouldn't risk her

life and that of her family. She knows Demi can’t really help her. My bet is she was just trying to get the poor girl

in trouble with our family by making her raise questions that will unsettle everyone."

That makes sense. What could Demi possibly do for Olivia anyway? | guess | am overthinking it. It's Saturday and

since | don’t have any work, my mind is wandering again.

"Did you really mean what you said about changing your Mercedes?

| give him a shrug. "I think it’s about time."

Ashton’s smile splatters across his face. "I think | know the best car for you."

| chuckle at his confidence. "I bet you said the sthing to Demi. Five cars later and you're pulling your hair

out." I laugh at him.

"Haha, very funny." He replies.

Throughout the day, | can’t seem to get it out of my head that Demi still harbors suspicions over my reaction

earlier even though she does nothing to bolster that worry. She spends the day with mother out in the garden.

Asher has barely cout of his room all day. He has been moody for sreason and it’s usually best to avoid

him whenever he’s like that. Ashton went over to the racetrack with Ashley.

After lunch, | call Lily to check on Olivia. She tellseverything is fine but Olivia seems lonely and heartbroken.

Asher’s visit flashes in my head. It got Olivia’s emotions all confused.

"Take care of her. I'll csee her this evening. You can let her know." When | hang up the phone, I turn to find

father watchingby stairs. He has an impatient look in his eyes.

"Father. | didn’t see you there." He says nothing but continues to pinwith his uncomfortable stare. "Can |

help you with something?

"Was that about Olivia?"

| square my shoulders and meet his eyes firmly. "Yes. | was calling to check on my wife." | know how much he

loathes hearingcall Olivia my wife. Still, | never fail to remind him since he conveniently likes to forget it and

talks about her like she’s no more than a sore pain in the family’s collective butt. True to form, father presses a

hand to his eyes.

"You really want to maintain that farce you call a marriage? Ashal, | am prepared to have you wed to any other

woman of your choice, one whom you can proudly show off to the world. Olivia clearly doesn’t love you. Why do

you still put up with her? It’s not like you can’t get another woman. Have you seen yourself?"

Is he being for real right now?

"And Olivia? What are your plans for her if | do agree to wed someone else?" Like | suspected, father exhales and

stares darkly at me. "That's what | thought."

| shove my phone in my pocket. Staying with Olivia is now beyond love. It’s the only way to protect her from

Brett Rollins. | walk up to father with a hint of annoyance on my face. He grits his teeth while maintaining his

stance. | know he’s wary of me.

"What do you think will happen when you getmarried to the daughter of a wealthy family and I hit her? Will

you be able to hidethen? Are you sure you can stand Rollins Enterprise being pulled into my mess and

condemned? | know exactly what you think of me, father and | don’t blyou for it. If | were in your shoes, I'd

be wary as a parent too and pretend to understand but unlike you, I'd actually care."

Father snickers. "You're right. | haven't been too caring." He runs a finger over his moustache. "I have left you to

your whims. Perhaps if | cared deeply, I'd have realized that the best help you need can only be found inside a

mental asylum or a rehab facility." He chuckles when my face pales. Now, it’s his turn to step up to me. Though

he’s a head shorter, there’s no mistaking the dangerous aura around him.

"Do you still think | should care more?"

My fingers clench into fists by my sides. Like he anticipates it, father’s eyes drop to my tightened knuckles. His

brows furrow as he raises his eyes to my face.

"The day you try to put those hands onor your mother, I'll have you put down like a rabid dog." My hands go

limp. "Now you listen toboy, you can continue with that sham of a marriage if you so please but if that

woman EVER causes any trouble that affects this family or the business, you will pay for it with your own

freedom. I'll have you carted off to a facility for as long as it takes to restore the family’s image AND fix that

problem of yours. For your sake, | hope you're right to trust that woman."

Father's words still ring in my head when | arrive my penthouse an hour later. The plans | have for Olivia haven't

changed. | still love her and envision a life with her in the mansion.

In my head, she reciprocates my love which makes it easy for her to acceptand my family. In my head, she’s

not a threat to the longevity of my family or the business. In my head, | can trust Olivia.

Before stepping out of my car, | stare up at her room and inhale deeply. With everything that’s happened over

the last couple of weeks till my proposal and Asher’s visit, | think she has had enough building blocks to make an

informed decision about which brother she can trust or have a life with. If my freedom is on the line right now, |

have to know that my dogged pursuit of Olivia is worth it. I hope to gain that clarity today.

| find Olivia cooking in the kitchen with Lily. She's wearing a colorful beach dress that brings out her green eyes.

She has the sweetest smile on her face as she hums to a soft tune in the background. Lily also chuckles at

Olivia's funny dance moves while she gives her a helping hand. For a whole minute, | imagine | have walked into

an alternate universe where Olivia is actually glad to see her husband. Her eyes track towards the door and finds