Four Brothers and a Bride-Chapter 154

DEMI

"Are you really the quad’s sister?" I ask the cheeky lady on the other end of Liam’s phone. For all I know, this could be a hoax, and another scheme by Liam to mess with me. Why would Ashton’s biological sister pine for the destruction of her brothers? How did they get separated? What grievance does she hold against them?

"What does it matter to you?"

I sit up and flick on my bedside lamp. "I still don’t fully get why Liam turned on me despite how long we’ve known each other but I can imagine why he’s frustrated at me for developing cold feet. Now, why would you want to see your brothers ruined publicly if indeed you are blood relatives? Makes absolutely no sense to me."

"There are a couple of things about you, Demi Branson, that makes absolutely no sense to me too, like falling in love with the man who murdered your parents or rooting for his evil family to survive the storm coming. Does that make any of it untrue? You don’t have to understand my motivation for going after Brett and his sons. Motivation isn’t your strong suit as we’ve clearly established." She exhales deeply. "However, there are consequences for messing up my deadlines."

"You can exact your revenge without pulling me into it!"

"Sure, but where’s the fun in that?" I feel her smiling wickedly on her end of the phone.

"What is your name?" I ask quietly.

"Irrelevant."

"Wrong. It is relevant. You hide behind the phone and present yourself as the brains behind this operation. You sound fearless and want to be feared. Yet, you’re too afraid to drop your name? Are you afraid of blowing your cover to the Rollins family, to your brothers?"

Her silence only eggs me on. I climb off the bed. "I admit I was a coward but I had my reasons for hiding my identity. I lived in the same freaking mansion as my enemies so it only made sense that I did. What’s your excuse? As far as I am concerned, very limited people know of your existence so why are you scared of sharing even your name?"

"I am not scared. The timing just isn’t right."

"Say it!"

"Why? So, you could go running to Ashton to blurt it out?"

"I’m sure he’ll be delighted to learn about you."

She laughs derisively. "I couldn’t care less about his feelings on the matter. I’ve met one of the brothers and trust me, he isn’t impressionable. I bet they’re all the same; arrogant, pompous jerks. I don’t get the hype."

"You’re not meant to get it. You’re his sister, remember?" My ears tickle as her words replays in my head. It sounds oddly familiar. In fact, the disdain and contempt for the Rollins quad from this woman is all too familiar. Where the hell have I heard those lines before?

"They’re all just a bunch of shameless money whores. They’re no different from the devil who raised them. They live for the worship and adoration of their fans. They are nothing without the borrowed last name and everything because of it."

"Are you pained because Brett didn’t adopt you too? Is that where all this hate is stemming from?"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP. I DON’T WANT THEIR BLOOD MONEY. I JUST WANT THEM TO PAY FOR THEIR EVIL DEEDS."

A smile seeps into my cheek as I finally place the voice. "I completely understand. I really do, Skylar."

After a brief pause. "Took you long enough."

***

Ashton’s phone is switched off when I try his line. Why now? He promised to keep it handy. I play with the idea of calling another brother to tell them what I just discovered but I realize none of them would take my call much less believe my tale. A sister? They’ll laugh in my face or cuss at me for coming up with a boldfaced lie to deflect my guilt in their current situation.

I have no proof to show how Skylar is related to them or how they got separated. Would the quads relate to the news? Would they think there is a possibility that they could have a biological sister? Even if there was a smidgen of hope that they believed me, they would never fall for the idea that such biological sister was suddenly behind their doom and not me.

That was exactly what Skylar had said when she challenged me to scurry away and try convincing any quad of my choice of her guilt. She called it a fool’s errand. Her confidence on the matter scared me.

"Demi?" Ashley surprisingly picks up.

"I can’t get a hold of Ashton. Can you ask him to call me?" There is a slight shuffle and Asher comes on the line.

"I thought I told you to stay the heck away from him. Do you have any idea how much he’s lost because of you?"

"I don’t have time for this, Asher. Put Ashton on the line if he’s near or ask him to call me as soon as he can. This is very urgent."

"Don’t you ever call us again..."

"Wait, Asher. Listen carefully. Your sister is behind...hello? Asher?? Shit!!!" Seeing that he hung up on me, I press my eyes shut and take calm breaths. The buffoon. Any other time and he would have spent close to an hour talking my head off on the phone but today when I need him to listen for one goddamn minute, he hangs up?

I forgive his foolishness and redial Ashley’s number only to realize I’ve been blocked. Crap, they’re really making things harder for themselves.

"I tried. I fucking tried!" I say to no one, then collapse on my bed. "I did my best."

But I couldn’t sleep all night. I kept worrying for Ashton. So, the next morning, I dash into the living room, my small travel bag strapped across my shoulder. Uncle Marcel, startled at the noise, looks up from setting the breakfast table.

"Not this again. Where are you off to now? You promised you’d stay a bit longer."

"I’m sorry, uncle but I have to return home." And because he continues to look perplexed, "My in-laws need my help."

"Why? After everything they’ve put you through? Did I miss the part where they came groveling at your feet and begging for your forgiveness?"

I hug him and kiss his cheek. "I’m not going back to be Ashley’s wife. The divorce will still happen. I just want to help them out of a potentially damaging situation out of the goodness of my heart. If I insist on bearing grudges, how am I any different from them?"

"You’re indeed your mother’ daughter." He sighs wistfully. "I’ll drop you at the bus station."

"Oh, no need. A friend’s coming to pick me up." I give him another kiss. "I’ll call you the minute I land in Danvarr."

Thankfully, William, my ex-boyfriend happens to be active on his socials. Coincidentally, I deduce from his posts that we happen to be in the same city. It only took one dm and he offered to fly me back to Danvarr.

After the cursory pleasantries and a quiet ride to the airport in his sedan, he finally breaks the silence just before I can head into the airport.

"Are you sure you don’t want any further help? I could come with you or have someone pick you up at the airport for easy transport to your doorstep."

"You’ve done plenty, Will. I am floored by your concern and help. I really didn’t want to bother you but I am glad I eventually did. I owe you one."

"Come off it, Demi. You owe me nothing. I’m honored to be of help." He clears his throat. "I don’t mean to ruin the mood but it wouldn’t sit right with me if I pretended not to know you’re going through a tough time in your marriage, as well as your in-laws. I am deeply sorry, Demi. You deserve all the happiness in the world."

I truly feel uncomfortable discussing this with him but his sincerity disarms me.

"Thanks." I reply awkwardly before stretching to give him a hug.

"Be safe." He whispers in my ear. "Don’t forget to call me if you need anything. You know I’m here for you."

"I know."

Throughout the flight, I keep rehearsing my lines, reframing my argument to be more persuasive when I look Ashton in the face and tell him that the sister he never knew he had, is responsible for Billion-Err’s latest moves and not me. No matter how hard I try or how creative I get, it continues to sound ridiculous.

When we arrive in Danvarr, I find a man waiting to pick me up.

"Ms. Branson? I was asked to take you home." He says politely with a benign smile.

A goofy smile stretches my lips. William. Such a gentleman. I drop a text notifying my uncle of my arrival on the ride home. Then, I drop another for Will, thanking him for all his help. He calls me almost immediately.

"I’m glad you arrived safely."

"Thanks for your help, Will."

I really mean it. I forgot how exhausting long flights can be. Right now, I just want to get to Anna’s and get some sleep before talking to Ashton.

"Don’t mention it. Are you sure you don’t want my guy to drop you home? It’ll save you a lot of stress and time."

My eyes meet the driver’s through the rearview mirror. He’s watching me.

"What do you mean? I’m already on my way home. I met your driver at the airport."

"That’s not possible. Juan is standing by for my instruction to pick you up."

"Juan? But my driver isn’t..." My vision swims. The bottle of water in my hands slip and spills all over the back seat seconds before I pass out.

When I open my eyes, I am in a strange room but the scent and the décor is all too familiar. My hands are tied to a bedpost. My mouth is sealed with duct tape, trapping my frightened screams. Through the blur, I make out the man standing in front of me.

Brett Rollins.