Four Brothers and a Bride-Chapter 98

ASHTON

I can’t believe father. What sick joke is he trying to play with us right now? He really invited his bastard son to our mansion? How dare him bring Josh in here to have lunch with our mother?

Father ignores our death stares and waves Josh in.

"Barbara, you remember Josh, right? He works with us at the HQ."

"Yes. Hello Josh." Mom beams at Josh as he edges closer. "Who can forget this hardworking young man? Josh Randall, right?"

"Yes ma’am."

"Hi Mr. Randall. Nice of you to join us." Demi utters with a smile.

"Thank you, Demi."

"I think I met your mother at the last AGM. Kristy Randall." Mother adds.

Beside her, father almost chokes. Good for him. He wants to play dirty? Four can play that game. I give my brothers just one look and we all return to our seats. I’ll handle this.

Josh offers mom an expensive bottle of wine as a token of appreciation for being invited to eat with us. Oliver’s replacement, a new face in a clean-cut suit, accepts the drink and disappears into the kitchen. Josh slips into his chair and nods at father.

"I’ve met Kristy too. She came by my office to buy a car a while back."

"Really?"

"Yes mom." I exchange looks with Josh and father. "She had A LOT to say to me about my looks and how she doesn’t think they match up with father’s looks in his hay days."

Josh laughs. "My mom likes to make small talk every chance she gets. Where there isn’t anything to be discussed, she has a penchant for making things up." He places his napkin on his thigh and steals a glance at father who is busy watching me.

"I met Kristy at the AGM too. I recall the long, nasty red nails." Asher quips with a sly smile. "In fact, father recently demanded something of me. He requested I go over and have lunch with..."

"BOYS, SHALL I HAVE A WORD?" Father asks, leaping to his feet. He leans down to press a kiss to mother’s forehead. "We’ll be brief, darling. Do keep Josh company in the meantime. Josh, consider this your second home and help yourself with anything you like. I’ll just be back."

I drop my cutlery with a loud clatter, glare at father before joining my brothers to his study. Inside, father shuts the door so no sound can escape.

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BRING HIM HERE!" I begin impatiently. "How could you think to disrespect our mother like that? Do we look like a joke to you? It’s bad enough that you cheated on her with Josh’s mom and even sired a son. You know how much that would crush her and yet you bring Josh in here for what? How do you think she will feel when she finds out the entire truth eventually and remembers this day?"

"The least you should have done is keep the product of your disgraceful act as far away from my mother as possible." Ashal blurts out with red rimmed eyes. "Don’t delude yourself by thinking we can ever accept Josh as part of our family. We will never hold hands around a fire and sing kumbaya, you get it?"

Father sinks into his chair and regards us with a hand under his chin.

"What are you going to do next? Invite that cheap whore who birthed your son to share a meal with our mother too?"

"Watch your mouth, Asher. This is all thanks to you. If you had done as I had asked and had a simple lunch with Josh and his mother instead of insulting them badly, I would have had the heart to turn down Josh’s request to have lunch with us like this."

"Are you kidding me?" I lash at him. "That’s your grand excuse for breaking your promise to us by bringing Josh in here?" I slam my hands on his desk. "You have two minutes to make him leave or I will personally reveal what a cheating, lying scumbag you are to mother!" My heated glare cuts through father’s defensiveness and I watch his shoulders sag.

"You wouldn’t dare, Ashton."

I scoff at him. "Mom’s going to find out anyway, right? How about today? How about now?" I turn and head for the door. "LET’S ALL BE MAD TOGETHER."

"ASHTON! GET BACK HERE. YOU THREE, GET YOUR BROTHER!"

But nobody moves to stop me. Father rushes out of his chair as I yank the door open and head for the dining area. With father and my brothers on my tail, I circle the table to go stand next to Josh who is smiling gaily as mother regales him and Demi with a few stories. They’ve barely touched their meals. The trio look up as the table is surrounded.

"Something wrong?" Mom asks, looking around.

I incline my head. "Are you going to ask him to leave or do I spill?"

"Ask him to leave?" Demi repeats, standing nervously. "What’s going on, Ashton? Who wants Josh to leave? He hasn’t done anything wrong and he barely just arrived."

"Stay out of it, Demi, please." I tell her as politely as I can manage. She stubbornly remains standing.

"Sit down, Demi." Ashley yells at her. Surprisingly, she plunks down on her seat with folded arms.

"What exactly is going on here?" Mom asks, rising. Father looks defeated as he glances at Josh who gets the message and stands up.

"I’m sorry if my presence has ruined everyone’s appetite. Mrs. Rollins, it’s lovely as always to see you. I hope we get to meet again. I’d love to hear more stories about the quads in their adolescence and all the shenanigans they got up to while switching places."

I pull away his chair so he can leave unfettered. "Good bye, Randall. Don’t ever stop by again."

"Ashton!" Mother chides me before turning to Josh. "I’m sorry about my sons. I have no idea why they’re behaving like this. I deeply apologize for the embarrassment."

Josh nods his head at her before turning to give Demi a peck on her cheek. She also apologizes to him. After he leaves, she glares at my brothers and I. Father angrily abandons lunch to retreat to his room.

"What the hell was that?" Mom thunders. "How could you all band together to embarrass that young man like that? What has he ever done to you? Asher, is this about the office rivalry between you two? How could you act so immature because he’s your biggest competition at work?"

"This isn’t about work, mom." He tells her but she cuts him off with another question.

"Then, what is your justification for acting so mannerlessly? You all aren’t twelve anymore and filled with childish mischief. How can you possibly defend yourselves right now?" Mom is very pissed off. We didn’t think or at least I know I didn’t. I was too focused on getting Josh out of the mansion.

"I’m sorry mom. This is probably the best time to tell you that Josh Randall is not the sweet and kind gentleman he claims to be. Have you forgotten so soon how he lied against us over the incident at the club few months back? That punk lied about getting beaten by us when that wasn’t true."

"How am I supposed to believe he was lying? I have seen firsthand how you guys behave around him. It isn’t far fetched that you all can gang up and beat the young man."

Ashley crosses to take mom’s hand. "We are not animals, mom. If we can’t stand that man, trust that it’s because he is a very bad person. He didn’t just lie about us and try to tarnish our image, he also hurt Ashton back at the club."

"What?"

"You might not remember but Ashton secretly wore an arm cast under his jacket for days. He hid it from you so you wouldn’t get worried. Josh had stabbed his arm with a shard of broken glass. He bled out badly. The scar is still there. If you doubt me, ask father. He visited Ashton in the hospital that very night when he was admitted."

Mom rushes to me and grabs my hands. "Is that true? Where is it? Where did you get hurt? Why would you hide such a thing from me?"

"It’s okay, mom. It happened a while back. I’m fine now. Do you understand why we loathe Josh now? He pretends to be a saint in front of people he hopes to impress like you and father but underneath, he’ll bury a dagger in our chests if he could get away with it."

"Don’t say that."

"He hates us, mom. He feels intimidated by all four of us. I can’t pretend to gloss over the evil in his heart. Please, make sure father never invites that man back into this house or we’ll do worse than throw him out. We’ll make sure he is rushed to the hospital from here, like I was rushed from the club. That’s a threat."

Mom bobs her head. She kisses my cheeks and goes around my brothers to do the same.

"I’m sorry I misunderstood you. I had no idea."

"It’s alright." Ashal goes to her and kisses her hair. Hooking an arm over her shoulder, he escorts her to her room. The rest of us are left with just Demi who is still reeling in shock over what Ashley just revealed.

"Ashton, I apologize. I didn’t know Josh hurt you so badly in the past."

"Why exactly are you feeling guilty?" Asher interrupts, edging close to her. "Did you have something to do with Josh being here?" He narrows his eyes at her. The rest of us also turn to Demi. Asher had mentioned that Demi might have overheard him talking to Josh in his office and deduced that Josh is father’s son too. If Demi knows, that will be bad.

"I didn’t even know Josh was coming until he walked through that door. How exactly am I supposed to invite someone to have lunch with our family when I don’t own the mansion? I can’t even invite Anna unless mother approves it." She shoves her seat back and tries to walk out but Ashley blocks her path. What is he trying to do right now?

"Josh is bad news, Demi. Stay away from him at work if you can help it, okay?"

"He’s a senior colleague of mine and has been more helpful and friendly towards me than my own brother-in-law and boss. Besides, if he was truly the devil as you all make him out to be, father would probably not be fond of him. I’m sorry but I won’t refuse his friendship or give him the cold shoulder simply because you all hate him. Whatever issue you’ve got with him stays between you all. Don’t drag me into it." With that, she walks to the elevator and gets in.

Twenty minutes later, my brothers and I are in game room. Ashley is still sulking. freёweɓnovel.com

"I confronted Nicola about being Shay. We broke up." He blurts out. We all wait a beat for the information to sink in. "I went back to her place last night. That’s where I spent the night."

"What?" We all gasp.

"Why would you do that? That woman is bad news too, Ashley." Asher utters.

I think Asher is focused on the wrong thing here. How could Ashley do that? He literally gave me hell over my feelings for Demi and kept chanting about wanting a shot with her. I finally removed myself from the picture and he decides to keep his side chick and disrespect Demi after she gave him her body?

He just proved to me that he only wanted to sleep with her. He never planned to make a life with her. While everyone cautions and chides him over his poor decision to keep Nicci in his life, Ashley doesn’t break his gaze which is trained in my direction. I also pin him with a hot glare.

"I didn’t plan to. Demi made me. Mom suspected that Demi was pregnant so Demi took a test." My anger fades to surprise at his words. While Asher grits his teeth and Ashal keeps a straight face, my mind reels back to the time when Demi threw up on father. Is she really pregnant?

"The test came out negative." Ashley continues, still studying my face. "I thought I would be relieved but instead, I felt a bit sad. I didn’t realize I was silently hoping she would bear my child."

"And why would you do that? She’s just your contract wife and she clearly doesn’t have feelings for you. Why would you want to start a family with such a woman. Ashal, can you talk to him? I am done trying to convince him not to ruin his life because of his differences with Ashton. This is just insane."

"Asher’s right." Ashal takes over. "I don’t think you should pursue a family with Demi." Something drifts in his eyes. "You have to divorce her after the contract ends. Having a baby doesn’t guarantee the love of your partner. Where the love is unrequited, you two just becomes bitter parents to an innocent child. Think about our childhood. Don’t you want your child to grow up in a loving family with two parents that cherish each other? Don’t do it, Ashley, especially not for bragging rights." As he finishes, Ashal steals a glance my way.

"What do you have to say, Ashton?" Ashley asks me directly. "Should I keep trying to win Demi over and have a baby with her or should I give up and divorce her in six months?"

He’s baiting me.

"Maybe you should ask Shay. I wonder what plans she’ll come up with next to keep you tied to her for life."

Ashley’s eyes darken.

"You’re a very confused man, Ashley. One the one hand, you are trying to start a family too early with a woman you just got to give you a chance at love. On the other, you’re still sleeping with your ex who, might I add, was just uncovered as the mastermind behind your most recent traumatic experience. I don’t care what decision you take for yourself. It’s your life, not mine."

"You’re no better, you know. Aren’t you marrying a woman you don’t love just to prove you are capable of moving on from my wife? The love in your relationship is also unrequited and if Mila ever wants a baby, you’ll give it to her just to douse any suspicions about your loyalty. Ashal, you’re very much in the same boat as me. Asher, you’ll never marry for love because you don’t believe in it. You’ll marry whomever father asks you to on command and make babies if need be. If you all can do that and not be made to feel like crap about the tenor of your relationships, why can’t I? Why is everyone pushing for me to end MY relationship with Demi?"

No one says anything in response.

"That’s what I thought." Ashley tucks his hands in his pocket. "Like I told father and mother, every decision to be made regarding my marriage with Demi, whether we remain together or divorce, have babies or not, will be made exclusively by Demi and I. I don’t appreciate anyone dumping their opinions about that particular matter on me. As for Nicci, consider it as me upholding the wisdom nugget that says keep your friends close and your enemies closer. She still has her uses, thanks to Demi’s indifference to my manly needs." He sweeps the room with his eyes.

"So, who still has stones to throw my way?"

***

While my brothers converse, I excuse myself to go handle some private matters. Ashal notices my exit and comes rushing after me. I already know what he wants to say.

"Look, I am not telling them anything, okay? You have my word. I just want to get to the bottom of you know what so I can nip it in the bud. I really can’t ignore it however I try."

"Fine, do what you have to do." He hesitates. "Be careful." He murmurs before returning to the game room.

Cree has been avoiding my calls ever since Ashal treated her discourteously. I need to get her back on my side. I still need her to find my sister whom I believe is out there somewhere. I call Cree but it goes to voicemail.

"Cree, call me back. You and I have unfinished business. I know you’re mad at me but I really need your help. Call me." I hit send. When the elevator opens, father is on the other side, his face set in a grim line. Did he hear me? It takes a second for me to realize I hadn’t said anything that would rouse his suspicion.

He is clearly still angry over how Josh was treated but I hardly give a fuck.

"Ashton!" He calls me when I brush past him and head for the door. Hesitantly, I pause and turn to him. "Tell me you were bluffing when you made that threat earlier today." His voice is low and dangerous.

"I think you know the answer to your own question, father." I reply before turning on my heel and disappearing out of the door.

Father’s hardened face remains on my mind as I take a drive to find Cree. Ashal sent me the address of her new apartment. While on the way, I notice I am being tailed by a particular vehicle. To be certain, I keep making sharp turns and following short cuts but with every new turn, the car is difficult to lose.

I allow the SUV get a tad bit close and try to make out the plate number. When I spot the customized plate number, a huge frown seeps into my face. I pull over by the corner of the road and jump down from my car. While the SUV tries to dodge me, I stand in front of it till the driver is forced to stop. I go around but he won’t roll down his window.

"STOP FOLLOWING ME, DUNCAN. GO BACK TO FATHER AND TELL HIM YOU LOST ME. I WON’T WARN YOU AGAIN."

When I get into my car and leave, the SUV does a U-turn and goes away. I can’t believe father had him tail me. That’s bad. Is he onto me? Not now. I can’t have him watching my every move while I am searching for my biological sister. Father will do everything to keep me away from her just so his brutality towards our biological parents will never be exposed.

Does mother know about his cruelty? Is she complicit in his crimes? I don’t want to believe it. I decide to focus on finding my sister and worrying about other things later.

Before I get to her place, Cree texts me an address.

[This is the best I can do. Go to this address. It’s the last foster home your sister was in. Try to get as much information from them about her whereabout. Good luck]

[Thank you]

I take a U-turn and head towards the address. It’s a quaint home on a small farm far from the bustling city. When I pull into the property, an elderly man looks up from milking a cow and stares at me as I get out of my car. Horses neigh from a nearby stable. On the porch, a woman who looks like his wife suspends her knitting to study me too. I bet they don’t have visitors like me stopping by.

"Hello. I’m Ash Rollins."

"I know who you are." The elderly man replies with an ingratiating smile. He wipes his hands on his apron and leads me towards the house with a big smile. "Please, right this way. This is my wife, Collette. Dear, please get some tea brewing for our guest." On cue, his wife beams at me before heading to the kitchen. I try to hide my discomfort over their niceties.

After we are settled in their living room and I explain why I have come, the man, Paul, sighs.

"That was a few years ago. Why are you interested in finding her?"

"I made a promise to find and take care of her. I’m ready to settle you adequately if you can provide me with good information on her whereabout. It’s kind of urgent. Please tell me what you know."

"She was a quiet child." Paul begins. "I wouldn’t call her shy but she preferred to study people rather than talk to them. She was very paranoid too and trusted no one. No matter how my wife and son tried to incorporate her in our family, Zoe kept her distance. She never unpacked her bag from the day she joined us till she left us. She barely spoke at all. Always rad a book to pass time."

"Do you have a picture of Zoe?"

"She hated having her pictures taken and when she discovered that our son, Keith, had taken some of her while she was unaware, she ransacked his room, stole his camera and destroyed it." Collette explains with a sad expression. "She was one troubled child."

"Was that her name? Zoe?"

"No." Collette answers. "That’s the name we chose to call her after she arrived because she kept forgetting the fake names she gave us. We don’t know what her real name is. Even after she went off to college, my family and I tried to stay in touch but when we called the school, we were told that there was no one by Zoe Grayson enrolled there. Zoe lied about the school she got admitted to. She didn’t want to keep ties with us so we gradually tried to forget she was ever a part of our family."

How am I supposed to find her if she keeps changing names?

"Finding her will be more difficult than I thought." I mutter. "You’ve got no picture of her. Her real name is unknown. How am I supposed to find her?"

"Keith. He was very fond of her. He drew her while she slept one time and hid it from her. I think I can find his drawing book somewhere in the basement." Hope blossoms in my heart at Collette’s words.

"Collette, if you find it, I will reward you with $250, 000. Please make sure you do."

Husband and wife exchange shocked stares. Paul jumps to his feet and offers to give his wife a helping hand. They take their time. While I keep checking my wristwatch and tapping my foot impatiently, a strange guy strolls into the living room. He is a spitting image of Paul but about my age.

"You must be Keith. Ash Rollins." I say, extending a hand but his remain in his pocket.

"What are you doing in my house, Mr. Rollins?" He asks rudely. His parents reenter with a page from his drawing book.

"Keith, don’t be rude to our guest. He came to enquire about your sister, Zoe. He wants to help find her and give her a better life." Keith’s eyes dilate in shock as he recognizes the sheet in his mom’s hand. "Mr. Rollins, here is the drawing of Zoe Keith made. This should help with your search...Hey" Collette yells when Keith wrenches the sheet from her hand before I can take it, shreds it to pieces in front of everyone and chucks the pieces into the fireplace.