Four Brothers and a Bride
Chapter 172

Chapter 172: Chapter 172

ASHTON

The D-day is finally here. I wake up with the nastiest hangover I ever had in a while. It takes an hour for the world to stop spinning and for the banging inside my head to stop. I contemplate staying in bed for the better part of the morning but decide against it the second I open my blinds and see the madness downstairs. Mother is in full party planning mode, supervising the arrangements she had already made.

As usual, the courtyard has been transformed. There are so many uniformed people moving furniture, making decorations etc. It irks me to see the over-the-top decorations that had been made just to please Demi. Some of the media personnel are already in the compound, filming the scene. I grit my teeth as my rage bubbles hot. I won’t be able to stay here. I’ve got to go somewhere to clear my head before the party tonight.

Three hours later, I find myself behind the wheels of Ferrari, taking off my hand gloves and gnashing my teeth over the race I just lost by a wide margin. I am too embarrassed and disappointed in myself to bother asking for a rematch to prove any point. I know for certain that I will lose again. I can blame it on being scatterbrained but that has never stopped the best racers. They never let their moods fuck up their race. That is something I am yet to learn.

When my eyes flick to my wrist watch, it’s still a few hours before the party kicks off. I put my foot back on the gas and honk three times. When my opponent does the same, I know he’s cool with a rematch. This time, I intend to win.

We return to the start of the line, revving our engines as the countdown begins. At the sound of the gunshot, I whiz across the tracks like the life of a loved one depended on it. For the most part, the world skipping by me felt like a blur. I pummel the steering wheel in anger when unwelcomed thoughts start to filter into my head again.

I just want to forget about everything that’s been happening in my life lately. However, it feels especially difficult to do that today. I can’t seem to stop beating myself up about the roles I played to make such a sad day happen for my family. I hurt Demi’s parents. I married her and brought her into my family. I failed to protect her during her time as the daughter-in-law of our family. In a way, I created the monster she has become. Now, she’s punishing me by going after the people I care about.

My inside voice begins to chide me. "Get over yourself, Ashton. Did you really think she was going to let all that pain go just because of the butterflies you gave her stomach? Did you think loving her was ever going to be enough to save her from the drowning pain of losing her family? She was already lost before you met her at the Blue Cave. Nothing and absolutely no one comes before her revenge. Stop making the mistake of forgetting that bitter truth."

I jerk back to reality with the roar of cheers and applause in the air just as I cross the finish line. I won? Like hell. I swing the car to the right, jump down and storm to my opponent’s car, tapping on the window.

"A word?"

When he gets down, his helmet is still on. At my behest, he takes it off. The first thing I notice is the tumble of lush brown hair, cascading over her shoulders. Well, that stings.

"Congratulations." The lady tells me, offering a slender, well-manicured hand.

"I wanted a fair race. Do you think I am stupid? I was distracted the whole time and did even worse than the last race. You practically let me win."

She winces a bit. "It’s your birthday, isn’t it? Consider that my gift to you."

Frowning, I make way for the bleachers. Being won by Mila never stung like the way I feel right now over this stranger. Maybe it’s time to go home before more people get on my already raw nerves.

At home, I manage to weasel my car into the compound because our property is crawling with uninvited guests lounging in their cars outside the gate. Even Demi’s aunt and her daughter keep screaming on top of their lungs that they are relatives of our family as Duncan and his men start to chase them away.

Cameras flash in my face as I get down from my minivan and make my way into the house, stifling the urge to smash a face or two the whole time.

"You’re back." Mother says bright-eyed. "The party starts in less than three hours."

I give her a forehead kiss. "I know, mother. You should get a nap before then. You look stressed." My eyes scan the area, slightly uncomfortable with the over-the-top decorations that make our living area far from recognizable. "You outdid yourself, huh?"

She shrugs lazily. "I don’t know how tonight will go but when it makes the news, they shouldn’t be able to fault my party décor at the very least." She offers a thin smile. Behind her, I spot Anna and two other strangers conversing while they assist some of our domestic staff with finishing touches.

"She’s been very helpful today." Mother whispers, following my eyes. "I wasn’t sure whether she came to help out of the goodness of her heart or because Demi needed eyes in here. Either way, she’s been really sweet and helpful."

"And the other two unfamiliar faces next to her?"

"Oh, that’s Kat and her brother, Maddox. Their mother works at the HQ. According to Anna, Demi wants them here. Said she needs to be able to look around and spot familiar faces that aren’t braying for her blood at this party."

"She what?"

As if she can hear us, Anna beams at me and waves. I ignore her. There’s no reason to be mad at her just because of her affiliation to Demi. Yet, I find myself struggling to rein in my anger. How the hell am I supposed to be civil around Demi when she comes in as my date if I can’t keep it together?

Mother’s hand on my chest snaps me out of it.

"Any word about Ashal? Asher isn’t taking my calls. I don’t know if he already left to try and save Ashal." I pull her close and kiss her hair.

"Asher’s working on it. He will return with Ashal, okay? We already have Ashal’s outfit picked out, remember? Don’t worry." I leave her and head straight for Anna who drops what she’s doing and meets me halfway.

"What’s with the last-minute invite?"

"Demi wanted..."

"Cut the crap. Where is she?" Anna is visibly taken aback by my harshness. "Where is Demi? She has no right to do as she pleases at MY party without running it by me first. She won’t even let me talk to my brother and here she is, sneaking more people into my party to spy on my family?"

"Ashton, we’re not spying on anyone..."

"Save it." I whip out my phone and hastily scroll to find and unblock Demi’s number. When I dial it, it’s switched off. "Classic Demi Branson." I jam my phone back into my pocket and glare at Anna. "Tell your best friend that I won’t be making any confessions until I see and speak to Ashal, got it? We’ve done everything she’s asked. She has to keep her own side of the bargain or the show won’t go on."

"Ashton!"

I crane my neck as Asher enters. He briefly hugs mother, apologizes before hurrying towards me.

"Enough. You don’t have to be rude to her. She’s not Demi." He goes to stand next to Anna who feels relieved to be defended. Mother edges close to put out the fire before we give the reporters the heated appetizer they’ve been yearning for.

"That’s okay, everyone. Let’s all retire to our rooms and get freshened up for the party." She implores me with her eyes.

"I’m sorry." I apologize to Anna before leaving for my room.

"Where’s Ashal?" I query Asher the second he walks into my room. "Tell me he’s safe."

Wordlessly, Asher taps his phone and flashes it at me. Joy floods my chest when I see Ashal sleeping soundly in what appears to be a hotel room. Doctor Ezra and a nurse are hunched over, checking his vitals. He has clean bandages wrapped around his injuries and it appears he’ll be fine after all. By his side, I spot his hand intertwined with Madeline’s who’s seated next to his bed, watching him sleep.

"He needs rest." Asher informs me. "If he feels up to it and shows up later, good. However, I won’t jeopardize his health by forcing him to make an early appearance at this birthday party."

I dab my teary eyes. "That’s such a relief." Then sink on my bed. "What’s the status on Liam, Demi and Skylar? They must know by now that we’ve rescued Ashal and they’ve lost their leverage on us."

Asher joins me on the bed. "Yeah. They’re not so happy, especially after I abducted one of their own." Because his face lacks the humor I expect from it, I instantly know whom he has in his custody.

"How is she?"

"Cranky. Aggressive like a wild animal. Feisty. Kind of reminds me of little Ashton, the hothead." He sighs deeply. "She’s safe even if she doesn’t know it yet. I need to get to the bottom of these stories regarding our biological parents and for that reason, father must not know of her existence or her location. I’ll find a way to make her tell us all we need to know."

"She appears to be a tough shell to chip. That might take..."

"Weeks? Months? I’m good with that. Gives us more time to catch up with her." We exchange smiles at the fond thought. "Cheer up. There won’t be any need for an awkward confession. This is our show now. Let’s make merry."

A thought crosses my mind. "We have the entire country at a standstill, Asher. There won’t be another opportunity like this for us to clear the air regarding these accusations." Asher’s eyes are somber when I turn to him. "People hate us right now, and for good reason. I think our family needs to redeem itself."

"How do you propose we do that?"

I inhale deeply, wringing my hands. "Someone has to take responsibility for our wrongs. We’ve hurt a lot of people. We can’t gloss over their pain anymore."

"Ashton, if you’re thinking..."

"I’m going through with it, Asher." I cut him off. "This all began with me and it will end with me. If I take the fall, our victims will be appeased to a small extent. Then it will be up to the rest of you to do ALL you can to show your remorse and help the victims."

"Help?" Asher leaps to his feet. "How do you help someone who lost loved ones because of you? What could we possibly do to make that right? Buy them a car, a house? Nothing will pacify them more than seeing ALL of us behind bars, Ash. Don’t you get it? They won’t be satisfied with just you! They’d clamor for our entire family to be incarcerated." He runs a hand through his blonde hair. "No. You’re not doing that. Look, I understand, okay? I do now. We’ll definitely make amends but I can assure you that what you want to do will not yield the result you’re hoping for. Things will turn out much worse."

"Then find a way, Asher. I’m sick of the dirty looks we get, the curses whispered under their breaths. They’ve vandalized all our offices. They say terrible things about us every day on the news. Today, we managed to get Ashal back. What if a fresh band of victims gang up against us again and try to hurt another family member? I’m sick of this cycle. We need to break this streak."

Asher rubs the tension off my shoulders. "We will. We just have to think it through so we don’t end up making a sacrifice that won’t appease our victims." He exhales. "I’ll go check on Ashley. He’s a little sad about Nicci moving on. Everything will be fine. I need you to trust me and not do something rash. Can you promise me that?" When I don’t respond, his voice cranks up a notch. "ASHTON!"

"Ok. Ok. I hear you."

He taps my back before heading for the door. There, he stops. "Oh, Ash?"

"Yeah?"

"Try to keep it together around Demi. You don’t have to be nice to her but at least be...civil."

I arch a brow at him. "Since when did you care about her feelings?"

"I don’t. I just don’t want more drama than we already have on our hands." With that, he walks away.

I go freshen up and put on the custom outfit Ashley made for us all last minute. Downstairs is a hive of entertainment as the compound is sprawling with guests in their pricey outfits. The red-carpet photos and interview sessions are in full swing.

Asher informs us quads to meet for a photoshoot at our own red carpet. When I make my way there with the help of the bodyguards, a huge smile stretches my lips at the sight of Ashal draped in a custom suit like the rest of us. The telltale signs of his ordeal are artfully hidden under light makeup. I hug him carefully.

"Are you strong enough for this, man? You went through hell." I whisper to him.

"I’ve missed you guys. Wanted to be a part of this memory however things go down tonight." He glances at each of us. "I’ll hang around a bit and rest if I feel tired. Don’t worry about me. I feel almost as good as I look. Plus, it’ll only raise eyebrows if one brother is noticeably missing."

"I’m glad you could make it." Ashley squeezes his hand.

With the reporters scrambling for our attention and bright camera lights flashing in our faces, we all take pictures to commemorate the beginning of our twenty-sixth birthday party.

That’s when she entered.

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