Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 28: Chapter 28

ASHTON

[Stop ignoring me. You promised, Will]

I slide my phone into my pocket, ignoring Mila's latest message. She's really laying it on a bit thick here. It was

cool when our friendship was still in the dark. With all the spotlight on us now, I'm not comfortable seeing her

and feeding the gossip already trending on the news and blogs. | glance up towards the door when | hear a

familiar voice.

"Is this how you treat a friend?"

Mila hovers by the door of my office with her hands on her waist. Her voice is a petulant whine. She strolls in

uninvited and helps herself to a seat. | was about to leave and | tell her as much.

"What's wrong, Ashton? Why are you being so cold towards me?"

"Look Mila, | appreciate you wanting to indulge Will but I do not have the tfor any of that now. | have a lot on

my plate." Mila scrunches her nose.

"Just spit it out. This has got nothing to do with your workload. You're the chief operating officer here. You call the

shots and you're free to delegate your tasks when you need to. Sparing an hour and thirty minutes of your time

forwon't make your company fold. | run one too so | know what | am talking about."

She rises to her feet. "I'm not a child. | can tell when people aren't being honest. | guess it's my fault for

hounding you like I've got nothing better to do. | just wanted to take a break from my mundane routine and hang

out as friends. Don't read much meaning into it."

Before she can leave, | stop her.

"| didn't mean to be an asshole Mila and | apologize for being just that. Honestly, I'm not comfortable with the

amount of media attention we are getting over one lousy photo at the café the other day. | told you, | tried to be

Will so | could draw less attention to myself and feel free. I'm not ready to put up with anything that defeats

that."

Mila's eyes soften with understanding. "I'm guessing your dad also gave you a hard tabout it too."

"Hard time?"

Sighing, she edges closer to my desk. "Well, mine wasn't totally upset with the idea of us allegedly dating or

whatever. He just prefers Asher to Ashton. You know, solid work ethic, business acumen, blah blah blah."

"Ouch." | pretend to clutch my bleeding heart.

"I know, right? What did your parents think of me?"

My throat goes dry. "My father? Well, the idea of one of his sons allegedly dating the daughter of a business

mogul like himself sounds good to them." Mila's eyes light up brightly. "But of course | quickly had to debunk the

rumor and set my family straight. You did so too, right?"

She shrugs nonchalantly. "Look, | just want to get hamburgers and fries. I'll wear a male disguise if that puts you

at ease. Cool?" I'm not still psyched about the idea but | agree.

"Fine. I'll text you when | am free."

"Cool. Oh, by the way, I'm really sorry about your sister-in-law. | don't know why the blogs have been unfair to

her lately."

My eyes meet hers lightning fast. "What?

"The blogs? They've been giving her so much flak for no reason. | don't know why they like picking on your

family so much. Haven't you seen the articles? It's been trending all evening." Mila tuts while I hurriedly pull up

my phone to check. I hate lingering on social media so a lot gets pastwith my inteturned off. To my

horror, my phone goes crazy with numerous notifications.

"Shit. My brothers have been trying to reachtoo."

Asher has left a message on the quad Whatgroup but so far only Ashley has responded to it. Ashely points

out in the chat that Ashal can't be reached. | recall my conversation with Ashal earlier and wonder if he is at his

penthouse with Olivia trying to repair their relationship. My mind shuttles to Demi. How must she be holding up?

The last tshe was dragged online, she didn't take it well.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

It's been over thirty minutes since Asher dropped a message that our PR team is working to dispel the heat

gathering from the rumors. He also mentions that father and mother are coping just fine. There's no mention of

Demi's state. | contemplate asking Ashley in a private chat but | have no idea what meaning he might choose to

read from it. Finally, | text to ask where he is. If he's home, | can hope he has at least tried to console his wife. If

he isn't, then Demi is probably still all by herself.

"Is everything ok?" Mila asks while | anxiously wait for Ashley to reply my text. Crickets.

"l um, | need to get home. I'm sorry. Let's hang out later, okay?"

| steer her towards the elevator and see her off to her car before hopping into mine. Ashley still doesn't reply my

text and when | call him, his line goes to voicemail. Is he with Nicola again? | wonder silently. He usually keeps

away from his phone when he doesn't want to be disturbed with his woman.

| try Ashal's phone. It's unreachable.

"Now, where exactly are you, Ashal? Why won't you pick up too?"

| arrive with minutes to spare before the dinner table is set. The guards all greetas | alight from my car.

Uncharacteristically, | toss my keys to one of them to helprepark my car properly in the garage and head

inside the mansion. Inside, the maids are already setting the table. Everything looks relatively normal. | don't

know why | expected chaos.

"You're back." Mom calls with a smile. She and father are stepping out of his study together. | don't know what to

make of that. Father's face is set in a grim line. He says nothing when | greet him.

"Where's everyone?" | ask casually, my eyes darting around the room. | study mom's face for worry lines.

"Upstairs perhaps. One of your brothers isn't home."

"Ashal." | reply. | don't mention that I've been trying to reach him. "He's probably spending the night at his

penthouse." | tell mom.

Father's frown deepens. "I wonder what he ever saw in that woman. I'll have to revisit that situation and deal

with it before that silly blog catches on." | know he is referring to Billion-Err, the bane of every wealthy family in

Danvarr. | however wonder how he plans to deal with Olivia any different from what he has already done.

Mother's face has grown worry lines now. | draw closer to her and cup her chin with my hands. "He's fine mom.

We were together all day. He even mentioned resuming work physically soon. He's feeling much better. Let's

trust him, okay?" Mom nods. | stare at the elevator as it opens. Asher strolls out, his iPad in one hand and a glass

of drink on the other.

"How is it going?" Father asks him.

"It's going alright but these people are relentless. They're tearing down every defensive reply we cup with."

Fathe grunts. "And what exactly is Demi doing to quell this? This is all her fault. | wonder how she manages to

stir the masses like this. The last tit was her ex-boyfriend. Now, it's her joblessness. She never spares any

opportunity to put our family under the telescope for a bunch of nobodies to nitpick."

"Calm down Brett."

"Don't tellto calm down. That girl is just bad news. She's ill-suited for our family. That much | can agree with

the blogs." He runs a hand over his face and sighs. "Are you happy? | told you we should have kicked that girl

out and faced the music. Her ridiculous claims would have been stale news by now like all the rest that came

before her but you insisted on bringing her into our family. We haven't had a moment of peace ever since."

"Calm down father, please. We will overcthis like we always do." Father slants a heated gaze my way.

Surprisingly, he comports himself.

"Fine. Find a way to tackle this with your brothers. I'm getting a migraine just thinking about our stocks

plummeting again. If we suffer any more hits, Spellman group will outrank us and | can't have that. Hugh is

already proud enough as it is. | can't let his ego get any bigger."

"It won't." | and Asher assure him simultaneously.

"We'll fix this." Asher completes. He is so competitive and just has to have the last word in. | shoot him smile.

"How's Mila?" Father asks out of nowhere. | gape at him in surprise.

"Mila?"

"Hugh's daughter. How is she?"

"Father, Mila and | aren't..."

Father's raised hand kills my protest. "I don't care what you are. Keep her close. She might prove useful in the

future. Spellman group could cin handy." With that, he allows mom to lead him to the table for his dinner. |

can't believe him. Is that the only reason he approves of Mila? | look away to hide the disappointment that mars

my face. When my eyes find Asher again, he staggers to a couch and plunks down with his head in his hands. |

rush to his side.

"Asher! Are you okay? What's wrong bro?"

Immediately, he drops his hand. "I'm fine. | just had a stressful day at work. I'll just have a fruit and go to bed. |

need at least six solid hours of sleep."

"Are you sure?"

"lam."

| head upstairs to find Demi. In front of her door, | contemplate knocking or keying in her code. Somehow, | feel

she hasn't changed it. Will she considerimmature for not respecting her boundaries? | refuse to overthink it. |

have to check on her since Ashley clearly hasn't. My hand is poised over the keypad when my phone buzzes. |

check my message the second | realize it's from Ashely.

[I am at hwith Demi]

Just then, the door knob turns and swings open. | cface to face with Ashely whose arm is around Demi's

waist. Demi has clearly been crying. She sniffles and looks up atwith sad eyes.

"Hey, | just got hand saw your text."

"Oh really?" Ashley asks.

"I'm sorry | wasn't online. | had no idea so much was happening." Turning to Demi, | give her a sympathetic look.

"Everything will be fine. Asher is working on it."

"See, | told you." Ashley tells Demi. "You'll be fine. Brace up."

"Thank you." Demi whispers to both of us.

| excuse myself to go freshen up. While leaving, | hear Demi decline Ashley's invitation to join the family for

dinner. In my room, | grab a shower. While the hot water sluices down my skin, | hope to wash away the

discomfort | felt seeing Ashley's arm around Demi. | can't feel jealous over my own brother's relationship. It

might only be on paper but it is still legal nonetheless.

When | step out of the shower and wipe the foggy mirror clear, | realize my hair dye has worn thin. Flecks of

black hair dots my golden hair. Sighing, | get my dyeing kit from the bathroom caband text mom. She

normally helpswith dyeing my hair. | am bundled in a robe by the tshe raps on my door.

Mila textson my second phone to ask if everything is fine at home. | quickly reply to set her mind at ease

and drop the phone on the top of my side drawer. With my other phone, I leave Ashal countless messages before

| make my way to the door. | can't believe he hasn't deigned to reply any of them. He should know better how

worried mom constantly is about him. Even now, | am just as worried because he never shuts everyone out like

this. | don't have Olivia's number or | would have called her to check if Ash is with her. | make a mental note to

text Asher and have him contact her before opening the door.

Mom smiles as she glances at me.

"I'm sorry to bother you so late. | just noticed it's wearing thin."

"That's okay son." She followsinside where | already have everything set up in my bathroom. She tries to

encourageto go for a permanent dye while she lathers the dye on my hair and wraps it up in a silver foil.

"Why? | thought you enjoyed dyeing my hair."

"You know | love doing anything for you. | just don't like how nervous you get because of this secret. | wish you

didn't have to hide your beautiful hair."

"It's fine mom. I'll stick with the temp dyes."

| don't want to lose my uniqueness. Being identical to my brothers sometimes makescrave a little

differentiation. That's what my hair does for him even though it is regarded as a flaw by father. Mother senses

the awkwardness in my silence and evades to ask about Ashal. | lie to her about speaking with Ashal shortly

before she arrives just to put her mind at ease. She sighs, relieved to hear he is doing fine.

"That girl Mila, do you like her?"

| am surprised at her concern. Father has always thought us to never put our happiness before that of the family

business. Even though mom is not too fond of this ideal, she has never once objected to it or opposed father

when he focused on a woman's wealth and connection before welcoming her into our family as the official

girlfriend of his son. Hence, this question throwsoff a bit.

"I saw your face earlier. You were disappointed in your father."

"Mila is a cool friend. That's all | can say." | hope it's a good enough answer. | don't want to affirm or deny

anything just in case mom is testing me. It isn't her style but there's no telling what father could put her up to.

She smiles at my response and doesn't pursue the matter.

After mom finishes with my hair, | bid her goodnight and escort her to my door. She's such a life saver. She

plants a soft kiss on my cheek and walks away. Just as she disappears into the elevator to get to her room on the

second floor, Demi steps out of hers and locks eyes with mine. | proceed to shut my door and go to sleep but she

calls out to me. When she rushes to my door, her appearance hasn't improved much. There are still bags under

her eyes.

"You should be in bed." | tell her. She sniffles and offers a weak smile.

"Thank you for earlier. I'm grateful to your family for all the support."

"You seem surprised. Did you think we wouldn't support you?"

She shrugs. "I've been nothing but trouble around here. | can understand if father..." Her voice wavers, breaks.

Her eyes grow misty. "I'm sorry. | just...they're not entirely wrong Ashton. The trolls have a point. | have been

trying to fit in here in my own way but it has never been good enough. | spoke to mother once about my idleness

and she tried gettingto work with Ashley but the fashion world isn't something | can grapple with." More

sniffles. "I am not lazy. | can work hard like everyone else in this family if my skills are put to the right use. | am

good with marketing. Can you helptell father that | want to work? Please?"

Tears stream down her cheeks. | am too stunned to reply.

"Demi, calm down. You don't have to listen to those bullies."

"No, | do want to work. I'm losing my mind staying at hall day. | wasn't raised like that. I love working. Tell

father | will accept any role: personal assistant, secretary, intern. Whatever he gives me, I'll accept. | won't make

a fuss. Please. I've always wanted to win father over. He appreciates hard work and making money. If | work with

him, I may be able to impress him with my work ethic and output. Please Ashton."

Her hands are clasped in front ofnow. | don't know how to tell her that pigs will fly before father will let her

anywhere close to the HQ just because of a silly blog post. He is a stubborn man and wouldn't want to cave to

the whims of the people every single time.

| might be able to impersonate Asher and convince father. | have done it quite a few times in the past. However,

| am not entirely sure this is the best solution right now.

"Have you spoken to Ashley? What did he say about this?"

"He said | am setting myself up for failure. Father will never listen toif | approach him directly." Her eyes pin

mine again. "Unless | speak with you. He said you had a way with convincing father."

"Your best bet is to go through mom. No one can sway him like she can." That's a lie. | can be very persuasive

because | know just how father thinks. I'll make him believe it's his own decision but | don't want to do that for

Demi. If she starts working at the HQ, I'll see very little of her and she'll be spending too much twith Asher. |

don't know why that makesuncomfortable.

Demi's face falls. When the tears overwhelm her, | hold her in my arms and she doesn't resist. She wouldn't stop

crying even after | promise to see what | can do. To avoid drawing attention, | pull her into my room and shut the

door.

Ten minutes later, I've managed to coax her to drink swater and quit crying. I'll see what | can do. She

thanks me. After she leaves, | shut my door and exhale. | have no idea how | am going to go about helping her

but a promise is a promise and | never break mine.

| whisk myself for my phone to make a few calls. | can't find it. A mini search around my room and I still can't find

i)

"I had it just a few minutes ago. Did | leave it on the bathroom sink?" Convinced, | make my way towards my

bathroom when my eyes catch a glow of light beneath the side drawer where Demi had sat. | dig under and pull

it out. | don't remember knocking down my phone. It was right on top the drawer where | always leave it. | refuse

to think much about it and go ahead to change into something comfortable for the night.

Someone raps on my door almost immediately. | can't imagine what Demi must have forgotten to say. | pull open

the door only to find Ashal looking disheveled and forlorn.

"Ash? What happened to you, man?"

"| killed someone." He blurts out before losing consciousness.