Four Brothers and a Bride-Chapter 91

ASHAL

"Are you okay?" Asher asks when he finds me in the gym late at night after we all decided to hit the sack. The fact that he is not dressed for a workout tells me he is strictly here to check on me before retiring to bed.

"Yeah. I thought you would be asleep by now." I check my watch. It’s fifteen minutes past two in the morning. "Don’t you have a big day today?" He shrugs lazily and sits on the floor next to me.

"Every day of work is kind of a big day at the HQ so it’s nothing new." His eyes narrow with concern. "How are you? How are things with Olivia? I’m sorry we’ve been so carried away with Cree that nobody remembered to ask how you’re faring in all of this."

His raw admission and the concern swimming in his eyes disarms me. "Thanks Asher. I’ll be fine."

I am not ready to share Olivia’s pregnancy news just yet. Liv and I are still trying to work out our differences and now won’t be a good time to share such a news in a household where most people don’t like her. When she forgives me and I am certain that we’re back on the same page, I’ll let my family know.

"Liv is hurt. She um...she isn’t speaking to me right now and I honestly don’t blame her. She has every right to be. I betrayed her trust." Olivia’s sad face flits across my memory and I wonder how long it’ll take before she gets excited to see me walk through the door of the penthouse again. "We’ll be fine. We always find a way to circle back to each other no matter how lost we get."

"The thing with Cree..." Asher sucks in a cautious breath. "What was that about?"

"I love my wife, okay? I always will. We were in a really bad place and I missed her. Cree reminds me so much of Olivia when we first met; the fire, the carefreeness, the vibrancy. I shouldn’t have gone looking for Liv in some other woman. It was a mistake." Asher nods with understanding. "I love Olivia." I repeat.

"I know you do. Does Olivia feel the exact same way?"

My head rears up at his question.

"Is she in love with Ashal Rollins and feeling betrayed because of your kiss with Cree?"

"Of course she does. Why would you even ask that?"

Asher continues to regard me with suspicious eyes. I am so sick of my family always assuming that my love for Olivia will always be unrequited. It’s even worse coming from Asher who used to or probably still is the subject of Olivia’s unwavering affection.

I’ll admit that Olivia’s feelings for Asher aren’t completely gone. I remember distinctly how she dropped on her knees and tried to beg me (while I was pretending to be Asher) to take her back. That memory still plagues my sleep and brutalizes my ego.

However, unlike before, I know for a fact that Olivia feels something for me now. She calls only my name when we sleep together, even when I ask her while she’s in a deep sleep. It’s a huge win compared to Ashley’s situation if you ask me. So, yes, I believe Olivia loves me too.

"I’m sorry. I’m just looking out for you. I see how tormented you feel for kissing another woman. I just hope Olivia factors your suffering into consideration and forgives you soon so you two can be happy again."

"Thank you."

"Although, I sincerely don’t think you should deny yourself any chance of finding true and unconditional love from a woman just because you feel guilty about Olivia." He puts out his hands as a gesture of peace when my eyes fasten on his with a hint of annoyance. "Hear me out first, Ashal. I am sorry it has taken me this long to come clean about Olivia. I know you know where this is going. I was the one who got with Olivia that night at the club. I was a dickhead and offered to be your wingman and get you the woman you were ogling from across the room but then Olivia refused to be swooned by a guy who didn’t have the balls to walk up to her and make his move. She insisted on hanging out with me that night."

I can’t believe he is finally talking about this. How long has he known that I know? His face contorts with painful embarrassment.

"The right thing I should have done as your brother was to turn down her advances but I didn’t. She and I got talking. I saw why you liked her. She was more than a pretty face. She was also sexy and fun. The rest is history as you know." He trails off to leave out details that no married man will want to hear his brother say about his wife. "I am sorry I blamed it on you. I thought everyone would go easy on you, especially father. I didn’t think Olivia will become such a burden."

"Speak for yourself, Ash."

"Ashal, hear me out, okay? Ever since you were forced into a relationship with Olvia because of what I did, you’ve been trying nonstop to prove yourself to her. I know there are times when she has obliged you but, in her state, I find it difficult to fully accept that her feelings for you are real, not when she doesn’t have a choice. You will never know for certain that she’s prepared to give you the love you deserve until she has the option to leave you. If Olivia could walk away from your marriage and be certain that our family will never bother her again, will she still choose to stay with you? That’s the question you need to answer before you commit your whole life to her."

The air in the gym suddenly constricts in my lungs. All I see when I look at Asher is Olivia’s face begging me for a divorce so we can co-parent.

Asher places his hands on my shoulders. "What you felt for Cree, what you refuse to allow yourself to feel for other women that have and can come into your life, Ashal, I don’t want you to be in a hurry to give that up. It kills me to see you suffer like this to gain Olivia’s affection when you could find someone that won’t make you sweat so much or work for their love like it’s a sport. The woman that will love you regardless of your condition is still out there, Ash and I don’t want you to give up on finding her."

My darkened eyes dart back to his face. "Did father put you up to this?"

"What? No!"

I lurch to my feet. "It’s just seems convenient that shortly after he threatened to cut Liv out of my life, YOU show up with a heartfelt speech about how I deserve true love from someone other than Olivia. How do you expect me to believe that some woman out there will love me for me, flaws and all, and not just because of who I am? Heck, even my family failed to love me unconditionally. Since I attacked those bullies in boarding school, you all have never looked at me the same. You constantly treat me in a way that reminds me of the one thing I try to forget about myself and you sit here and tell me to ditch Olivia?"

Asher stands with empathetic eyes which further aggravates me. "You’re wrong. We all love you."

"No! I’m not. There’s no fucking love in this house. Everyone is selfish, beginning with father. We are not united at all. We stab each other in the back to have our way. We betray our loved ones. We cheat and lie all the time. There is no familial love, not even amongst us brothers. Don’t act like I am not saying the truth."

I pace the floor. "Based on that, I fail to see how any stranger can love me any better. Olivia is not to blame for being hesitant about giving her heart fully to me. Our family is the bane of her existence. She’s been estranged from her loved ones because of us. Why the fuck will she love me like in a fairytale when her life is an unending horror movie? Huh?" I finish with a short laugh. "Why would she? Would you love someone who is the reason for your unhappiness? Would you Asher?"

He says nothing in reply, only watches me with that stupid concern and alarm in his eyes like I am in a spiral. So, what if I am? Why can’t I explode like everyone else? Why does he have to look so sick with worry like he wishes he had a sleep dart to knock me out?

"I’m sorry. You love Olivia and want her. That should be good enough."

"Whatever I felt for Cree, maybe I let it go because I don’t want to have to imprison another woman in my house till the flame inside her goes off and she becomes an empty husk that’s resigned to her fate."

"Okay, Ashal, I hear you."

I step up to his face. "It ends with Olivia. I won’t stop until I make up for the wrongs committed against her and if after everything, she still doesn’t choose me, then I’ll gladly consider a divorce if she wishes it. Tell father to stay the hell away from my private life!" Angrily, I storm away.

I am still simmering with anger the next day at work. I can’t concentrate especially because I can’t forget everything Asher had told me. I might have been very defensive but it wasn’t because I was so certain that he was wrong.

Somewhere deep in my gut, I don’t find the idea ridiculous at all. I have imagined it sometimes. What if there’s really someone out there that would love me the way Olivia loves Asher and Demi loves Ashton? What if Olivia never truly accepts me? Am I prepared to live with that truth for the rest of my life?

"Hey?"

I look up as Elyon enters. "Got a sec?"

"Sure."

He slides into a chair. "So, I realize it’s too early to talk about it but I just can’t help myself. Your new girl, Cree, is that still going on or has the spotlight doused the flames already?"

"Take a guess." I wish he wouldn’t bring up Cree. I don’t want more reasons to think about her. She must hate me for turning her over to my brothers. We haven’t spoken ever since. I don’t even know how to find closure from that brief thing we had.

"Damn." Elyon sighs. "That’s sad." He moistens his lips. "The rumor about Olivia though," My eyes slash up at the mention of her name and Elyon sees it. "That’s not true, is it? I mean I know you’re not married but are you involved with the Olivia girl? I recall seeing her incoming call on your phone once. If you have a girl..."

I slam a hand on my desk, startling him. "You’re buying into rumors now, Elyon? What? Did your sisters and her friends ask you to get the tea from me for them?"

"C’mon man, I’m just here as a friend."

"No, you’re here to pry. I don’t owe you any explanations. You’re welcome to believe the tabloids for all I care because of course they only speak the truth, right? Do whatever you want on your own time, not during work hours. I have a company to run and if you’re no longer committed to assisting me with the skills I hired you for, then let me know."

"Take it easy, sir. I apologize. I didn’t mean to offend you." He leaps to his feet and I suddenly feel bad.

"Elyon, I’m sorry man. I’ve been targeted by the wrong side of the media yet again and I am just sick of defending myself to people. They’re welcome to believe anything they want at this point."

Elyon winces. "That was dumb of me. I should know better. Besides, it’s your private life. You’re free to be with whomever you choose. I’m sorry for prying."

"And I’m sorry for being a mean boss."

He chuckles. "Nah, doesn’t suit you. You’re right though. I have a job to do so on that note, you have a guest waiting, the same one you don’t like to see. She’s back again. Do I send her in here?"

"Madeline?"

"That’s the one."

What does she want now? Can I just go a day without being bothered by the Dunns? "Send her up."

When Elyon leaves, I pick up my phone to find Asher calling and ignore it. His message seeps in moments later.

[Whatever I said this morning had nothing to do with father. That’s just how I feel when it comes to your relationship with Olivia and it hurts my feelings that you’d question my love for you and accuse me of being father’s spy. Call me back. We need to rehash that conversation.]

Maddie enters. "I know what you’re going to say," she immediately utters, cutting off my protest. "I just have a few questions. Five minutes is all I ask."

"I don’t have that kind of time, Madeline." Her full name sounds weird on my tongue and she notices with a cringe. "Don’t you have classes to attend? Don’t make me regret your scholarship so soon."

"Why?"

"Why what?" novelbuddy.cσ๓

"Why did you spare my family after all the trouble I caused you? Why didn’t you take out your anger on me at the very least, or on my sister?"

"How are you certain Olivia isn’t suffering the consequences of your actions in place of your parents?" Something flits across her eyes so fast I couldn’t discern it. Her eyes warm up as she stares at me.

"I am not but somehow, I feel Olivia isn’t being punished for my wrongs." She edges close to my desk. "I don’t know why but I feel like you didn’t make good your threats about her too."

I lean back in my chair. "I spare you once and you suddenly think you have me figured out?"

"It’s a gut feeling, Mr. Ashal, and my guts are hardly wrong about a person." She pins me with a deep, meaningful look that almost chips away my gruff exterior to expose the inner child yearning for acceptance. "I guess I just wanted to say thank you once again for saving me from that marriage. Mom and Dad are super relieved too for the financial aid."

Is Maddie really cozying up to me right now? She has never been this comfortable around me before.

"Is there something else?" I ask when she avoids my eyes and bites her lips.

"Mom’s sick with worry over Olivia. I have done my best to convince her that Liv is fine but she won’t stop worrying. If only I could see Liv...Mr. Ashal, you were going to take me to see her before, right? You said she was in a bad state because of what I did. I can help you comfort her. I really want to see Liv too. It’s been so long." Tears fill her eyes. "Please, I know I shouldn’t ask anything more from you but I beg you to take me to see my sister once. If you want, I’ll debunk everything Billion-Err accused you of."

"It’s a little too late for that. I already confessed to Liv that the kiss was real. She hates me but that’s music to your ears, right?" I turn back to my computer. "Thank you for stopping by, Madeline. Please leave my office now."

"You confessed?"

Her shocked tone makes me look at her. "It’s none of your business but I never did more than kiss that woman. Liv knows that but it still hurts her. We are working through it. I guess I should thank you for helping me get back on track with my wife before doing more things I’d only regret. I just wish Liv had heard it from me first. Cree was a mistake I never planned to continue making."

Maddie continues to stare at me in shock like she’s listening to a totally different person. I understand. She has never bothered to know me beyond the freak that almost ended her sister’s life. She has maintained that one narrative in her head and hated me ever since.

"I’m so sorry. Please, let me make it up to you. Liv listens to me. I can talk her into giving you another chance. You two don’t have to suffer because of my hasty action. Let me do this for you, Mr. Ashal, please. Just take me to see her once."

"I don’t want your favor. If you really want to see your sister, just face time her."

"But I can’t hug her or smell her over face time." She counters. "I can’t hear her heartbeat or touch her hair. If you don’t want to do it for me, then do it for Liv. How do you think she’ll feel if you take me to see her right now? Do you still think she’ll stay mad at you? It’ll be the biggest surprise. She’ll be grateful to you. Please sir."

She isn’t wrong. The frostiness around Olivia will fizzle away the instant Maddie walks through that door. I can imagine Olivia’s face splitting in a big smile, her hands splayed apart to embrace her sister for a minute or two, the tears between them, the whimpers and trembling bodies. The reunion and long list of things they’ll try to catch up on.

Few minutes later, I am driving Maddie to the penthouse. I am doing this for Olivia as seeing her sister will help perk up her mood and keep her health and the baby safe. I know I’d probably regret it because Olivia will want to make this a routine and I can’t allow that yet. I just hope Maddie doesn’t have something up her sleeve as usual.

"This isn’t going to be a routine, Maddie and you better not do anything stupid to make me regret it. Just remember how easy it is for me to cut you and your family down to size. You try anything stupid or say anything wrong to turn your sister against me and I’ll make sure you’re marrying an old geezer somewhere so far away you will never be able to see your loved ones again."

The smile on Maddie’s face pisses me off. "What are you smiling about?"

"You’re back to calling me Maddie again." She sighs. "I didn’t realize the difference in tone till now. Madeline is so awkward coming from you."

Did she not hear the threats I just spewed? I go on to ask her the exact thought but she merely shrugs her shoulders.

"I heard you, sir. I don’t know if I believe you but I heard every word. It’s the gut feeling. It just tells me that you’re a good man underneath this façade." She turns to stare out the window while I swallow hard. Did she just say that to me?

Before leaving the office, I had ordered some delicious meals to be delivered to the penthouse since Lily won’t be able to cook enough food for the sisters before I arrive with Maddie. Lily calls to tell me she has taken delivery of the food. I text her to set the table.

I finish the security checks with Maddie looking perplexed and pull into the garage. I know she has questions about the tight security detail but rather than ask me about it, she gapes at the house with her jaws on the ground. I watch with a smile as she takes in the view.

"Olivia lives here?"

"Correct."

"Maddie?"

Our eyes stray to the front door where Olivia stands, physically shocked to see her kid sister. Tears fill her eyes.

"Am I hallucinating?" She asks, turning to me. Maddie bolts across the distance to hug her sister. They both hold each other like I had imagined, crying, wiping off each other’s tears, feeling each other’s hairs.

I remain by the car while they mutter to each other for over a minute, then Maddie turns to point at me. Liv abandons her sister and shuffles towards me. Her arms wrap around my neck. When she pulls away, she smashes her lips into mine and kisses me passionately.

"Thank you so much." She croaks in tears. "You have no idea what this means to me." Behind her, Maddie looks up from her phone and smiles at us. Maybe I did make the right call after all. My wife literally just treated me like a human being for the first time in days. I hook an arm around her shoulders and escort her back to her sister.

"You two have a lot of catching up to do. I ordered enough food. Eat. Party. Gossip. Whatever works for you."

With excited shrills, they both scurry off with Liv leading the way to give Maddie a tour of the house. I retire to my own room to work from there and get updates from Elyon while the girls are occupied. Asher continues to call me but I keep ignoring his call.

An hour later, I check the house cameras to find the girls. They’re done feasting and are now lounging by the indoor pool with music serenading them in the background. It warms my heart so see Olivia so lively like her old self.

One of my security men calls me.

"Yes?"

"Sir, there’s someone at the gate asking to be cleared inside."

"Who?"

"Mrs. Demi Rollins."