Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 175: Chapter 175

DEMI

"Are you sure? Skylar’s father is still alive and he’s the one who sends her the postcards?"

"Very. My brother and I double checked." Kat assures me. "Maddox will have his address before midnight."

I don’t know what to do with this information. Just when I was starting to feel like my role was done in the Rollins family saga, something new crops up to pull me back in. This isn’t the AFTER I was hoping for. I might just be realizing it but I can’t keep doing this. I need to mentally check out of this drama to find my rhythm and focus in life again.

"I’m sure the quads would treasure this piece of news and figure out a way to find their grandfather..." I say to both girls staring intently at me. "However, I don’t think it’s necessary to insert myself back into their situation just to get this news across to them." My hand goes up, shutting Kat before she can speak. "You were already at the party, Kat. You could have told Anna and she would have told Asher. He listens to her. You didn’t have to come to me!"

"I did. Anna also felt the same way. We wanted you to have a way to redeem yourself..."

"Maybe I don’t need to, Kat. I have done more than enough for the family that wrecked my life, don’t you think? If my life was a web novel, I’m sure eighty percent of the people who read it will hate me as a character. They’ll call me weak and stupid for putting up with so much bullshit and not staying true to my original plan to avenge my parents." I pace around the small living area. "Look, I’m emotionally bankrupt at this point. I have no idea how to process what I am feeling inside. I don’t think I’ll be able to go to that party and face those people. They’re welcome to think whatever they want, to believe whatever they want to believe about me or my intentions. I did my best."

Cree’s face looks crestfallen so I match up to her. "I’ll make sure word gets to Asher. He’ll help you find your grandpops."

"Thank you." She replies with a ghost of a smile.

"Oh, shit." Kat exclaims.

"What?" I ask when she continues to stare at her phone. My own phone buzzes. I grab it and stare at Anna’s message. Instantly, I reach for the TV remote and turn on the TV just in time to see a strange woman asking tough questions to the entire Rollins family.

"In case you’re wondering, I didn’t get the anonymous email. Yeah, that’s why I am not afraid to air my views." Her eyes skirt around the room.

"What email is she talking about?" Kat asks rhetorically, mirroring my own thoughts.

"From the way I see it, it’s easy to stand there and claim to be remorseful of the pain you’ve caused others. You’ve never had to walk a day in their shoes and if your little party agenda works, you’ll never do. So, why don’t you prove me wrong then? You just said that you’re willing to make things right for your victims, right? What if they don’t want your money? What if the only thing that will truly appease them is to see you serve jail time? If I had a petition signed by your real victims clamoring for your joint arrest and prosecution for every evidence-backed allegation against your family, would you accept that fate?"

"Who is she?" I wonder aloud.

"No idea but whoever she is, she appears to know a bit about the Rollins family and isn’t afraid to call them out." Cree replies me without taking her eyes off the screen.

"I recognize her from the party. When she arrived at first, everyone stood transfixed for a second or two, including the quads. She interrupted their photo session without even being a familiar face. I wondered who she was too." Kat responds, staring keenly at the woman questioning the Rollins family.

"Miss, what was your name again?" Brett asks, hushing the rising murmurs.

"I didn’t give it at first but if you’d like to know, it’s Monaco Vaughn. I’m an attorney at law."

"Monaco Vaughn? That’s a beautiful name but sadly one that I don’t recall having on my guest list." Mother replies with a small smile.

"Well, I happen to be attending on behalf of Senator Ackerman. I’m his legal adviser and he couldn’t make it. Does that disentitle me to ask pertinent questions that your other guests don’t have the spine to ask in front of the media?"

"No, dear. You’re welcome to." Brett continues. "In response, I’d like to reiterate that my family and I are prepared to do the best we can to comfort those who feel truly wronged by us. As for being carted off to prison to prove our remorse, such things can’t be done on a whim, regardless of a signed petition. That’s not how it works. There’s a judicial system in place in Danvarr and a due process to be followed. But even if the due process of law is followed, my family won’t submit to trial without a fight because we know all of the heinous accusations against us are fabricated. Hope that answers your question?"

"Beautifully." Monaco replies, clapping her hands as she walks forward. "Hear that people? As much as you all want to play the judge and crucify them, you can’t just wish it. Like Liam said, most of the evidence against the Rollins family was fabricated against them. We all can see why this family is an easy target. I mean, look at them. They got it all and that can be so annoying." Everyone laughs.

"Listen." She continues with a stern look on her face. "An accused is deemed innocent until proven otherwise. THAT’S OUR LAW SO DIAL BACK ON THE JUDGMENT, ok? If you truly feel they’ve trampled on your legal rights, then don’t hide behind your phone screen and a fake account to diss them. Be an adult and get legal aid. Don’t take the law into your hands, got it?" She stares pointedly at the camera, poking her index finger at those of us at home. Then swivels back to the Rollins family in the middle of the room.

"Now that that’s out of the way, I just have one more question. This time, it’s directed to Ashton Rollins, the curly black-haired quad."

Ashton’s demeanor doesn’t change when the camera zooms in on him, almost like he expected it.

"Kat?"

"Way ahead of you." Kat responds to me, doing a quick background check on Monaco. I turn back to the screen and note with a hint of green the sparks coming out of Monaco’s eyes as she regards Ashton.

"What is it?" He asks her, struggling not to be rude.

"Can I have a dance? I think you owe me."

Everyone guffaws, breaking the palpable tension that had seized the hall for the last two minutes. The music cranks up. The dance floor is cleared. Ashton adjusts his suit before walking to meet Monaco halfway. His hand snakes around her waist, pulling her close. I don’t know how I am able to read his lips before the camera decenters the couple.

"...you did all that just for a dance?"

She smiles radiantly at him, star spangled eyes and all. "Go BIG or go home, right?"

"Anything?" I ask Kat to distract myself from Ashton and his new date.

"Her profile checks out. Nothing suspicious. She is who she says she is, and maybe who she thinks she is too." I follow Kat’s eyes to find Monaco killing it on the dance floor to everyone’s admiration, including Ashton’s.

"You’re right. It’s a bad idea to go there. Not a single reporter has even bothered to ask about you. Don’t you think it’s weird? Up until a few days ago, you were the sweetheart that married into that family. How could they act like you were never in the picture?"

"Kat, please." I stop her rant. "It’ll be a bliss if that family forgets me, trust me." I give the TV one last look. "My life always seems to fall to pieces whenever I am top of their mind." I look away so she doesn’t see that though my words are true, it still stings to realize how easily I have been erased from that family.

I continue to urge Kat to press Maddox for the address he’s meant to supply while Cree continues to inundate the old age home with calls, trying to figure out more details about the transfer of Skylar’s grandfather. My attention is drawn once more to the TV after a few minutes at the words of a reporter.

"Looking good, Mr. Ashley Rollins."

I whip my head in time to see Ashley being surrounded. Oh, here we go.

"Your ex-wife is noticeably missing in this event and no one seems to give a shit about her. Care to clarify why that is the case, Mr. Ashley? Was the divorce that messy or are the two of you still on good terms but she just couldn’t make it to your birthday party?"

I grind my teeth. Of course they had to ask. Snatching the remote control, I turn off the TV and shoot Kat a sizzling look that makes her swallow whatever she had wanted to say. Then, I grab my phone to call Anna but suddenly see Ashton’s incoming call. I don’t feel like talking to any of the quads right now so I abruptly end the call and phone Anna instead. She answers after a long ring.

"Hey, I’m about to come home..."

"Not yet. You need to inform Asher about his biological father being alive. Cree stopped by and through her, I just learnt that Asher’s biological grandfather is also alive but there’s more. He has been moved from an old age home by someone unknown. Cree believes the old man might be in danger. I know this is all too much information in one stretch but the matter seems dire and you’re the fastest way to get the info across to them."

"I understand."

"I’ll see you when you get back."

"Uhm, Demi?"

"Love you."

She remains uncharacteristically mute. "I said I love you!" I repeat then blow a frustrated breath as the hive of music seeps in from her end of the line. She’s probably distracted by something. "Ok, I’ll hang up now. See you soon..."

"Please pick up your call. We need to talk." My insides freeze over.

Ashton? noveldrama

***

"I’m not coming to your party." I reiterate for the umpteenth time when he calls me back. "If you have something to say to me, leave a text, a voice mail or better yet, send a letter." I bite down on my lower lip to stop myself from yapping. What am I even saying right now? Get it together, Demi, I caution myself internally.

"That’s not how conversations work, Branson." He replies coolly, the mention of my maiden last name a stark reminder of the version of him I met during my first few days at the mansion. If I wasn’t already used to the lilt in his voice, I’d assume it was Asher on the line.

"I know how conversations work." I answer defensively.

Kat and Cree already left when they saw how agitated the call got me. I don’t blame them. Initially, I tried to play it cool like I would have if I had made it to the party but something about Ashton’s call snapped my cool in half like a broken twig. He basically called me to order me to attend his party and so far, he hasn’t clarified why I have to go there.

"Then, come over. It’s important that you do. I’ll send a car to make things easy."

"I’m not coming over, Ashton. Why aren’t you listening to me?"

"I heard your response clearly but your presence is required here. You’re the one who’s not listening to me."

"Stop yelling at me! I am not your family’s puppet anymore!" I scream atop my lungs for no reason, then regret it instantly. Why am I being overdramatic? How anxious am I right now to be acting so out of character like this just because I keep expecting more from him. I keep expecting him to be rude to me after all that he thinks I’ve done against his family.

The last bit about me no longer being his family’s puppet stuns him into silence for a good five seconds. Afterwards, he breathes calmly into the phone and apologizes. Another awkward five seconds of silence hums between us before I break it.

"You got your brother back. That should settle our scores. Do you have to humiliate me in front of your proud rich friends just to make a point?"

"Wait. You think I am inviting you over to embarrass you?"

"What other reason could you possibly have for inviting me over last minute?"

He expels a deep breath. "Listen, we both have legitimate reasons to doubt each other’s intentions right now but this isn’t about us, ok? That ship sailed." That bit causes a fresh tear in my heart before he adds. "In case you didn’t watch the coverage of the party on TV, my family means to have a sit-down with...the people we’ve hurt in the past. I know we can never make it up to people like you whose lives have been irreparably altered because of us but there must be something we can do to placate you. I personally feel responsible for you and that’s why I wanted to be the one to call you over. There’s no other ulterior motive to it. That’s why I called."

I am momentarily taken aback by the cracks in his voice towards the end of his explanation.

"Ashton..."

"I know you don’t want to be here. It must hurt for a plethora of reasons. However, I think it will mean a lot to your parents if you come hear us out and join us figure out a way to make peace. This is not a PR stunt. I genuinely want to appease you, Demi."

"Why?"

He pauses a bit. "Because it feels like I am killing your parents a second time whenever I recall the kind of woman you’re prone to become due to the pain lodged in your heart courtesy of our actions. I know you can be better than that and I want to make sure you never have to lead that life. If my brothers and I can forge a new path different from the course that was charted for us from infancy, no one is irredeemable, least of you."

"I’m nothing..."

"...like us, sorry. That was a bad analogy." He speedily apologizes.

I imagine him scratching his eyebrows and feeling embarrassed.

"Why do I have to come over now? It’s late already. Why can’t we do this tomorrow with less cameras in my face?"

"Every other person of interest is here. You can either come now and join the others or come alone tomorrow and have the sit-down with my entire family. I figured you’d prefer the former."

"Fine. I’ll come over but it better be worth my while."

"I’ll try."

"How soon is the driver going to get here?" I ask, eyeing the new outfit I had bought to replace Skylar’s and then deciding I’m just going to wear some jeans and no make-up instead.

"I’m already here." Ashton replies, before a loud car honk blares outside Anna’s apartment.