Four Brothers and a Bride Chapter 52

DEMI

"She’s working late? Does she realize what today is?" I scowl at my dad at the breakfast table while he continues to whisk eggs in a bowl. His face is partially covered with white flour. He dusts his apron and sighs.

"Of course, baby. Mom won’t miss your birthday for anything in the world." I don’t find his smile reassuring so I cast my eyes in a sorrowful droop into my bacon and eggs.

"Why did she have to take that stupid job? It’s all the way across town. We barely even see her."

"Danvarr is just an hour’s drive from here and honey, mommy needs the job. I’m between jobs right now and she couldn’t turn down such an opportunity from a big company like Rollins Empire. She isn’t happy being away from us most of the ti but I need you to rember that she’s doing it for us because she loves us. I promise things will get better. I’ll get a job soon and mommy won’t have to work so hard."

"You’ve been saying that for months now." I drop my fork with a clatter and grab my bag. "I’m off to school."

"I’ll drop you."

"NO." I give his apron a onceover. "Thanks dad but William already offered."

That’s a lie. William is one of the richest kids at my school. He drives a fancy car to school every day. Coupled with the fact that he is a good looking senior, all the girls in school have the biggest crush on him.

I’ll admit I find him quite attractive too. However, he hits on literally every girl and has a new girlfriend every week. He’s so popular he organizes a spinning wheel ga to pick a random girl to date him each week.

After a year at my school, William’s wheel finally stops at my na but it unfortunately ca at a ti when I am no longer the giggly teenager that secretly fawns over him. Hence, I declined. It’s the first ti any girl at school has declined dating William and that neither went well with him nor my schoolmates.

They’ve been giving so much hate for it. I don’t expect my dad to know who William is so I throw in that excuse hoping he allows find my way to school. I am turning fifteen today after all. I can manage.

"Who’s William?" He asks.

"Her boyfriend."

Dad and I crane our necks to the door to find William standing there looking dapper in his uniform like it is a custom-made suit. I manage to shove him out the front door to his new, flashy car parked right in front of my house.

"How did you find my house?" I bark in anger.

"Stassie, your neighbor told ." William replies with a smirk as he opens the passenger door for . "C’mon Denise, it’s just one bloody week. You really want to embarrass like this?"

I slam the door shut. "It’s Demi, not Denise and no, I don’t an to embarrass you. I am just not interested, that’s all."

"No one said you had to be. We aren’t trying to be a real couple in school. It’s all just for entertainnt. Everyone loves to see with a fresh girl every week, especially the ones that guys won’t normally look at. I’m actually helping you here. After this week, all the guys in school will look at you differently, trust ."

"And who told you I wanted the guys at school to look at differently? I’m cool with the way things are. Thanks though." When I try to leave, he grabs my wrist. "I said NO."

"What exactly are you trying to prove, Denee? You’re not half as beautiful as the won I go for. I’m trying to do you a favor and you’re being cocky? Ha. You don’t get to tell no. What could possibly be the reason for a girl like you to turn down a guy like ?"

"Reasons." I correct him. "They are more than one. Wanna hear it? Fine! I dislike your popularity with the female folk and how you flirt with everyone in a skirt. I dislike how proud you are because of your daddy’s money and how you rub it in everyone’s faces like it wasn’t pure luck that you were born with a silver spoon. I dislike that you don’t have a personality of your own and keep switching them up according to what you think people will like. Shall I keep going?"

His face is flushed with embarrassnt now. I guess I hit ho with so of my points. I brush past him and take the sidewalk while his fans from school pull up chanting his na.

When I return ho from school, mom isn’t still ho. Dad and I sing and dance. We see my favorite Barbie movie twice while we wait for her. Then her call cos through and by the sound of it, she is anxious.

Dad rushes to grab his keys and begs not to leave the house till he returns. He tries to wave off my concern at how worried mom sounded before he hops into his beatdown Volkswagen and heads for Danvarr. I try my best to wait up for them only to open my eyes the next morning to an empty house and so leftover cake. The knocking on the door is very loud.

"Demi? Demi??" I jerk awake, a film of sweat coating my forehead and neck. In my dream, the cops are usually the ones outside the door. It’s the day I was inford of the elevator accident involving my parents. Right now, it’s just mother calling for .

I crawl out of bed and gasp at the clock. It’s past eight am? How could I have overslept? Asher will be livid. I unlock the door and run a hand over my face.

"I’m so sorry. I don’t know how I overslept..."

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Mother sings to . What? How did she know? "It’s okay my darling, you’re welco to rest as much as you like. It’s Saturday dear."

"It is?" I glance at my phone. Crap. How did I forget? Mother pulls to a couch.

"You’ve been working so had you’re starting to forget things, the ti, the date and now, your birthday. I was worried this phase will set in. All my boys went through it too but only Asher survived despite putting in more working hours. The rest backed off and now work only as much as their strength can allow."

"How did you know about my birthday?" I was hoping to keep this a secret during my stay with the Rollins. Since my parents passed, I have never celebrated my birthday. Aunt and Kira also understand this. They wouldn’t tell my in-laws, would they?

"Your cousin called to tell . Thank goodness or I would have beat myself up for missing your first birthday as the daughter-in-law of this house."

"Mother, I really don’t want to celebrate. I don’t want a party or anything. You and I can just hang out in the garden or go shopping to kill ti."

"Nonsense." Mother says, springing to her feet. "Your first party in this house has to be spectacular. It’s what I do. Then you can sleep all day or garden for the other birthdays that follow after this one. Nope." She shakes her head and walks to the door when I begin to protest. "I won’t hear a word. I already made so calls. An event planner is halfway through with the planning. The pool behind the house is being decorated last minute. We will be having the party there simply because I can’t get a better location at such short notice. All you can do now is tell who you’d like to see at your party and I’ll arrange for them to be there."

It’s hopeless reasoning with her when her eyes are fired up like this. After she leaves, I grab my pillow and bite down on it to stifle a clawing need to scream. I can’t do this. How can I possibly have a birthday party thrown for by the very sa people who made this day a difficult one to live through?

Despite all my pleas, mother refuses to cave. Huge vans pull up at the house, offloading equipnt for the disc jockey. When I peer out my window at the backyard, I can hardly recognize the pool area. The dostic staff are hard at work, setting up the place.

"Nervous?" Ashley asks, coming up behind on the staircase. I exhale deeply. "It’s going to be okay. Mother can’t be swayed when she’s like this. It’ll all be over in a couple of hours. Just let her have her way today and you can control the rest of your birthdays after this one." The mont he says it, we both stare hard at each other as we realize my subsequent birthdays aren’t guaranteed to happen in the mansion given our contract.

The awkward mont gets cut off as the rest of the brothers join us, wishing a happy birthday. I feign a smile and thank them.

Mother insists they dress very differently today so they can be distinguished by their clothes. Though the outfits will be party appropriate, it will still appeal to their individual tastes. She ntioned to in passing that the quads’ birthday is the one day they’re permitted to dress exactly the sa and that can be very confusing.

Right now, I am grateful each one is sticking to their individual styles, though in casuals.

"Aren’t you excited" Asher asks with a cocky grin on his face,

"She’s a little nervous. First big party." Ashley answers, throwing a hand over my shoulder.

Ashton hasn’t said a word to beyond the collective happy birthday wish. He dons a thick grey sweater with both hands in his pocket. He has been reserved for a while now and barely returns my texts to Will.

"What do you want for your birthday?" Ashal asks. "Just say it and we’ll do it."

"I don’t know yet. I’ll let you all know as the day progresses."

"Demi!"

I look up to see Anna at the foot of the stairs.

"ANNA!" I squeal with excitent as I race down the steps to et her. I slam into her chest, my arms coming around her neck in a tight hug. "I’m so glad you’re here. I was losing my mind." I finish in a whisper.

Anna understands everything. She flicks a quick glance up the stairs and waves casually at the quads. Then she pulls a few ters away.

"You really couldn’t stop it?"

"No! I tried. Mother is obsessed with throwing parties. I couldn’t stop her." I streak a hand through my hair. "A ton of people will be here by dusk. It’s a mask party too. I just...I don’t know. I want to disappear for a couple of hours. Being here amidst the craziness isn’t helping my nerves."

"You have to stay calm. Have you been in touch with Liam?"

"We have been keeping communication quite low. I think soone found the listening device in the ga room. Liam confirms it. I don’t know if it’s one of the quads or a staff but I feel like I’m being watched. The heat stirred by Billion-Err regarding the quads being Bullies didn’t last as much as we hoped. Brett sohow managed to make Josh deny everything and tender a public apology to the quads." Sighing, I kindly request Oliver, one of the dostic staff, to bring a lemonade.

"Anna, I really don’t feel good about any of this. I dreamt about my parents today. That’s all the sign I need to know that this party could very well be a disaster."

"Calm down, okay? It’s already happening. We can’t stop it now. All I want you to do is put up a convincing smile and get through it. Try not to think too much about the painful mory of what happened on this day years ago. We can’t have anyone asking questions."

She’s right. I just have to manage sohow.

"I’m glad you are here." I pull her in for another embrace. "I can’t get through this day without you."

When I ease back, I am just in ti to see Anna tear her eyes off one of the quads staring intently at her above the stairs.

Asher.

***

The pool is lit up as the waning thrill of dusk settles in. Downstairs, the living room is tastefully decorated and cramd by guests in gold masks. The n don fancy tuxedos and the won are draped in evening gowns that scream of luxury. Just seeing them make my nerves spike with anxiety.

"You look great." Ashley assures for the umpteenth ti.

"Thank you, Ash. The dress is beautiful but I don’t think it’s ." The sheer fabric with gemstones hanging like teardrops jiggles with every move I make. Ashley added a pair of rose gold heels and a matching purse. I have no doubt Nicola would pull this off but for , it just makes feel like a giant disco ball.

"I’m sorry Demi but you can’t possibly wear a tennis skirt and sneakers to your birthday party here. Father will be affronted in front of his guests."

"But it’s MY party. Why can’t I wear what I like?" I want to run a hand over my face but there’s so much makeup gunk on it. If I ruin it, the ten grand that mother paid to have it done will go to waste. Ashley tilts my sulking chin towards him. "I just want to have one thing go my way today, one!"

"You will. Let’s do one thing. Why don’t you wear this for your first entrance and et our VVIPs tonight. After that, you can change into sothing more comfortable for the rest of the party. Agreed?"

I join my pinkie with his and nod my head. He kisses my knuckles and winks seductively at . I justify the blush feverishly spreading through my cheeks as a normal reaction any woman in my position would have. The sex appeal the quads ooze is a given but coupled with Ashley’s charm, it can be insane.

He walks down the stairs during my first entrance. I try not to trip on my face as the guests applaud us. They all have masks on. Holding him close, I follow his lead as he takes from one table to the next to exchange pleasantries with so dignitaries at my party. Father and mother also introduce to their circles too. For the first ti, father calls his daughter-in-law. I’m certain he isn’t thrilled to from the fake smile on his face. It’s all mother’s influence.

Aunt and Kira sidle up to .

"Happy birthday dear. You look like a model." Aunt quips.

I’m still not over their betrayal the last ti Asher visited. I rake Kira’s face with my eyes. She isn’t necessarily here for . I’m certain she pushed mother to throw this party so she can have an opportunity to be in the sa room with the crè de la crè of society. Even now, she barely wishes a happy birthday. Her eyes are scouting my masked guests.

"You have so nerve to co to MY party without tendering an apology for the ss you caused the last ti." I can’t pretend I’m over it. Kira turns to now. Her mother’s eyes also flash in surprise as I wheel my eyes towards her too.

"Demi, it’s a happy occasion. Why don’t you let bygones be bygones." Aunt implores, tacitly urging Ashley to coax . He kisses my cheek.

"Hon, I think I see a good friend of mine that I invited. I’ll just go welco him and be back in a bit." I nod at him before he leaves. Alone with mother and daughter, I cross my arms.

"If you two don’t want to have security show you out, you had better tender that apology right now." The annoyance I have been bottling all day just seems ready to spill. My fiery eyes unsettle my aunt. Kira tries to lie.

"I misread the situation okay..."

"Like heck you did." I raise a hand and signal a man in a black suit and shades by the door.

"Are you really going to have your family thrown out of your party?"

"My family?" I yell at Kira just a little over the hum of the classic tune wafting in the air. "You call yourselves my family after what you did? You stood there and lied through your teeth to get in trouble with the Rollins. What were you hoping for? That I would get kicked out? And you aunt, I’m sure you knew Kira was lying but pigs will fly before you take my side over your lying daughter’s."

"Demi, is everything okay?" Anna asks, walking up to us. The security detail approaches and asks how he can assist . Aunt’s and Kira’s faces are flushed with trepidation and embarrassnt now. I arch a brow at them.

"Don’t you have sothing to say to ?"

With great hesitation, they both apologize to . I thank the bodyguard and excuse him.

"The next ti you two connive against again, I’ll cut you off completely and assu my fate as an orphan because frankly, I’ve never felt different since moving in with you guys."

Tears glisten in my eyes at the thought of my parents. Shit. I can’t ruin this night with tears. It only just began. Anna helps to the guest bathroom downstairs and consoles .

"I got you. It’s okay. The night is nearly over. Just a couple more hours of this party and you can cry to your heart’s content behind closed doors."

We move over to the pool area to cut my cake. The partying continues for the younger folks. With most of the boors and dignitaries gone (including my in-laws who retire to their rooms) I make haste to change into sothing comfortable. A double pair of sleek n’s shoes lumber into my path.

"Baby, you can’t believe what I am about to tell you." I look up to find a slightly tipsy Ashley with his arm strewn over a strange masked man’s shoulder. "This is the friend I was talking about. He ca from outside Danvarr. We attended the sa university and lost touch for a while until recently. This is William Thorpe. Will, et my wife, Demi..."

"Branson." William completes. Ashley chuckles.

"Actually, it’s Rollins now."

"Oh, my bad."

My jaw drops as he takes off his mask. It’s actually him, the snobbish, cocky William from high school.

"Pleasure to be reacquainted, Demi Rollins." I stare at the hand he presents for a handshake.

"William said you two attended the sa high school. How crazy is that?"

"Small world." William concurs Ashley’s words. Inhaling, I take William’s hand and flash my pearly whites.

"Nice to see you again, William."

"Will is just fine." He corrects .

"William is just as fine." I insist. There’s sothing unsettling about the look he gives . When I try to break off the handshake, he intentionally tightens his grip and flashes a sultry smile before letting go.

We are all distracted by a sound. When we look over, Nicola, who was previously dressed to kill, is stripping off her clothes and seductively going into the pool for a swim. Everyone gasps at her amazing curves. When I look at him, Ashley is struggling to look away.

I make an excuse to go change and walk away from the madness. What are the odds that my husband’s friend who is at my party is a blast from my past? What did William an by that look? Why was my husband’s ex-girlfriend, Nicola, invited to my party in the first place? More questions trill in my head till it thrums with a low ache.

I hurry, wishing the night to be over already. Where the hell is Anna? I need her to calm down right now. Just when I think my night can’t get any worse, I turn the corner, enter the mansion and the first sight that greets is Mila clinging to Ashton like Velcro by the fireplace. They look so loved up it makes my eyes sting. Are they really a couple now? Why am I the only one who’s still asking that?

I take off for the elevator as my tears threaten to spill. My mind is reeling right now. I am not enjoying myself at all. My emotions are all over the place. Ashley’s ex is at my party dressed to kill and has been seducing my husband all night.

Though he’s been hanging close to , I have caught Ashley’s eyes veer towards her direction on multiple occasions. I know they’ve been carrying on their relationship in secret but I had hoped to be spared tonight. It’s my birthday for fuck’s sake. Why is she here? That’s just disrespectful.

Then there’s Ashton who I have no rights over but still feel a sting each ti he is with another woman or ignores . Mila is a beautiful woman and single. There’s no reason why Ashton wouldn’t want to date her. Even his father approves of her.

Yet, the tears blur my vision as I recall his intimate hand placent on Mila’s waist and her hand in his hair. The way he was looking at her...he used to look at like that.

The elevator finally opens to the first floor. Thankfully, there’s no one here.

I make a dash for my room with no plans to rejoin the party. Heavy footfalls follow after . Ashton. I hoped he had seen and would co after but the closer I get to my door, the more I realize I can’t deal with him right now. I just want to cry on my bed for a few hours. I key in my code, unlock my door and go in but before I can shut it, Ashton blocks with his foot in the door.

I sigh tiredly. "Ashton, I can’t right now. I need to be alone..." My eyes boggle when I look up at his face.

"Ashton? I’m very sure your husband is nad Ashley. Right, Demi?" Finally, he gets my na right for once.

"What the hell do you want?" I ask, glaring at William despite being half scared. How the hell was he allowed up here?

"I think you know why. You and I have unfinished business, Demi." Chills run down my spine as William shoves into my room and shuts the door behind him.