Four Brothers and a Bride-Chapter 127

ASHAL

I am such an idiot. Everything was going so well. Why did I have to open my big mouth to ask dumb questions about a dead guy? Why was I desperate to know what ticks her fancy when choosing boyfriends? Does it really matter? It’s NEVER going to be ME! I know that so why did I push for answers still?

Maddie had gasped in shock when I didn’t reply her with a speedy NO after she asked about me being present the day her boyfriend had died. She clutched her chest and staggered away from me, shooting up a hand when I tried to follow her.

"Maddie..."

"NO! STAY AWAY!" She had shrieked as tears formed in her eyes. I was dying inside because of the look of fear in her eyes. I couldn’t have her be afraid of me and somehow, that was all that mattered in that moment. I took a few steps till I closed the distance between us, against her wish. When I grabbed her hand, her eyes dilated in shock and a nervous scream worked its way up her throat. Quickly, I blocked it by clamping my other hand over her mouth.

"Don’t look at me like that, Maddie. What the hell are you thinking right now? You’re very wrong, ok, and if you would stop your imaginations from running wild, I’ll tell you the truth." Her eyes softened as she listened to me. Goodness, I felt like ice water flowed from my head to my toes when she pulled her face away from my hand but didn’t scream.

"You were here." She voiced firmly.

I inhaled. "I was but only because I was worried about you. I came to see how you were doing and ran into that little scene right here in front of your dorm. I didn’t want to interrupt. Seeing that you were faring well after the whole kidnapping incident put my mind at peace. I was only slightly uncomfortable watching the strange guy touch you inappropriately. I didn’t know at the time that he was your boyfriend. I just thought he was someone you were passing time with to get over everything you had been through."

"What?"

"I know. I’m sorry. I just figured you wouldn’t go for someone like that when interested in having a boyfriend. Forgive me. I guess I don’t know you as well as I thought. I don’t mean to be judgmental. I am no saint myself. I’m sorry about my bias."

Maddie peered deeply at me. I could clearly see her struggling to believe my words.

"Why did you react like that upon learning that I had been here to see you even though it wasn’t the first time?" I ask, pulling my best ’I feel hurt’ face. "Did you immediately think I had something to do with what had happened to your late boyfriend?" This time, it was MY turn to back away, feigning shock and anger. Maddie fell for it and turned apologetic.

I made my way back to my car while she trotted after me.

"Mr. Ashal, it’s not like that."

"Then what exactly was that reaction, Maddie? Did you really think...I can’t believe you." Actual tears stung my eyes. I turned to her. We were inches apart now and though some students were strolling in and out of the dorm, neither of us broke eye contact. It was getting dark outside.

"Do you honestly believe that I could do something like that? Is this because of what happened at Hunter’s house?"

"No, no. Nothing happened at Hunter’s. You only defended me."

I ignored her patronizing remark. "I know I lose it sometimes but I am not a deranged monster. I had feared Hunter had hurt you and that’s the only reason I attacked him. I feared I was too late to save you!" I grabbed her chin with both hands. "I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you, Maddie. That’s why I snapped and here you are thinking I go about killing people? You’ve hurt me more than you could ever know."

I hadn’t planned to go that far or say that much but in the heat of the moment, some truth slipped and I went with the flow. Maddie closed her hands over mine before I could let them fall from her face.

"I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, Mr. Ashal. You saved me from Hunter. I didn’t mean to let my past recollection of my sister’ first encounter with you cloud my reasoning."

"You will always think me a monster at the end of the day, won’t you?"

"NO."

I pull my hands away. "It’s okay. I brought this on myself. No woman will ever see me as anything more. I will learn to live with that."

I spun to return to my car when strong hands yanked my collar and pulled me back. I had only seconds to process anything before Maddie planted a soft, brief kiss on my lips. I guessed it was spurred by the desire to snap me out of my lamentation for a moment. I blinked at her in surprise.

"I’m sorry, Mr. Ashal. Please forgive me. Please."

I pulled her close and smashed my lips on hers. At first, a ripple of shock coursed through her body but she relaxed in my arms moments later and even fisted a hand in my hair as we leaned into the kiss and lost ourselves in it for a bit.

I knew I would feel guilty later for taking advantage of her like that but in the moment, I imagined what it would be like to have her melting in my arms every day, to be the guy in her life if the universe would permit it. It felt really good imagining all the possibilities until Maddie broke the kiss.

"I’m sorry. I got carried away." I panted with flushed cheeks.

"It’s okay." She replied, nervously looking around. One student was lurking. When Maddie locked eyes with her, she shook her head and went into the dorm. "Oh shit."

"What’s wrong?"

"That girl, she saw us."

"And?"

But Maddie was already hastening after the strange girl. I pulled her arm back.

"What’s wrong?"

"She’s my late boyfriend’s cousin. She must hate me now." With that, she bolted from my grip, calling after the strange girl possibly to explain herself. I stood there and watched her go. Instead of reeling with guilt over cheating on my wife, I kept reliving the kiss in my head and blocking out the lies that got me there.

The sound of flushing cuts me out of my thoughts as a guy gets out of the toilet and joins me by the sink to wash his hands. I wash my hands as well, splash some cold water on my face to awaken me to reality before leaving the restroom to find Ashley in the hospital VIP waiting room.

When I got his call regarding Asher’s health, I honestly thought it was a prank. Asher never falls sick. That’s a rarity for him but after getting to the hospital and assessing the situation, I have been comforting Ashley while we wait for Ashton to arrive.

I never got the chance to inform Ashton that I managed to quell Maddie’s suspicions. I don’t think he will be impressed but it’s worth the shot to calm his nerves regarding everything that’s been going wrong all day. I don’t want him seething over my fucked-up situation while worrying about Asher’s condition.

"Have you informed father?" I ask Ashley for the first time. Before now, we sat in pensive silence for over twenty minutes since I arrived. He casts a weak side glance at Nessa who is huddled in a chair across from us with a tear-stained face.

"She won’t let me inform our parents, at least not yet. Asher won’t like it, she says. He kept his condition away from our family for a reason. I agree with her on that. Let’s wait till the doctor confirms that he is out of the woods and then we can call father and mother."

I nod at that. Sounds very much like Asher. He hates to be perceived as weak. He also hates hospitals and takes good care of his health so he doesn’t have to end up in one. I guess the tumor was out of his control.

Poor Asher. He must have been scared to share his condition with us to avoid our pity. How did he manage all these months to put up a brave face in front of us while secretly battling a brain tumor?

I run my hands over my hair. Suddenly, the thought of Maddie learning the truth of her ex-boyfriend’s death pales in significance to my brother’s condition. I know that my family can always find a way to exonerate me even if the truth comes out one day but if we lose Asher, there’s no coming back from that. The very fabric of our familial bond will be ruptured. The quads will be short of one brother. We can’t possibly make it without Asher’s guidance and leadership.

I don’t realize tears are streaming down my cheeks until Demi bursts through the door. She surveys the VIP waiting room before walking up to Ashley who looks distraught with grief.

"How is he?" She asks, keeping a small distance between them.

"Still in surgery." Ashley’s voice breaks but he pulls a strong face. "It’s been hours but I am choosing to trust doctor Ezra and the other specialists assisting him. He won’t let anything bad happen to Asher." He grinds his teeth. "He won’t or father will skin him alive."

Demi and I exchange baffled glances at the anger swirling in Ashley’s eyes before the latter turns to me to explain.

"Doctor Ezra knew about Asher’s condition this whole time! Can you fucking believe it? He’s more than our family doctor for goodness’ sake; he’s a family friend! I get why Nessa kept mum about everything. Asher must have warned her not to say a peep about it but doctor Ezra? The least he could have done was convince our brother to have the surgery sooner. Why wait till it got worse and he passed out cold in my fucking arms?"

I wrap my hands around him as his body quakes with emotion.

"I thought we had lost him, Ashal." Ashley cries. "I really feared he had died in my arms."

There’s an uncertain look on Demi’s face as she watches her husband break down in tears. I look at her and instantly decipher it; guilt. Guilt over what? Is she feeling bad for her sour relationship with Asher who’s now battling for his life or did she know about his health condition too but told no one? My bet is on the latter because she works with Asher. She must have stumbled into him behaving weird or sighted a few clues as to his health.

I shake my head. How can I blame her? I literally live with my brother and spend the most time with him compared to Demi yet his condition got past me.

Someone pokes a head into the waiting room. Anna. From the corner of my eye, I see Nessa jump to her feet and head for the door. She intercepts Anna before the poor girl can join us in the room. When Demi reads the situation and attempts to go after Nessa, I call her back.

"Stay with him, please. He needs you." I plead, gesturing to her husband who is still whimpering. I can tell Demi is torn between going to defend her best friend and consoling her husband.

"I’ll handle it." I assure him, casting a glance at the door. She nods sagely and replaces me on the seat next to Ashley who proceeds to lean on her shoulder, breathing softly. I watch her stroke his back and whisper assurances in his ear that Asher will be fine.

Outside, Nessa’s mascara smudged face is inches away from Anna’s.

"What do you mean?" Anna asks, glaring at her. "I’m here to see Asher."

"You can’t be here." Nessa reiterates with fire in her eyes. "This is a private matter within the family. The media can’t get a whiff of this. Mr. and Mrs. Rollins will be here soon and you’d be hard-pressed to find a good excuse for your presence here."

"Let me worry about that." Anna replies but when she tries to sidestep Nessa, the latter yanks her arm back. "Keep your grubby hands off me!" Anna growls.

"What exactly are you here as, huh? A friend of Demi’s or Asher’s fling? Have some shame and go home. You don’t need to be here."

I watch the two ladies go at it and wonder what I should say to break this up.

"And what exactly is your excuse for being here?" Anna fires back at Nessa. "You’re just his secretary!"

"You and I know I am way more than that to him. The difference between us in that regard is that my other relationship with him is no secret from his family, especially his father! However, I am not here because of that. I knew about Asher’s condition from the start. I brought him here for his surgery today. I have every right to be here when he wakes up. Can you say the same before his family?"

Anna’s moistens her lips but says nothing.

"Ladies, please." I interrupt, approaching them. "This is a hospital and my brother is fighting for his life. The last thing I will tolerate is this banter over who should see him or not." I turn to Anna. "Nessa is right. No one knows my brother is in the operating theatre right now. I’d like to keep this within my family. You can always come back to see him when he comes to but now is not a good time. I’m sorry, Anna. I’ll let him know you stopped by when he pulls through."

Anna blinks away her tears, gives Nessa a hot glare before stomping away. Just then, Ashley storms outside, fuming.

"What’s wrong?" I quickly ask, going to him. Demi comes out and she looks miffed too.

"She also knew about Asher’s condition." Ashley blurts out jabbing a finger in Demi’s direction. He turns to her. "I’m your husband and his brother! YOU SHOULD HAVE CONFIDED IN ME. DID YOU HATE ME AND HIM SO MUCH YOU DIDN’T CARE TO TELL ME HE WAS DYING KNOWING FULLY WELL THAT I COULD HAVE SWAYED HIM TO HAVE HIS SURGERY EARLIER? WERE YOU HOPING HIS INDIFFERENCE TOWARDS HIS HEALTH WOULD LEAD TO HIS DEATH SO YOU CAN FEEL AVENGED?"

I stare in shock at Demi. How come all the women around Asher seem to know about his condition but not his brothers?

"I told you he threatened me not to say anything!" Demi replies defensively. "He also mentioned that he was taking care of it. How was I supposed to know it was this bad? Why are you yelling at me and making ridiculous insinuations? Look, I understand that you’re hurting but throwing blames at me won’t make you feel better. Don’t paint me as the bad guy here."

"She’s right, Ashley. We can’t afford to apportion blames right now. WE ARE HIS BROTHERS. WE SHOULD HAVE NOTICED. WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN. THE FAULT IS OURS ALONE FOR BEING SO CLOSE TO HIM AND YET FAILING TO SEE THE SIGNS."

Ashley wipes his eyes and returns back to the waiting room. Nessa hustles after him.

"Where’s Anna?" Demi asks, looking around.

"She felt like she was intruding and promised to stop by when Asher pulls through. I thought it was best since..." My phone beeps, distracting me. "Shit! How is the media already apprised of the situation? News of a certain health challenge striking our family is blowing up online. Some people here must have leaked photos of us rushing in here to the media." I look up at Demi, cussing under my breath.

"Father will hear soon. He’ll come rushing with mother. Shit. Asher isn’t out yet. This is a mess."

"They were bound to find out anyway. Why don’t you worry less about the media for now and more about Asher. Oh, here comes doctor Ezra."

I look up as doctor Ezra approaches us still in his scrubs. Ashley and Nessa rush out of the waiting room to join us.

"How’s he?" Ashley asks. "Is Asher okay? Tell me he made it."

"Calm down, boys." The doctor takes a gulp of air. "I believe the worst part is over. The surgery was successful. Your brother is being transferred to his room now but he won’t be conscious for a few more hours. We have to wait for him to come to so as to check for side effects."

I exhale deeply. "I am just glad he made it through the surgery. Thank you doctor."

"You’re welcome."

I pull Ashley away to inform him about the media disaster. Again, I beg Demi to keep him company while I make a few calls. Nessa insists on going to Asher’s room to sit with him but I refuse and ask her to go home instead. Stubbornly, she insists on staying put in the waiting room till we can all go see Asher together. I don’t argue it.

In thirty minutes, the hospital entrance gradually has a pool of journalists lingering, their cameras ready to take snapshots of my family. I try reaching Ashton on phone but his line isn’t going through.

"Where the fuck are you, Ashton? I need you here. I can’t deal with this by myself." I mutter while stifling the urge to chuck my phone against the wall. He would know how to handle this with a cool head. That has always been a flex for him and Asher. Ashley and I on the other hand aren’t built that way. We mostly crumble during stressful situations.

Father’s call comes through and I immediately know Ashley must have ignored our old man’s call first before my number was dialed. I ignore it too and find a quiet space to take a breather while waiting for Ashton. Just then, a message beeps into my phone.

It’s from my wife, Olivia.

[We need to talk. It’s about Maddie]

Shit. Not now.