Four Brothers and a Bride

ASHAL

I stand beside the incubator, my palms resting on the cool edge of the plastic dome, watching my son sleep. His chest rises in soft, steady movements now, no longer the erratic flutter that haunted the first days after his birth. His skin, once alarmingly translucent, has gained a healthy blush. He looks stronger.

The doctor clears his throat gently behind me.

"Mr. Rollins," he says, his voice warm, "I’m pleased to tell you your son is doing exceptionally well. His vitals have stabilized, his lungs are functioning normally, and he’s feeding properly."

I turn slowly. For a moment I cannot speak.

Doctor Ezra smiles, folding his hands together. He has been our family physician for decades, long enough that he remembers us as children racing through the hallways of our first estate, long enough that he still calls my mother Liz when he forgets himself.

"Which means," he continues, "he’s ready to go home."

The words settle into my chest like sunlight breaking through thick clouds. Ready to go home? My son can sleep and wake up under the same roof as me? My throat tightens and I have to look back at the incubator before my voice betrays me.

"He’s really okay?" I ask quietly.

Ezra nods. "More than okay. He’s a fighter. I’d say he takes after his father."

A soft laugh escapes me, though it feels strange coming from my mouth. I have not laughed much these past weeks.

"Thank you, doc, for everything."

Behind me, my mother steps forward. In her elegant tweed two-piece suit, she looks immaculate even in a hospital setting. Her silver hair is styled perfectly though the shadows beneath her eyes betray sleepless nights spent worrying over a grandson she barely had the courage to hope for.

"Ezra, you have no idea what this means to us." She says warmly, touching his arm.

"Oh, I believe I do, but we still need to discuss discharge procedures."

My mother nods. "And... perhaps a more discreet exit," she adds carefully.

Ezra lifts a brow.

"The paparazzi," Mother explains. "You know how relentless they are with our family. If they see Ashal leaving the hospital with a baby, the speculation will be insufferable."

Doctor Ezra chuckles softly. "I suspected as much. Don’t worry, Mrs. Rollins. We have a private staff exit you can use. I’ll make the arrangements."

Relief flickers through my mother’s expression. "Thank you."

As they begin discussing logistics, I drift a few steps away, my eyes wandering across the quiet ward. I scan the hallway, the waiting chairs, the nurses’ station. There’s no sign of her.

Still, the restless feeling in my chest refuses to settle. My gaze returns to the corridor again and again.

"Ashal?"

I turn towards my mother. Her eyes narrow slightly in that perceptive way that used to terrify me as a boy who thought he could hide mischief from her.

"Is everything alright?"

"Yeah. Yeah, everything’s...fine." I chuckle nervously.

She tilts her head. "You keep looking toward the door."

I follow her gaze before I can stop myself.

"No one else is coming. You asked everyone to stay away today, remember? Even Olivia’s parents."

The mention of Olivia sends a chill down my spine.

"I know, mother. I was just...looking."

She sighs deeply. "Who are you expecting?"

"Maddi," I admit hesitantly, my eyes still straying to the door. That’s a half-truth anyway. It’s the best I can do for now.

Mother blinks. "You invited her?"

"Yes."

"And she hasn’t arrived yet?"

"Not yet but she will." I add defensively.

She studies me for a moment before nodding slowly.

"Well," she says, smoothing her skirt, "traffic in Danvarr is atrocious at this hour. I’m sure she’ll appear soon enough." She turns to beam at my son, touching his tiny fingers.

As if summoned by her words, the door to the NICU wing opens. Maddi steps into the room like a breath of warm air after a long winter. For a moment I simply stare.

The last time I saw her, she looked fragile, pale, hollowed out by grief and illness. Now...now, she looks alive again. Color has returned to her cheeks. Her lush hair falls in soft waves over her shoulders. Her eyes, once dulled by exhaustion, sparkle with their familiar quiet warmth.

She looks like herself again. Relief floods me so suddenly it almost knocks the breath from my lungs.

"Maddi," I mutter.

She looks at me and smiles. "I’m sorry I’m late."

Before she can say anything more, I cross the room and pull her into a hug. Her body feels solid against mine. Healed. Recovered. Real.

"I hope you feel as good as you look." I murmur against her ear. "I’ve been so worried about you."

"I feel better," she assures me.

When she pulls away, her gaze immediately drifts to the incubator. "Oh my God. How is he?".

She approaches slowly, like she’s afraid the moment might vanish if she moves too quickly.

"He’s all set to come home with us." Mother replies, smiling sweetly. Maddi’s hand rises to her mouth as she leans over the incubator.

"He’s beautiful."

Doctor Ezra pulls mother aside to discuss the discharge instructions. I edge close to Maddi. She turns to me with bright eyes.

"Can I hold him?"

"Carefully." I help lift the baby into her arms. The moment she cradles him, something inside me tightens unexpectedly. I can’t describe how it makes me feel seeing her with my son, the child we will raise together.

She begins taking pictures almost immediately, balancing the baby carefully while angling her phone.

"Wait, hold on," she murmurs. "Let me get a video."

I watch her quietly and I know exactly what she’s doing. Maddi has never been one prone to capture special, private moments like this on her phone. She’ll much rather embrace and enjoy it in real time. The eagerness to take pictures and photos today can only mean she’s sending them to Olivia.

My gaze drifts to the doorway again. If Maddi is here doing the lord’s work...then Olivia must be close. She must be watching too, waiting for a glimpse of the child she gave birth to but cannot claim.

The thought sends a strange mixture of comfort and pain through my chest.

After a moment, Maddi clears her throat.

"Ashal?"

"Yes?"

She hesitates. "Have you thought about where the baby will live?"

I almost laugh at the ridiculous question. "In the mansion of course, with his father."

She nods slowly, though something uneasy flickers across her face. "Are you sure that’s wise?"

I frown slightly. "What do you mean?"

She adjusts the blanket around the baby before answering.

"Well... think about it. There are dozens of staff members in your mansion: nannies, maids, security, drivers. But the actual family members that this child is related to are always busy."

I open my mouth to protest, but she continues. "And the constant tension in that house...it’s not exactly the warmest environment for a child to grow in. I lived there once and it was tough enough being there as an adult. I wonder what it would be like for this baby; growing up seeing nannies and having no friends visit because he’s being homeschooled."

Her words hit uncomfortably close to truth. Even my own childhood wasn’t as a bleak as the life my son might have in the mansion.

"He might grow up surrounded by luxury," she continues, "but he’ll still feel... alone."

I rub the back of my neck. "I’ll make time for him. I’ll work from home."

"I know you will." She touches my cheek. "But one person can’t make up for an entire family dynamic. It takes a village to raise a child, remember? It’s important he gets to see what a real family unit looks like."

Silence settles between us. "What exactly are you driving at, Maddi?"

"What if he stayed with us instead?"

I gape at her. "Stay with... with your family?"

She nods. "At least while he’s still a under a baby. My mother and I would take care of him. You could visit anytime. And when he’s older—maybe when he’s a toddler—you could bring him back to live with you."

She shifts the baby slightly in her arms. "But right now he needs a normal environment. A home where he can grow without cameras or media speculation. Isn’t that something your family need to watch out for? If the baby stays with us, you’ll be good. There are just too many strangers in that mansion, even armed ones. He needs a normal kid bedroom, to feel the warmth of a smile, not one forced for the check. He’s Liv’s baby and that makes him mine no less. He’ll be better off with us."

Her eyes soften. "And I’m sure Olivia would want that. For her son too."

The name lands like a quiet blow. I close my eyes briefly. Olivia would want that. Of course she would.

"Liv would hate the idea of him growing up hidden," Maddi continues softly, driving her point further. "Always looking over his shoulder because of paparazzi."

When I open my eyes again, I realize something else. Maddi means every word she’s saying but she’s also saying all this to give Olivia access to her son. Olivia would easily have access to our baby if he lived in their home. And strangely...I don’t mind my son being raised by his mother. I’ll take that any day over him being raised by nannies.

I give her a long look, reassessing everything in my head. "Are you sure your family is ready to take on this responsibility? I wouldn’t want to..."

"We’d love nothing more, Ashal. Trust me on this."

I rub my eyes. "Alright."

Her eyes widen. "Really?"

"Really. But on one condition."

"Name it."

"You ask me for whatever the baby needs, anything at all with no hesitation."

She smiles. "I promise."

For a moment we simply stand there, looking at the child between us. We’re the picture of a complete family. This realization makes something shift in the air. I lean closer to Maddi and my heart swells with joy when she doesn’t move away.

Our faces draw nearer. It has been weeks since we were this close, since we equally yearned for each other. My lips are inches from hers when she suddenly freezes.

Her gaze flicks toward the window. Curious, I follow it but before I can see anything clearly, she cups my face and pulls me back. Then she kisses me. The kiss is soft but urgent.

I respond instinctively, relief and longing rushing through me at once. But even as her lips move against mine, a small voice in the back of my mind whispers something unsettling; the kiss feels like a distraction.

Like she didn’t want me to notice who was walking past the window. The thought lingers on my mind long after the kiss ends.

***

Mother almost shed tears when I told her about the sudden change of plans. She’d spent a great deal of time decorating my baby’s nursery. She had changed her entire schedule months ahead to afford her time to nurse the baby. Her eyes glisten with tears as I explain the sudden decision of letting the Dunn family raise my son.

"But how? Why? I thought..."

I grab her shoulders and pull her in for a hug. "It’s for the best, mother. We can see the baby whenever we want. We don’t need to make any appointment. I just don’t want him being raised mostly by strangers in the mansion. We’ve got a lot going on right now. It’s not ideal to raise a baby in that chaos."

She bobbed her head more out of helplessness against my decision than understanding my point of view. She left for home while I took Maddi and the baby to the Dunn house.

By the time we reach the Dunn house later that afternoon, the sun has begun to dip low in the sky. Maddi’s parents greet us at the door like we’ve brought them the greatest treasure in the world.

"Let me see him!" her mother cries.

Her father laughs in disbelief when he finally takes the baby into his arms.

"Our grandson," he murmurs.

Watching them, something inside my chest loosens. This house feels different from the mansion. It’s definitely echoing with more warmth than the mansion will ever know.

I arch a brow at the mini nursery they already prepped, almost like they were confident Maddi was going to convince me to bring Ashal Jnr. Home to them. They lay the baby in his cot and the women start cooing at him. I immediately begin discussing practical matters with Mr. Dunn.

"We’ll need to baby-proof the stairs," I say. "There will definitely be structural changes to be made to the house. I hope that’s okay with you."

Maddi’s father waves a hand. "We’ll handle that."

"That won’t be necessary, sir. I’ll cover all the costs." I insist, glancing at Maddi who looks up at me. "Maddi already assured me she won’t hesitate to call on me if you guys ever need anything for my son. I appreciate your offer but I’ll very much prefer I be fully responsible for his stay here."

"Of course you will," he replies with a forced smile.

Maddi’s mother shakes her head. "I know you’re used to having nannies and probably have some on standby but there won’t be need for any here. I don’t work anyway. I don’t mind taking care of my grand baby full time."

I raise a brow. "You’re sure?"

She smiles warmly. "Nothing will make me happier."

For once, I don’t argue. "Thank you."

I spend a couple of hours getting my baby settled in and bonding with him. Leaving is the hard part but finally, Maddi walks me to my car by 9pm. The evening air is cool and quiet.

"Thank you again for everything." I tell her.

"We’re not doing you a favor, Ashal. That’s our baby too. He’s family, same as you." Her eyes twinkle in a way I haven’t seen them do in a long while. I stroke her jawline.

"I’m glad you’re holding up. After Olivia," my breath hitches. Despite knowing the truth, the reality of her death or near death still isn’t an easy pill to swallow. "I thought I had lost you forever, lost us."

Her shoulders tense and she looks down at her feet. She always avoids my eyes when I mention her sister for obvious reasons. It must be awkward to keep up the lie especially in the face of the man you claim to love. Still, I don’t fault her.

I step closer. "I’d like us to try again. We’ve been through a lot that has caused a strain in our relationship. I’d like to build from the ground up again. Is that okay with you?"

She smiles sweetly. "I’d like that too."

This time when I kiss her, there’s no hesitation, just warmth and familiarity and the faint taste of hope. When she finally pulls away, she smiles softly before heading back inside. I watch the door close behind before driving home.

I’m not expecting company when I reach the mansion. So, when I open the door to the game room and find all three of my brothers waiting there, I stop short. For a moment, none of us speak.

Then Ashton stands first and pulls me into a hug. "Mom told us your last-minute change of plans for the baby. We completely understand your decision and everyone respects it."

A weight I didn’t know I was carrying drops off my shoulder. Ashley and Asher follow, their support oozing as they wrap their arms around me. Being surrounded by them grounds me more than I can describe. It feels so good to feel something solid after the months of chaos we’ve had.

"We’ve got your back," Asher says simply. Then he leans against the pool table and scans the room after everyone has settled into their favorite seats. A small smirk plays around his lips. "Wow, been a while I’ve seen this picture. Since we’re all here and equally missed the bond, maybe we can start by going back to basics. We have too many secrets between us to ever truly bond like we used. So, I’ll start."

And just like that, the evening turns into confessions. Asher apparently has seen Dean’s paperwork on our inheritance. By the dirty smirk on his face, it’s plane as day that the numbers impressed him. Asher isn’t easily impressed being a Rollins billionaire so I can’t imagine what he’s made Dean sign.

Then I lean at the edge of my seat. "Josh did what now?"

Asher’s humor is completely wiped from his face. "You heard right. Nessa confided in me about Josh leaking a sensitive secret that could potentially run Rollins Group to the ground if not managed. Apparently, he’s already been milked by a blackmailer to keep the lid on the secret. When he’s unable to meet up with the payments, my guess is this blackmailer will take the secret to the highest bidder in the media."

Ashton shakes his head. "And how are we sure this isn’t another bluff?"

"Because I brought it up with father and he went ghostly pale. I’m just as shocked as anyone that father would keep something like that from ME but confide in his incompetent bio son." He grits his teeth.

"So, what are we going to do about this...blackmailer." Ashley asks.

Asher smirks and pours himself a drink. Normally, he’d be beyond tensed in matters like this, too tensed to swirl his drink instead of draining it in one gulp. He beams at us.

"Josh managed to scare Nessa into retracting her statement to make it out to seem like she had made it all up. Unfortunately, I’m no fool. I already started some underground work and I am happy to report that we have obtained credible info."

"We?" Ashton narrows his eyes. Asher meets him with firm ones.

"Yes, Dean and I. Turns out he’s got very capable men when you need things done overnight. Might as well exploit it."

I swallow hard. "What info? Did you confirm what the secret is?"

"Not yet but I did manage to nail the blackmailer and his address." His face goes cold again.

"Well? Who’s it?" We all probe him impatiently.

Before he can reply, the door swings open. The last person ever allowed in our space walks in boldly, a grim look on his face. Asher sets his drink down. We all turn to look at father who stands with both hands in his pocket.

"You’re trespassing." Ashton quips, rising.

Father works his jaw. "I wouldn’t if it wasn’t dire." He surveys the room. "We need to talk."