I SEE YOU

SIBLING SECRETS (ASH'S POV)

I'm making my way to the kitchen when a knock on the front door stops me. River went to Mercy's place earlier, and I seriously doubt those two would knock.

So now I'm left wondering to who I owe this honor to because I never get visitors. Well, there's only one way to find out.

I pull the door open and I'm met by two people I never would have expected here. Hailey pulls me in for a hug before I even have the time to absorb their presence.

When my sister frees me from her death grip, Brandon just opts to nod his head my way. Isn't it crazy that I have no idea how to react around my very own siblings.

And you wonder why I'm socially awkward.

"Www-what are yy-you guys doing h-here??" I hate the way I can't help but stutter sometimes, especially when I feel this ambushed.

"Oh our little stutter Ash, we decided to pay our baby sister a visit. Is that a crime??"

Yuck! Hailey's stupid pretend games make me wanna gag sometimes. I'm glad when Brandon is the one that gives her a bored side eye telling her to drop the act.

Hailey huffs but continues to give me a smile that is painfully fake. "Okay, we wanted to talk to you about something. Can we come in."

She doesn't even wait for me to reply as she invites herself in, typical Hailey. Brandon remains in his position and uncomfortably avoids my eyes.

He never looks me straight in the eye when we are this close. The two inches I have over him make him feel extremely inferior to me for some reason, men and their stupid egos.

I decide to just leave him standing there and hope he will follow me, which he does. We find Hailey already making herself at home as she sits cross legged on the two sitter couch.

Brandon occupies the space next to her, and I sit opposite from the two of them. It's hard not to internally admire how identical they are, anyone would confuse them for twins.

Both have black hair, Hailey has hers cropped in a bob while Brandon is in a simple buzz. They have our mother's blue eyes and good looks, I swear growing up I full on envied them.

I just had to look like my dad of all people.

Thinking about my parents kinda makes me miss them, they just died from old age. You know, when parents grow and their health keeps deteriorating till they die.

Maybe that's part of what influenced me to keep working at the senior home for so long. Most people stop being there when their parents get old.

"State your business then." They both frown and it's probably because I said a full sentence without stuttering, I try not to roll my eyes.

"Right, so it's about mom and dad's inheritance. We kinda kept some things hidden from you." This time it's my brother's words that put a frown on my face.

Hailey has her chin high like she's against whatever this is, or she's not willing to be the one that delivers the news.

Since he already started, Brandon continues speaking.

"So that two million and the beach house aren't all you received. They also left you fifty percent shares of the hotel, and an additional eight million we didn't tell you about."

He says this so quickly I almost miss it, or maybe I misheard him. "Did you just say eight million and half of the hotel??"

They both nod slowly and cautiously, I'm bought some time when my roommate and girlfriend suddenly walk into the room. I didn't even hear them enter the apartment.

Both of them stare at my siblings with these scary and hard glares, I'd prolly be overwhelmed myself if I didn't know them.

I think they thrive off scaring people.

"Hey babe and you people that I don't know." Mercy comes to me as she says this, I smile when she pecks my lips then sits on my lap.

Surprisingly, she's not as heavy as she looks. Or maybe I'm stronger than I look, I don't know for sure.

I rest my hand on her waist while her arm goes around my neck. River is just standing in the middle of the room in all her muscled and tattooed glory.

"Brandon and Hailey, this is my girlfriend Mercy and my roommate River. Guys, meet my siblings."

River checks them out and I can see Brandon visibly flinching. River is taller than me so you can just imagine how intimidated he is right now.

"You two go to River's room, we are discussing some family stuff."

Mercy nods then pecks my cheek before standing. They make their way to the kitchen instead and I feel so proud that I know them, they look cool as hell.

Also, I could swear I just saw Hailey checking Mercy out. Last I heard she was straight, but one can never know for sure these days.

"That's your girlfriend?? What happened to Stella??" The look on my sister's face is priceless, I'm loving this a bit more than I should.

"Stella and I divorced." I speak nonchalantly like I wasn't breaking down over this just a few months ago.

"How the fuck did you land that fine specimen?? Heck my panties got wet just looking at her." I think she meant to say that last part in her head.

I shake my head and try not to laugh at Brandon's red face. He's so weird and I don't get why people found him cool in highschool.
All he's good for is bullying people that can't stand up to him.

"Your stutter has gone down." My brother speaks and this is what he decides to point out. I just give him a blank stare in response before I get us back on track.

"Let's get back to why your here, why am I only learning that I'm this rich now??"

I look between the both of them as I'm not exactly sure who will answer, Hailey decides to do the honors.

"We were kind of jealous okay, mom and dad only left us a million and twenty five percent stakes in the hotel each while you got more than double. So I convinced the lawyer not to tell you that well, your rich.
Brandon here felt guilty cause according to him what we were doing was wrong, and it's not like we spent your money or anything. I just needed time to digest the fact that our parents loved you more than us."

Can somebody please pick my jaw up from the floor. How is my sister so inconsiderate and selfish, I doubt she even notices it.

"Is that even legal??" Hailey's eyes widen but Brandon speaks before she can. "No, you could actually get us sentenced in jail for years. But I'd like to point out that I never agreed with any of this, I just..."

"Oh no mister, your not throwing me under the bus. We are both in on this one." Brandon glares at Hailey who just smirks back at him.

"Look, Ashely my dear. You will receive your money before the end of this week, and the lawyer will come to sign your rightful stake to you as soon as possible. It's a win win, no love lost so no need to do anything drastic.
You wouldn't get your older siblings who have families arrested over a little misunderstanding, right?. I know your not that petty"

Everytime I talk to Hailey, I just like her a little less than I did before.

"Please leave my home, go back to your families and stay the fuck away from me like you've been doing all these years."

I say this as calmly as I can then I stand and look down at them. "You know your way out."

With that said, I head to the kitchen where I believe the only people that genuinely care for me are to be found.

I'm done with my so called siblings.