Chapter 5

(Author’s POV)

The grand dining hall of the Skylar mansion was a place of splendor, with its high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and polished oak table that could seat twenty. Tonight, however, it hosted only five occupants, Mr. Skylar and his four sons, gathered together for the first time in months.

Owen, the eldest, sat at the head of the table with his arms crossed, his expression tense. His tailored suit and composed demeanor exuded authority, but the slight twitch in his jaw betrayed his frustration.

Ryan, the second eldest, leaned back in his chair, his phone in hand, scrolling through emails with an air of impatience. His sharp gray suit mirrored Owen’s, though his more relaxed posture highlighted the subtle differences between the two brothers.

Asher, the third, looked as though he’d rather be anywhere else. Dressed in a leather jacket and ripped jeans, the superstar leaned forward, propping his chin on his hand, his signature smirk nowhere in sight.

Ian, the youngest, sat at the far end, tapping his fingers nervously on the table. Dressed in a casual hoodie and jeans, he looked out of place compared to his older brothers. His eyes darted between them, unsure of what to expect.

“Dad,” Owen finally said, breaking the silence. 

“Why are we here? I have a meeting early tomorrow” Ryan glanced up briefly.

 “Yeah, this better be important. I’m in the middle of negotiating a major deal” Asher let out a low chuckle. 

“What’s new? We’re all busy, Dad. Couldn’t this have been an email?” Ian said nothing, but his nervous tapping quickened.

Mr. Skylar, seated at the opposite end of the table, raised a hand to quiet them. His expression was calm, but the lines on his face seemed deeper tonight, his usually vibrant energy subdued.

“Boys,” He began, his voice steady but softer than usual, 

“I didn’t call you here to waste your time. I called you because this is important”.

The room fell silent. Mr. Skylar took a deep breath, his hands clasped on the table. 

“I’ve been diagnosed with..cancer” The words landed like a thunderclap.

Owen’s arms uncrossed, his expression softening with disbelief. 

“What?” Ryan set his phone down, his eyes wide with shock.

Asher straightened in his seat, the cavalier attitude replaced by genuine concern. 

“Are you serious, Dad?” Ian’s fingers froze mid-tap, his mouth opening slightly as he stared at his father.

“I’ve kept this to myself for a while,” Mr. Skylar continued, his voice steady but tinged with emotion. 

“I didn’t want to burden you until I had no choice. But now, I need your support”.

“Is it... serious?” Owen asked, his voice unusually quiet. Mr. Skylar nodded solemnly. 

“I’m undergoing treatment, but the doctors are cautious. It’s why I need to ensure certain things are in place before… before anything happens”.

The room was heavy with the weight of his words.

“Anything you need, Dad,” Ryan said firmly. 

“Just tell us”.

“Ian, are you okay?” Asher asked, glancing at the youngest brother, whose face had gone pale. Ian nodded stiffly, unable to speak.

Mr. Skylar took another breath, his gaze sweeping across his sons. 

“There is one thing I want from all of you. It’s my final wish, you might say”.

“What is it?” Owen asked cautiously, the unease creeping back into his voice.

“I want you to get married,” Mr. Skylar said, his tone even. 

“All of you”.

The room erupted into chaos.

“Married?!” Ryan exclaimed, his brows shooting up. 

“You’ve got to be kidding”.

“You can’t be serious, Dad!” Owen said sharply, his calm demeanor cracking.

“I’m already busy managing my career!” Asher snapped. 

“How do you expect me to deal with a wife on top of everything else?” Ian, usually the quietest, finally spoke, his voice small but tense. 

“Why now? Why all of us?” Mr. Skylar raised his hands for silence, though his sons continued grumbling under their breaths. 

“Listen to me. This isn’t just about you. It’s about our family… A person who can keep this family united”.

“And you’ve already picked someone, haven’t you?” Owen asked, narrowing his eyes. Mr. Skylar nodded. 

“Yes. Her name is Aurora. I’ve spoken to her, and she’s agreed”.

“Agreed?” Ryan echoed, incredulous. 

“What kind of woman would agree to marry all of us? This sounds insane!”

“She’s extraordinary,” Mr. Skylar said firmly. 

“And she’s doing this for a reason. I trust her to bring balance and warmth back into our lives”.

“You’re out of your mind, Dad” Asher muttered, running a hand through his hair.

“I understand this is a lot to take in,” Mr. Skylar said, his voice calm but resolute. 

“But I’m asking this as a father who wants the best for his family” His sons exchanged glances, their emotions a mix of anger, confusion, and concern. 

Before they could protest further, he stood, his voice leaving no room for argument. 

“I’ve made my decision. This will happen. You’ll meet her soon” With that, Mr. Skylar left the room, his presence lingering like a storm cloud.

The brothers sat in silence, the weight of the situation pressing down on them. Ryan finally spoke, his tone sharp. 

“This is ridiculous. Dad’s lost it” Ian sighed, shaking his head. 

“It’s not just ridiculous, it’s impossible. He expects us to… what? Share a wife?!” Asher leaned back, his jaw clenched. 

“I don’t even know who this Aurora is, and we’re supposed to marry her?” Ian whispered.

“But Dad’s sick… what if this is really his last wish?” The room fell silent again, Owen’s words hanging in the air like a painful truth they couldn’t ignore.

Ryan exhaled deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. 

“We need to figure this out. Together. Whether we like it or not, we’re in this mess now” Asher smirked bitterly. 

“Oh, now we’re supposed to work together? That’s a first” Ryan rolled his eyes but said nothing, his thoughts swirling.

Owen looked at his brothers, his voice barely above a whisper. 

“Maybe… maybe we owe it to Dad to at least try”.

The brothers exchanged uncertain glances, each grappling with their own emotions, anger, frustration, denial, and confusion, all while knowing their father’s words had left them with little choice.