(a - 1)³ - 4(a - 1) - (a - 1)(a + 1)(a + 3) =
(a - 1)((a - 1)² - 4) - (a - 1)(a + 1)(a + 3) =
(a - 1)(a - 1 - 2)(a - 1 + 2) - (a - 1)(a + 1)(a + 3) =
(a - 1)(a - 3)(a + 1) - (a - 1)(a + 1)(a + 3) =
(a - 1)(a + 1)(a - 3 - a + 3) =
2a(a - 1)(a + 1) ≠ 0