Undressed By His Arrogance-Chapter 326: What’s This Plan?

"What’s this plan?" Morgana asked, her brow arched.

"Just let me in, okay? Please. I promise it is worth it." Tom moved closer, hands slightly extended, as if to bridge the space, yet not quite touching.

"Come on in." Morgana stepped aside, allowing him entry. Tom’s eyes swept over the living room and then landed back on her. "Morgana, I am sorry. You know I wouldn’t hurt you like that. It’s just been a terrible couple of weeks. I must hand it to Winn and Ivy—they did good."

"Just tell me your plan."

"Trish... your assistant was planted by Ivy. She was Ivy’s friend and colleague at the strip club. And I believe they know about switching Anna’s medication. Soon, they will be coming for you too. And our kids, that you are sworn to protect, will be scattered in foster care." Morgana’s pulse hammered, her stomach tight.

Morgana sighed heavily. She turned away from Tom. "Why didn’t you get out?" she asked finally. "Why didn’t you get out when you could?" She turned back to him, eyes flashing. "We had it all planned out. Anna would be dead and we would be living off everything she has. Why did you have to drag this on for so long?"

She had imagined a different life so vividly.

"I’m sorry." Tom stepped closer. "I thought I could do better with Orchard fortune. Baby, listen." He reached for her. "We can still get enough to go away with. I just need you to get Trish to come to you. I’ll take the rest from there. You don’t have to do anything else." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Your plan is stupid," she said flatly, turning to face him fully now. "How much money does Trish have?"

She folded her arms.

"No," he said quickly. "Trish is the bait." His eyes sharpened. "Ivy would do anything for her. Including giving herself up quietly. She’s done it before."

That gave Morgana pause.

"How much are we talking about here?" she asked.

"Ivy is the Everest second heiress," he said. "I’m guessing they’ll be able to afford a hundred million. That is, if Winn doesn’t pay it himself."

Morgana’s heart thudded once, hard. A hundred million. Freedom. Disappearance. A clean slate. She imagined it again—starting over.

Morgana exhaled slowly, the internal war raging behind her calm exterior. Tom watched her closely.

"Enough!" James’s voice cut through the room. Both of them turned sharply as James stepped through from inside the doorway. His hand was steadily holding his mother’s gun. He aimed it squarely at Tom, jaw clenched, eyes burning.

"Oh for fuck’s sake!" Tom sighed, dragging a hand down his face. He sounded exhausted, irritated. "I am so tired of people threatening me," he muttered. "And now my own son? Really?"

"James?" Morgana’s breath hitched. "What... what are you doing?" She took a cautious step forward, palms open, heart hammering painfully in her chest. This wasn’t part of any plan she had ever imagined—this confrontation, this look in her son’s eyes.

"I’m tired," James said. "I’m done, Mum." His grip tightened imperceptibly on the gun. "Even after you’ve seen what he did to us, you still want him back?" His eyes flicked briefly to Tom, then back to her. "Do you want him to ruin us like he did Sylvia and Winn? Do you?"

"Baby..." Morgana tried, stepping closer. "Baby, go be with your siblings. Please. I will have your father leave immediately. You don’t have to do this." Her eyes shone. She wanted to pull him into her arms, to shield him from everything he was feeling.

"I do," James said quietly. "Winn told me to fight back. This is me fighting back."

That stopped Morgana cold. She stared at James as if seeing him for the first time, not as her son, but as someone who had been silently bleeding for far too long.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Do you have any idea how long he’s been hitting me, Mum?" His eyes burned now, unshed tears making them glassy but furious. "He always hid it so cleverly from you. You never knew. You never noticed. Because you were too busy scheming with him."

Images flashed through her mind—missed signs, excuses she’d accepted too easily, moments she’d chosen not to look too closely. Tom said nothing.

James stood there, shaking but unyielding, the gun still trained on Tom.

Morgana turned on Tom, her body trembling with rage. Her eyes blazed, pupils flaring. "Tom? Tell me it’s not true."

Tom’s face twisted in frustration, veins standing out along his temples, his eyes dark. "What I know right now," he spat, "is that this bastard is getting on my nerves. I am your fucking father... you son of a bitch!" His chest heaved as he stepped forward.

And then, the gun went off.

Morgana’s heart froze mid-beat, chest tight, eyes wide. Time seemed to stretch in jagged, impossible slowness.

******

Outside, the rumble of tires ceased as Tim and Evans jumped from the vehicle. Tim’s gaze swept the house.

"How long do you think it will take the cops to get here?" Evans asked.

"Reese says they are on their way," Tim replied,eyes darting to the front steps. "I feel for the kids, though. To have both their parents involved in this... it’s brutal."

Evans grimaced. "Hopefully Morgana will tell everything Tom has done for a plea deal. They aren’t married, so no spousal coverage bullshit." He tightened his jacket, which he was supposed to be wearing to Winn and Ivy’s wedding.

Then, they heard the gunshot, and their reflexes kicked in instantly. Both men broke into a sprint, Evans faster than the older Tim.

Evans reached the front door first, planted a boot against it, and kicked it open.

"No!" Morgana’s cry cut through the chaos. She threw herself in front of James, arms wide, body taut, shielding him. Her breaths came in sharp, uneven bursts, her chest heaving. Every fiber of her being was focused on holding him safe, even as her heart wrenched with terror.

(Thank you for 400 power stones)