Chapter 123 Tea With Susan
Chapter 123 Tea With Susan
\-Third pov-
James was on his way back to the estate, his mind reeling with happiness at the outcome of his little business with Jackson when his phone rang.
He glanced at the caller ID, and it made him pause. Susan was calling him, and it was quite odd.
He answered anyway. “To what do I owe this sudden call?”
“I’d like you to come to the estate.”
His brow lifted. “For what?”
“Tea,” she quietly said.
He smiled lightly like the idea of them having tea alone at night was the most exciting thing. “Why though?”
The line went silent for a moment.
Then she said, “I’ll be waiting for you, James.”
\---
The Ashford estate was unusually quiet when James arrived. He knew Vanessa wasn’t at home, and Lilith… Lilith had gone on some sort of wellness retreat, so he believed.
He stepped inside and glanced around. “No staff?”
Susan appeared from the kitchen carrying a teapot. “I gave them the night off.”
“Why?”
She smiled faintly. “Because walls have ears.” She walked into the dining room, and gestured toward the table. “Sit.”
James remained standing for another second before taking the seat opposite her.
Susan ignored him as she poured two cups.
When she was done, James looked at the tea but didn't touch it. “You expect me to drink something you prepared?”
She chuckled. “You think I poisoned it?”
Without another word, she exchanged their cups and took a slow sip from the one meant for him.
James watched her for several seconds before lifting his own. “I never thought I'd be having tea with the dead.”
She smiled. “That was a long time ago, James. Some things are better left buried.”
He nodded in agreement, then set his cup down. “Why am I here?”
She folded her hands. “I heard Lucien and Celeste are in your custody.”
He leaned back with a chuckle. “You make it sound criminal.”
“Isn't it?”
He shrugged. “I don't know what you're talking about.”
“I think you do.” She met his eyes calmly. “Let them go.”
“And in return?”
She held back a surprised laugh. “We’re talking about Celeste, James–”
“And in return, Susan?” he said firmly.
She met his cold gaze, realizing that the man was past reasoning. “I close the investigation.”
He laughed. “You expect me to believe that?”
“I expect you to understand that everyone already believes Reginald Blackwell was responsible.”
James' expression barely changed.
“... Tonight, he died taking the blame.” She took another sip of tea.
Something cold ran down James’s spine at that moment, and his expression shifted. He even choked on his tea.
“Re-Reginald is dead?” he asked, coughing between sips.
Now it was Susan’s turn to play unfazed. “Yes, he was found dead about an hour ago. Stabbed to death in his cell.” She sipped her tea holding his gaze.” Perhaps that's for the best. One guilty man. One closed case. Ashford Group recovers. Everyone moves on.”
James studied her, and decided that something wasn't right. She was too calm, too prepared.
And that was when his hand disappeared beneath his jacket. When it emerged, a pistol rested on the table between them.
He held it forward. “What is this really?”
Susan didn't even look at the weapon.
“If this is a trap,” James said quietly, “it'll be the last mistake you ever make.”
She smiled at him. “I see your killer instincts have become rusty.”
He frowned.” If you shoot me tonight, how exactly do you plan to explain it? Tire tracks. Time of death. Reginald isn't around to bury another body for you.”
His grip tightened around the gun. “Careful.”
“No, James.” She leaned forward. “You should be.”
The room briefly went still with tense silence before she broke it first.
“Edward always believed you could never stand being second.”
His jaw clenched. “Not just that, he underestimated me.”
“So did your parents–”
“They worshiped him,” he said with disdain.
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “They respected him.”
“They chose him over me!” His voice echoed through the room.
Susan didn't flinch.
“He was always in my way!”
“So you murdered him,” she quietly said.
He laughed bitterly. “Murder?” He shook his head. “It was years in the making.”
His eyes darkened. “Edward believed every decision had to be his. Every room belonged to him. Every victory belonged to him.”
He leaned forward.” I got tired of listening.”
Susan held his gaze, though now her heart pounded hard against her chest. “So you shot him,” she said matter-of-factly.
He looked at her.
“Yes.” The word came without hesitation. “For the first time in his life…”
A cruel smile spread across his face.
“...he finally shut up.”
The room fell silent.
“Since you're going to die tonight, you deserve to know the truth.” He exhaled slowly. “We argued. Like always. He wouldn't back down. I was done living in his shadow."
He raised the gun. “So I ended it.”
Susan's expression never changed even though everything inside of her screamed at him. Before James could pull the trigger, she spoke.
“Before you kill me…”
He paused.
“...there's something you deserve to know.”
He tilted his head in amusement. “What?”
“Camille is alive.”
The smile disappeared, and his face emptied. “You're lying.”
“She never died,” she said flatly. “Vanessa staged her death just like you did mine, and kept her hidden all these years.”
James stared. “No.”
“She discovered Camille was pregnant. With Reginald's help, she faked her own pregnancy, stole Lilith after the birth and kept Camille imprisoned.”
He suddenly stood, taking an unsteady step back. “No…”
“And while you were chasing power…” Susan's eyes hardened. “...the woman sleeping beside you murdered your mother.”
The pistol trembled. “Stop!”
“You invited the devil into your home, James.”
His breathing became uneven. “You're lying!”
“No.” She looked directly at him.
“One last thing… Every word you've confessed tonight has been recorded.”
His eyes filled with rage. “What?”
As if on cue, a laser dot suddenly appeared across his chest. Then another. Until there were at least five of them.
A voice thundered through the living room. “Police! Drop the weapon!”
The front door burst open, and armed officers flooded the room.
Marcus Hale entered next, and Daniel came in behind him. Even though he knew Susan was wearing a bulletproof vest, he was very afraid at that moment.
“Mom!” he called without thinking.
James spun instinctively and swung toward him.
“Drop it!” Marcus shouted.
But James was far beyond reasoning. He pulled the trigger instead.
The shot exploded through the room.
Daniel staggered.
His white shirt turned red.
The nearest officer closed in on James, tackling him to the ground. As Susan rushed to her son’s side, he collapsed to the ground.
“Daniel!!”