RISE OF THE HEIRS: Getting Rid of The Traitor

05

Jill shook her head quickly, shaking off the image of Tom being too brave to come to his death. Jill's right hand waved at some guards, then pointed at Tom with a glare. "You guys! What did you do to let this beggar come and ruin the plans of Arthur, the heir to JF Group?!"

Tom looked away briefly as the guards looked at him questioningly. He simply raised his hand, then returned to the stage in the centre of the garden.

"No need to be shy, Mrs Reynolds," Tom greeted. His hands were already in each of his trouser pockets.

"Who dare you to talk to her? Why are you guys stopping? Catch him and drag him out! Did you not hear me? Should I call dad first to get you to follow my orders?" scolded Arthur.

However, Tom was already standing by his half-brother's side as he tapped Arthur lightly on the shoulder. "Calm down, dude. Calm down. Because they should be following my orders more than yours, Arthur."

"Don't talk rubbish! Guards, come here! Take this guy out right now before I sack all the guards right now!"

Behind the furious Arthur, Jill had been gazing at Tom. She pulled Shannon's hand away, and even had to go downstage to get away from Tom's presence, which was getting more and more attention.

This time, it wasn't the guards who came to crowd around Tom who was still staring disappointedly at Arthur. It was Pete Cameron.

"Why aren't the guards listening to my orders, Pete?"

Tom approached Arthur and gently nudged his shoulder. "Be a little more polite. Isn't he even older than our dad?"

"Watch your language! Whose dad are you blithely talking about here?" Arthur scolded fiercely.

Hearing Tom's last sentence, Jill, who had been ignoring Shannon and Camellia's questions, stopped in her tracks. Several guards had surrounded the trio just before they exited the garden area.

"No, Mrs Reynolds. No one can leave here now."

Tom's words were immediately met with a curse by Jill. "No one has more right to give orders on Mr James' land than Arthur! No one!"

Camellia, who was confused, immediately pulled Jill's arm gently. "Do you know him, mum?"

Jill shook her head firmly. Her eyes seemed to hold anger towards the first born. "Mum wouldn't want to know a fucking man like him!"

Hearing that, Shannon could only stare at Tom from a distance. She remembered that she had met Tom in the past few days. However, she forgot where exactly.

"I think I've met him before, Mum."

"Save your memories, Shannon!"

Pete quickly asked the guards to come out, bringing James Fischer, whose condition had improved with the arrival of his only child.

"Dad?"

Quickly, Arthur rushed down the stairs, welcoming the wheelchair user, James. Unfortunately, James gave no friendly response to the son who had tricked him.

Seeing this oddity, the guests in attendance began to speculate on many things. Each of them had come up with new presumptions as they waited for the announcement that would shock the world.

"It looks like there will be a drama over wealth."

Jill's suspicion was clear. She immediately whispered to Shannon and Camellia. "No matter what happens, remember this! Mum would do anything for you!"

Seeing her mum fidgeting, Camellia began to realise a few things. She must have committed a crime that could bring down the Reynolds industry in an instant.

From the stage, Tom was still standing proudly behind his dad's back. As for Arthur, he glared at Pete Cameron for not allowing him to go on stage.

"Tell me what's going on, Pete? Who is he? What does he want by messing up my engagement party with Shannon? Why did you hide daddy's wonderful development? Why didn't you tell me the truth that daddy was back to normal? Didn't you hear me? Did you ignore me? Answer me, Pete! I warned you, Pete!"

James stood up from his wheelchair. He hugged Tom tightly with tears in his eyes. "Welcome back, Aland. Welcome back."

With just two simple, soul-stirring sentences, everyone present immediately understood his or her position. Arthur, who was shocked beyond belief, immediately retreated with unsteady steps.

Jill swallowed hard with sweat pouring down her face. She knew it wouldn't be long. This could be the last time she saw the party before Tom reported to her for premeditated murder.

The rest of the crowd applauded when they realised the name James had mentioned was the name of the boy they had lost twenty years ago.

Tom hugged his dad tightly. He quickly released his dad's embrace, then looked at Arthur with a friendly laugh.

"Hello brother, Arthur? Are you enjoying everything now that I'm no longer at home? Then why did you stay away when I came back to my home again?"

Arthur trembled. He gaped in disbelief. "Don't make this up! How could Aland, who died twenty years ago, suddenly come here again after two decades?"

Tom laughed. He took Arthur's right hand and shook it firmly. He also pulled his half-brother's body into a hug as if they had missed each other.

"Don't make the JF Group's stock go down for now, Arthur. Isn't this what you want? Then act as if we are good brothers. At least, in public."

Arthur was still catching his breath repeatedly. He really couldn't believe what he was experiencing. He glanced at Shannon from a distance. So did Mrs Reynolds, who looked angry.

Tom hugged Arthur with a bright smile. Several camera flashes began to fill the garden area of the James residence, complete with rumours.

Seeing his two children, who looked familiar with each other, James looked happy. His smile was perfect. Then he grabbed the microphone to make an announcement.

"Sorry for the inconvenience, ladies and gentleman. But like it or not, you're here to celebrate my son's return after all this time."

Jill spat as Tom turned to her near the exit. She grunted in annoyance that her plan had failed.

"I'm not having this engagement!"

Jill's statement left everyone wondering. Not to mention the happy James. "But why, Mrs Reynolds?"

Jill chuckled. She glanced at Tom, who was still staring at her from a distance.

"Because," Jill paused her sentence. She noticed that all eyes were on her. Some of her journalist friends were also ready to record all her statements. Reluctantly, she flashed a bright smile as she continued, "today is a happy day. I don't want to disturb the happiness of Mr Fischer and his perfect family. As for the engagement, let's rearrange the schedule."

Tom laughed. He applauded Jill's unexpected statement. "Mrs Reynolds, you are really wise. I never thought I'd be impressed, even though we're meeting for the first time."

At the end of the sentence, Tom deliberately raised the tone of his voice. He passed by Arthur, who was still staring at him, and headed towards Jill, Shannon, and Camelia with a bright smile.

Tom's right hand extended towards Jill as he nodded slowly. He waited for Jill's hand to meet his.

Jill glanced at Tom before her laughter returned. "It's an honour to meet the heir to the JF Group, who was rumoured to be dead twenty years ago."

Tom laughed. He led Jill to the centre area, on the main stage. He whispered something that made Jill's heart stop beating.

"Should I correct what you just said? Shouldn't it be something like this: I'm honoured to meet the heir to the JF Group that should have gone up in flames?"