Undressed By His Arrogance

And with that, he walked away.

"Babe?" Evans called softly. Irene didn’t turn around. She stood with her back to him, hands braced against the counter as if it were the only thing keeping her upright. "Is that it?" Evans asked, quieter now, stepping closer. When she still didn’t respond, he gently took her shoulders and turned her around.

The sight of her face knocked the breath out of him.

Irene was fighting hard not to cry, jaw clenched, eyes glassy and furious all at once. "Oh my God..." Evans sighed. "Babe, you have no idea how hard it was keeping this from you. None." His hands slid from her shoulders to her arms, thumbs rubbing soothing circles into her skin. "It was killing me. Every single day. It’s not—" He shook his head, desperate to make her understand. "You had nothing to do with this. Nothing. I tried very hard to keep it from you."

Evans pulled her into his arms in a crushing hug, one hand cradling the back of her head, the other pressed firmly against her lower back. "I’m sorry," he murmured into her hair. "I really am sorry. I swear on everything holy, I’m never keeping anything from you again. I swear. This is not on you. This doesn’t mean our marriage isn’t great. It means I fucked up. I’m the asshole. A well-meaning asshole, but still."

Irene’s hands fisted in the fabric of his shirt, her face buried against his chest as a quiet sob escaped her.

From the doorway, Winn leaned casually against the frame, arms crossed, an envious smile tugging at his lips. Evans and Irene were so wrapped up in each other they didn’t even realise he was still there. He wondered, not for the first time, what being married to Ivy would be like.

He gave a silent chuckle, shaking his head then quietly pushed himself off the doorway and walked away, leaving the Everests to their fragile peace—and carrying his own unanswered questions with him down the hall.

He went back into the room quietly. Winn sat on the edge of the bed, phone in hand, thumbs moving as he booked himself a flight out. When the confirmation email chimed softly, he exhaled.

The door opened again and Ivy walked in, dressed in something she had clearly borrowed from Irene. Her hair was still damp, twisted up loosely, a few strands escaping around her face.

"Do you have any idea why Gramps was searching in the bathroom?" she asked, brows knitting together as she crossed the room.

Winn snorted despite himself, the corner of his mouth lifting. "I will take a wild guess and say he’s searching for me," he said dryly. "He thinks I went to join you in the shower." He shook his head. "I got up when he was distracted with Liz to get some more coffee."

Ivy laughed softly. "I guess we should have been a lot quieter last night, uhn?" she teased.

"I wouldn’t have it any other way," Winn replied without hesitation. He stood, stepping closer to her, fingers brushing briefly against her wrist—an unconscious touch. "Listen," he said, "I’m flying out today. When you all are ready, you can take the jet home."

Ivy nodded. "I was hoping we could both spend more time with Liz," she admitted quietly. "But I understand. There’s... a lot to deal with back home. With your mum. And the funeral..."

"Yeah," Winn said, jaw tightening. "Being here has helped distract me a bit." He reached out then, cupping her cheek briefly, thumb brushing beneath her eye. "But I gotta go. And there are some things I need to hash out with Joey. Some difficult things."

"Okay." Ivy nodded. Her chin dipped, lashes lowering.

"One more thing," Winn said. He stepped back just enough to look at her properly, hands braced on her arms. "Don’t call me from here. Don’t text me. Don’t email me. Nothing. Okay?" His eyes searched her face for understanding.

"Of course," Ivy said immediately.

"I love you," Winn said quietly.

Ivy’s lips curved into a soft, knowing smile. "I love you too, Daddy," she teased, tilting her head just enough to take the edge off the intensity. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, even as emotion shimmered beneath it.

He laughed, a real laugh. "Oh that’s true," he said, shaking his head. "I’m a daddy now." He paused, the meaning settling deeper than the joke. "I’m a daddy."

"Yes, you are," Ivy said gently.

He pulled her into a hug then. One hand cradled the back of her head, pressing her against his chest where she could feel his heart thudding. "You girls are the only beacon of light I have to guide me right now," he murmured into her hair. "Be careful, please."

Ivy nodded against him, swallowing hard. She pulled back just enough to kiss him. "You too," she whispered.

He hesitated, fingers still curled around her waist as if letting go might undo him. "Listen... about that," he began. "Myself, your uncle, and your granddad—we’re working on quite the risky plan. I think we know how low Tom can go now. With Diane’s death and stuff..."

Ivy stiffened slightly. "Diane’s death?" she repeated, confusion flashing across her face. "I thought that was an accident."

"It wasn’t," Winn said quietly. "It’s complicated." He looked away for a moment, then back at her. "My point is... if I don’t walk away from this—" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Stop that. Stop it." Ivy cut him off sharply, both hands coming up to his chest, pushing him back a step. "Don’t you dare talk like that."

"Ivy—"

"No," she insisted, shaking her head. "Liz will know you because you’ll be there."

Winn pulled her closer, one hand sliding to the small of her back. He kissed her softly, unhurried. When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against hers, breath warm, eyes dark. "I’d fuck you before I go," he murmured with a crooked grin, "but Sam is probably going to castrate me."

Ivy laughed. She pressed her nose briefly against his, fingers fisting in his shirt. "I don’t think Gramps would even feel bad about it." Her smile softened before she shifted, slipping back into seriousness. "I need you to contact Mike and Trish," she continued. "Mike is a PI that works with my uncle, but I used him secretly..."

"Yeah," he cut in. "That cat is out of the bag already. Sam sort of let it slip and Evans nearly blew his top off." He mimed an explosion with his hands.

"Eisshhhh...," Ivy hissed, dragging a hand down her face. "He is going to kill me over and over again. Anyway, Mike already has a few information on Tom. And Trish has been working with Morgana in her charity—as a volunteer."

Winn’s brows knit together instantly. "Morgana?" he repeated, suspicion sharpening his tone. "Who is Morgana?"

"Your father’s mistress."

"He is not my father."

"I mean Tom," Ivy corrected quickly, wincing. "Sorry. Old habit." She reached out instinctively, thumb brushing his knuckles. "You need all the help you can get. And if you need me—"

"I will not call you," Winn cut her off immediately.

She huffed, unimpressed. "Fine," she said. "Then I will just insert myself. I’ll discuss with Gramps and give you an estimate of when we will be back home."

Winn nodded. "Fine," he said. He leaned down anyway, stealing another kiss. His hand rested at her hip. "How about if we are very, very quiet?" he murmured against her lips, eyes glinting. "You think we can get away with a quickie?"

Ivy smacked him square in the chest. "Go," she ordered. "I’m going to go get Elizabeth from Gramps. He is not letting the baby out of his hands for a second."

"First great-grandchild," he said. "I think Liz hit the jackpot."

Ivy smiled then turned and walked out of the room.

He exhaled, grabbed a towel and headed toward the bathroom, running a hand through his hair. For a man who had spent most of his life with private bathrooms, private spaces, and very firm boundaries, the idea of knocking didn’t even register. He pushed the door open without thinking.

Steam rolled out, and there—unmistakably there—was Evans. Very naked. Very wet.

"Holy fucking Christ!" Winn shouted, recoiling. "Of all the things to see in my lifetime!"

"Get out, Kane!" Evans roared.

Winn didn’t need to be told twice. He spun on his heel and bolted, slamming the door behind him. "I am never going to unsee that," he muttered, dragging a hand down his face. "Never."

He rounded the corner straight into Sam, who was leaning casually in the hallway, arms crossed, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"You thought she was the one still in there, didn’t you?" Sam chuckled, stepping past him.

"What? I...no... Sam...no! Uh fuck!" Winn barked, leaning his forehead against the wall. He dragged a hand down his face and then shouted toward the closed bathroom door. "Hurry the fuck up. Some of us need the bathroom!"