Imprisoned While Pregnant, She's Back for Payback novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10 Everything Depends on Her

“Come back by tomorrow morning, around 9:30 a.m. The ring will show up then,” Tess said calmly.

Jessie, worn out from a long day of searching, felt her hope rekindle at Tess’s quiet confidence.

“Are you sure?‘

She looked Tess up and down. She wore a cleaner’s uniform and carried a baby in her arms.

She was a single mom sweeping the streets. Clearly, she was dirt poor.

And yet, there was something in her bearing that didn’t match her appearance at all.

Jessie grew suspicious. Could this woman have found the ring and hidden it?

“You swear? If I come tomorrow, I’ll get it back?”

)-Yes;

“Yes,” Tess guaranteed confidently.

“What’s your last name, young lady?”

“Ember.”

+10 Free Coins

Jessie nodded. “Alright, Ms. Ember. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt–for your baby’s sake. But if that ring doesn’t turn up, you won’t get away with this.”

She stood up from the bench with a bodyguard’s help.

When Jessie left, Tess glanced at the cleaner resting nearby. Carl was a typical young man with no family to lean on. He lived off scraps from distant relatives.

His cart lay abandoned by the walkway while he lounged across a bench near the greenery with his head buried under his jacket, napping.

Carl was Esther’s nephew.

Tess’s thought of Esther, who framed her and had her wages docked for no reason.

This time, she was taking a gamble.

By dusk, the fading sky grew darker, and the world slipped into the shadows. The streetlights flickered on one by one.

Underneath one of those lights, a slim figure was working hard on the sidewalk.

Tess had already cleaned most of the block. Just a few more minutes and she could take Layla home.

She was sweeping the last few leaves when a voice rang out behind her–loud, arrogant, and unmistakably bossy.

“Hey, you! You’re the one with the baby! Get over here and clean up my side foo! You hear me?”

A flurry of pistachio shells littered the ground at her feet.

Across the strip of greenery that was dividing the street, Tess saw Carl lounging with a self–satisfied grin. His clothes were spotless despite the surrounding filth. He sat slouched on a bench with his legs spread. There was a nearly empty bag of pistachios beside him.

Tess blinked innocently and called out, “I’m sorry, do I know you?”

Carl scowled and sneered, “Esther Frost–she’s my aunt. Ring a bell now?”

He shoved a broom toward her with his foot. “Go clean this whole area. When you’re done, let me know, If I catch you slacking off, I’ll have my aunt fire you on the spot.

1/4

Chapter 10 Everything Depends on Her

+10 Free Coins

With that, he picked up his phone and started scrolling through videos, smiling lewdly at a livestream of some girl dancing

on screen.

Tess caught a glimpse of his username. He was the top tipper in that stream.

Tess picked up the broom and started cleaning the street.

Her time in prison had taught her one thing–obedience was survival. If she did what she was told and didn’t talk back, there was a chance she wouldn’t get hurt.

And so, at Carl’s command, Tess bowed her head and started sweeping without daring to pause or breathe wrong. She feared that any hesitation would bring his fist crashing down on her like a thunderstorm.

But after a few minutes, something inside her cracked. What was she doing?

She was out now. She was free. And yet people like Carl and Esther could still stomp on her like she was nothing.

Her throat burned from thirst.

She opened her bag and pulled out a bottle of water to moisten her throat.

Just as she unscrewed the cap, a hand snatched the bottle from her. Carl took a long swig, chugging half of it before wiping

his mouth on his sleeve.

“What are you drinking for? And what are you staring at? The sooner you finish sweeping, the sooner I can clock out, got it? You’re making me miss my livestream! Now, get back to work!”

Carl tossed the pistachios into his mouth, one after another, washing them down with the water he’d snatched from Tess. As the sky darkened and the air grew colder, Tess looked at him with eyes full of restrained hatred.

But she didn’t dare fight back. This man was tall and strong. She was holding the six–month–old Layla. If things turned violent, she would end up as a punching bag.

Carl drained the bottle and flicked the empty plastic bottle at her feet, then turned back to his phone. He muttered crude comments at the girls dancing on screen.

Tess’s expression didn’t change. Her gaze stayed calm, almost icy, as she held Layla close.

She couldn’t do anything–not yet. But maybe tomorrow, if that elderly lady kept her word, Carl would finally get what he deserved.

Suddenly, Carl sat up straighter, his face twisting in discomfort.

“Ugh, what the heck? Why now?! Did you do something to me?” He growled, clutching his stomach as a loud gurgling noise erupted from deep within. He tightened his legs together in a panic, clearly on the brink of losing control.

Tess was shocked. She hadn’t done anything!

Carl sneered, breathing heavily, “Hmph. Figured you didn’t have the guts. It’s probably that lunch. I knew something was off about that pasta place, but I still kept going back. Stupid cravings!”

So, that’s what happened…

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify