Imprisoned While Pregnant, She's Back for Payback novel Chapter 179

Chapter 179 A Calculated Move

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Nadine’s smile was radiant, her eyes softening, making her seem gentle and approachable.

When it became clear there was no more dirt to dig up for a scandal, the reporters‘ energy dimmed. Still, they tossed out a few polite questions for appearance’s sake.

As the event’s lead organizer, Nadine kept her answers strictly professional.

Then, at the very end, she turned toward the cameras and gave a playful wink. “Finn and I will both be attending the upcoming charity event,” she said sweetly. “We may even adopt a child with disabilities to raise as our own.”

The moment those words left her mouth, the press corps lit up like a swarm of mosquitoes catching the scent of fresh blood.

“Ms. Nadine is adopting a disabled child? Most philanthropists stick to donations and charity events. Why would Mr. Lock take on the responsibility of raising an orphan himself? Is this … maybe a reaction to Tess’s betrayal?”

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“Will adopting a child cause any conflict with Mrs. Lock’s rumored child from another relationship?”

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The press instantly came alive again, questions firing off like a swarm of gnats that had scented blood.

Zane immediately signaled to the security team.

In an instant, a wall of tall, imposing men stepped forward, forcing the excited reporters to retreat until they were pushed out of the building.

Finn stood there, his gaze cold as ice.

Zane risked a glance at him before speaking carefully. “Mr. Lock, I think this situation is far more complicated. Even though our team has been working to bury the trending topics, and most of Miss Layla’s photos have been removed, anything related to Mrs. Lock is still spreading like wildfire.”

Finn didn’t respond right away. Instead, he turned toward Nadine. “Go back to your office.”

She froze, caught off guard, feeling hurt.

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Chapter 179 A Calculated Move

The subtext was clear–he was asking her to step aside.

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Nadine was unwilling to obey; she glanced up at him, only to realize he wasn’t even looking at her. Without another word, he strode away with Zane in tow.

Her face darkened instantly.

The lobby was crowded. She had no desire to stand there under curious stares, so she turned on her heel and went back upstairs.

Meanwhile, the doors of the CEO’s private elevator slid shut.

Finn rubbed at his temples. The dim amber light in the cramped space offered little comfort.

“Let it cool down,” he said in a low, decisive voice.

Zane blinked in surprise.

The scandal was still burning at the top of the trending lists. Letting it cool down sounded harmless in theory, but without intervention, the heat might not fade—it could just as easily flare into an even bigger blaze.

“Move Nadine’s charity project up on the calendar,” Finn added.

Zane understood. If they couldn’t smother the fire, they’d drown it out with a bigger, controlled blaze.

As for the real mastermind behind this …

Finn’s eyes narrowed, the glint in them as sharp as a knife.

Lock Group’s chaos had barely settled. Elsewhere, Tess was discharged from the hospital.

From the moment she’d fallen into the water to now, barely two days had passed. Her body was still weak, but her mind was focused.

Two days without seeing Layla gnawed at her heart, but she pushed back the urge to rush home. She had something more urgent to do.

Her fingers curled into a fist.

She gave the taxi driver the address of the institution where her grandmother’s inheritance was kept.

Her grandmother had left a substantial estate. Though her influence in Aetheris was modest,

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Chapter 179 A Calculated Move

there were a couple of properties lying around.

She requested the release of a particular commercial property.

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“This is what you requested,” the staff said respectfully, handing over a stack of documents.

Tess nodded politely and took them.

Her next stop was the supermarket where Wanda now worked.

“Mrs. Lock? What happened to you?” Wanda’s eyes widened in shock at her pale face.

“Something came up,” Tess said, brushing it off before grasping Wanda’s hand. Her tone turned serious.

“Wanda, I need your help.”

The gravity on her face made Wanda’s heart tighten.

“Of course–just tell me.” Wanda swallowed hard; she started to take this seriously.

Tess handed her the documents. “I’m opening a store here in Aetheris, but I can’t run it publicly, so I want you to be the face of it. I’ll pay you three times what you’re making now. If it does well, your pay will go up.”

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