Imprisoned While Pregnant, She's Back for Payback novel Chapter 240

Chapter 240 Perfect

Chapter 240 Perfect

Nobody else knew, but she was certain–Layla was Finn’s child..

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Finn kept facing the cameras, but out of the corner of his eye, he caught Tess watching him.

Her glance was quick, almost stolen, but it was enough to darken his gaze.

His eyes shifted again toward Tess and Connor. They sat on either side of little Cissy, their shoulders angled toward her. Tess bent low to whisper something, and Connor spoke now and then, too.

The three of them looked like they belonged together. The picture gnawed at Finn.

His hand clenched on his knee. His chest felt like someone had set a stone on it.

“Maybe,” he said finally, his voice flat. It was a vague answer to the reporter’s question, but his gaze flickered in one direction.

That single, noncommittal word set the reporters buzzing. Even Nadine’s eyes

lit up.

Across the yard, Tess scrolled through her phone, replying to messages. Her fingertips trembled almost imperceptibly.

“Mr. Lock, could you comment on your current relationship with Ms. Tess?” one of the reporters pressed.

Once the first question was out, the rest tried to push things toward Finn and Nadine’s relationship.

Finn frowned, then shot a sharp look at Zane. Zane stepped forward, voice firm. “Today is about Lock Group’s charity donation. Let’s focus on that. Please avoid personal questions about Mr. Lock and Ms. Nadine.”

The air cooled instantly. The reporters were frustrated, but after that, they stuck to safe topics. The interview wrapped up quickly.

Hudson accepted the oversized check–its long string of zeroes hard to miss–and grinned.

“On behalf of the kids, thank you, Mr. Lock.”

Finn gave a small nod, his arm still around Nadine’s shoulders. His cold, detached face made the gesture seem almost formal.

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10:19 Thu, Oct 9 M

Chapter 240 Perfect

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Then, with a faint smile at her, he said, “Thank Nadine. She’s the one who wanted me to help the kids.”

“Finn…” Nadine ducked her head, giving a shy little smile. She looked up at him, drinking in his sharp jawline and forgetting the flicker of uncase she’d felt earlier.

On the other side of the yard, Tess and Connor exchanged a glance–and quietly put their own check back into Connor’s pocket.

Tess took Cissy’s hand. “I’d like to sponsor this child,” she said.

The words drew stares from Hudson, Finn, and Nadine.

Finn’s brows tightened. Nadine’s eyes first showed confusion, then a flicker of realization. “Tess,” Nadine said sweetly, “you don’t have to sponsor a child just because Finn and I are thinking about adopting. Sponsoring might be different from adopting, but it still takes time and commitment. You shouldn’t make a rash decision.”

She covered her mouth like she’d just blurted something inappropriate. Her expression looked concerned, but her eyes held a glint of condescension.

Tess met her gaze with a flat, cold look, as if Nadine wasn’t worth the trouble.

That stung Nadine.

She blinked twice, then tilted her head toward Finn. “Finn, don’t you agree with me?”

Finn’s eyes stayed on Tess. “Nadine’s right. Sponsorship isn’t something you do out of impulse. It’s not fair to the child.”

His brow stayed furrowed.

Tess almost laughed at the absurdity. Her patience was running thin. “I’ll use my account. It has nothing to do with the Embers or the Locks. So, no, you don’t get to tell me what to do.”

Her grip on Cissy’s hand tightened, as if to reassure her.

Cissy might have seemed unusually mature, but she was still just a kid. When Tess had first said she wanted to sponsor her, Cissy’s eyes had lit up with a hope that couldn’t be faked. Being told “no” so bluntly had dimmed that light, though she tried to hide it.

The sight made Tess’s anger burn hotter.

Connor noticed too. “Mr. Waite,” he said gently, “you can process the sponsorship under my account if that’s easier.”

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