Imprisoned While Pregnant, She's Back for Payback novel Chapter 4

"Stop right there! Who are you?"

The sudden shout from the security guard yanked Tess out of her daze.

She furrowed her brows and said, "You saw me just this afternoon. I live in Tower C. Have you forgotten?"

The security guard cleared his throat awkwardly.

"I do remember. I was the one who let you in with my key card. But we've just received a new notice—your unit's been frozen. Your creditor filed for a freeze on your property. Without your creditor's approval, you're not allowed to enter."

"What? That's my house! Why can't I go in?"

Tess's voice cracked in disbelief.

I paid for this house in full.

What does it have to do with Finn?

The security guard gave her a once-over and softened his tone. "Look, since you've got a kid with you, I won't make things harder. But you really should leave."

"You ... What about my things? My luggage is still inside!"

The security guard shrugged and explained, "Unless you've got court documents lifting the freeze, we can't let you in. Maybe try calling your creditor? If they say yes and notify our office, we'll let you in temporarily."

"I don't even know what creditor you're talking about." Her lips turned pale.

"You need to figure it out."

The guard didn't respond. He gave her a cold glance and turned back toward the comfort of the heated security booth, shutting the door behind him.

Tess stood alone in the bitter wind, chilled to her bones.

From a legal standpoint, Finn did have the right to use her criminal record—her conviction and time in prison—as grounds to freeze her property and liquid assets, claiming to be a harmed party.

In other words, a word from him could leave her utterly stranded with nowhere to turn to.

No money. No roof above my head.

Does he hate me that much?

I've served my sentence. Why is he still haunting me?

"Finn, how can you be so heartless?" she murmured.

Holding Layla close, Tess had nowhere to go.

The security guard didn't want her lingering at the entrance, taking shelter from the wind and rain. In his eyes, she was a stain on the image of the upscale property. He chased her off more than once.

With no choice, Tess found herself standing on an empty street, shivering—not from the cold but from the fury rising inside her.

She shut her eyes. She needed a way out—for herself and for Layla.

At that moment, a flyer fluttered to her feet. It was a job ad for a street cleaner.

Tess crouched down and picked it up with hands so cold they were turning blue.

"Accommodation provided, two meals a day, 3,000 dollars a month." That was all it promised. She had a criminal record, so no respectable company would take her in. Not even a decent chain restaurant would hire someone like her.

But a cleaning job? Maybe that was her best option.

Tess hugged Layla tighter and took one last look at the gates of Evermount Heights. Then, she walked away decisively, her pace quickening.

Later that night, a luxury sedan rolled out of Evermount Villa's main entrance.

Finn reclined in the back seat with his eyes closed, half-asleep.

Someone got into the car at Cora Bay.

"Finn, guess what I brought you?" the woman chirped cheerfully.

She had long, soft chestnut curls and wore a couture business suit.

Her wrist was adorned with a gold watch—an exclusive pre-release model—not yet available to the public. The elegant gold face was encrusted with tiny diamonds, shimmering with quiet extravagance.

From head to toe, there wasn't a single detail on her that wasn't polished to perfection and screamed luxury.

She was all smiles and grace, holding out an artfully arranged breakfast.

But Finn, seated beside her, remained cold and silent. His profile looked icy.

When he didn't respond, her smile began to falter, and a flicker of concern crossed her face.

"You're in a bad mood today, aren't you?"

She lowered her hands and curled her fingers tightly on her lap.

"I heard you went to pick Tess up yesterday. Is she still mad at me for reporting her back then?"

Finn's hand paused mid-scroll on his tablet.

He had flipped through several pages, but he hadn't read a single word.

The tantalizing scent of the breakfast lingered in the air.

Tess used to make the same kind of bread rolls every morning.

That woman ... Where is she now?

Wasn't she obsessed with becoming my wife?

She didn't come home last night. Did she spend the night on the streets and digging through dumpsters for food?

Or secretly cooking up a grand scheme?

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