Chapter 54 A Silent Ultimatum
At the same time, Tess found her way to Charles’s hospital room.
It was a double room, but for now, Charles was its only occupant.
He lay there weak and pale, an oxygen line tucked under his nose.
The only sound in the room was the steady hiss of the machine helping him breathe.
Tess tiptoed closer and sat down on the empty bed across from him.
91%
+5 Free Coins
A few feet apart, she gazed at his unconscious form, guilt crashing down on her like waves.
CO–HN’S
If he hadn’t stepped in to help her, he wouldn’t have ended up like this.
Tess bowed her head. Her heart twisted in pain.
“Ms. Ember? Ms. Ember?”
A soft voice called out.
Tess wiped her face and looked toward the door, which had been pushed open a crack. The
stood at the threshold. young nurse she’d seen earli
Glancing once at the unresponsive man in the bed, Tess quietly stepped outside.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
“Mr. Black asked me to give you this,” the nurse replied.
The moment she brought up that name, Tess’s fingers twitched violently as she reached out.
The nurse, startled by her intense reaction, gave her a look.
“What is it?” Tess asked again, her voice low and trembling.
“I didn’t read it,” the nurse said. “I don’t know.”
Back in the room, Tess sat down, her fingers clenching the small, crumpled slip of paper as though it might fly away.
Under the dim glow of the bedside lamp, she smoothed out the paper, even though it had already been crumpled from the force of her grip.
L
O
29
29
OOR
ORN |||
O
1/4
19:57 Fri, Aug 29 GG
Chapter 54 A Silent Ultimatum
“Tomorrow 10 a.m. Lock Group.”
Just five words. But to Tess, they struck like a hammer to the chest.
+5 Free Coins
She closed her eyes in anguish, the throbbing vein on her temple betraying the war inside
her.
The night passed in a hollow silence.
At home, Tess lay in bed holding Layla in her arms, staring blankly at the ceiling until the morning light crept in.
At sunrise, she called Bessie and asked her to help take care of Layla for the day.
Once she had handed Layla off in person, she made her way to the hospital.
The nurse told her Charles still hadn’t woken up. She consulted the doctor, who said he’d regained consciousness but needed rest. The news gave her a shred of comfort–however small.
Charles’s phone buzzed non–stop on the bedside table. Texts and voicemails poured in, one after another.
**
Tess couldn’t help glancing at the screen. They were all from Jackman Legal.
“Mr. Jackman, several of our clients have pulled their contracts. We’re hanging by a thread…
“Mr. Jackman, please return to the office as soon as possible. We need you to take the lead.”
“Mr. Jackman, our major clients refused to pay the remaining balances! We’re on the brink of a financial collapse!”
“Mr. Jackman …”
“Mr. Jackman, Southshore Legal is offering a buyout.”
On and on it went. Bad news, one after another, flooded his inbox like a tsunami,
29
G
Verify captcha to read the content
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Imprisoned While Pregnant, She's Back for Payback