Imprisoned While Pregnant, She's Back for Payback novel Chapter 58

Chapter 58 Shattered Pride

91%

+5 Free Coins

Tess heard the synchronized shouts echoing through the building, but she could barely open her eyes, hovering between consciousness and collapse. She didn’t even have the strength to lift her head.

Finn’s sharp gaze fell on her crumpled form, a flicker of shock breaking through his icy stare.

He parted his lips, but his throat was so dry that no words came out.

How did thing come to this?

His

eyes immediately snapped to Zane, who stood rigidly; he lowered his head, avoiding his gaze.

Zane had always followed orders to the letter. He would never overstep unless …

Unless this wasn’t Tess’s choice. Unless this was Nadine’s doing.

Rage flickered across Finn’s face. He didn’t hesitate. In two long strides, he was at Tess’s side and helped her to stand straight.

“What do you think you’re doing?!” he snapped.

Tess braced herself against his chest, her voice flat and bitter. “What–did you and Nadine not agree that I should bow for two full hours?”

Finn froze. The coldness in her voice sent a chill down his spine. He turned sharply to glare at Nadine.

Nadine shrank under his gaze, murmuring pitifully, “I told her she didn’t need to apologize. But she insisted. She said she’d bow for two hours. I couldn’t stop her. I guess… she wanted to make a scene in front of you.”

She said it with a wounded look, as if Tess had orchestrated the whole thing to gain sympathy.

Tess stared at her in disbelief, as though seeing a stranger.

This was the girl she once treated like a sister.

“Zane,” Finn said sharply.

Zane stepped forward and laid out the truth.

O

29

ORN

O

く

1/4

19:58 Fri, Aug 29

Chapter 58 Shattered Pride

“It was Ms. Nadine,” he said, his voice steady.

Zane’s word shattered Nadine’s carefully woven lie.

Her face went pale. “Zane’s on Tess’s side-”

91%

+5 Free Coins

But her voice faltered the moment Finn’s eyes met hers–cold, sharp, and unforgiving. She fell silent.

“Finn, I-” Nadine started, but he was already turning back to Tess.

He wanted to explain.

That he never meant for it to go this far. He only hoped a forced apology would break her pride a little and make her listen for once.

But before he could finish—

“Get lost!”

Tess’s voice cracked with fury. Her legs nearly gave out beneath her. She stumbled a little before she steadied herself. When she saw Finn stepping closer, something inside her snapped. She shoved him back with every ounce of strength she had left.

Finn stumbled, caught off guard.

“Stop pretending, will you?”

Her voice was raw, her smile twisted with pain. “Pride? Is that what this is about? I don’t have any left–not after you shattered it, piece by piece.”

She tilted her head back, the pale skin of her face stark against the faint scar on her cheek.

Finn’s breath caught. He wanted to say something, but it was as if an invisible hand gripped his throat. “You …”

“You wanted an apology? Fine,” she said hoarsely. “I bowed. That should count.”

She cast a glance at Nadine, who looked like a ghost in the corner. Then Tess leaned weakly into Finn, whispering her final words like a dying wish. “Now keep your promise. Let him go.”

Each word felt like it had been wrenched from her bones.

Then she staggered away, dragging her numb legs across the lobby.

29

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify