Imprisoned While Pregnant, She's Back for Payback novel Chapter 216

Chapter 216 I Don’t Need You

Chapter 216 I Don’t Need You

Tess‘ eyes grew colder, and she glanced away.

She didn’t notice the brief, unreadable look in Finn’s eyes before it vanished.

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He tilted his head, showing a faint smirk. “You don’t think I believe you’re innocent, do you?”

His flippant words hit harder than a slap.

Her face went pale. She let out a cold laugh, biting her lip. “The mighty Mr. Lock sure knows how to make things final.”

Her voice dripped with sarcasm, but the bitterness beneath it was real.

She’d been foolish to ever think Finn might truly understand her or believe her.

“Tess, what’s the point of throwing jabs at me?”

Finn squinted slightly, sharp and merciless. “You’ll always be an ex–con. I’m the only one willing to accept you as you are. Steven? Connor? Neither of them would put up with a woman who’s been to prison.”

He stood abruptly and grabbed her wrist.

She flinched at the touch, a tremor running through her.

“Get your hands off me! Accept me? Put up with me?”

She yanked herself free, her gaze blazing. The whites of her eyes were streaked with red.

She laughed like the last breathtaking glow of twilight before the world ended. She was filled with both despair and unyielding strength. “I don’t need anyone’s acceptance. Not yours either, Finn Lock!”

She spat out his full name like a challenge.

For a second, he looked taken aback, his eyes flickering.

Then, Tess turned and walked away, her white dress fading into the night.

Only the fiery edge of the fabric seemed alive, pulsing with defiance.

Finn’s throat tightened as he watched her leave angrily. His hand slowly curled into a fist.

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9:47 Wed, Oct 8

Chapter 216 I Don’t Need You

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A memory of her devastated face from a year ago flashed through his mind, along with the drizzle from that day.

Just then, he received Zane’s call.

“Mr. Lock, Ms. Nadine just woke up. Also, should I go ahead and reopen Mrs. Lock’s case from last year? Do you need-”

At Nadine’s name, Finn frowned. And when Zane finished speaking, his expression went hard as ice.

He squinted, feeling uneasy.

The way Tess had been acting lately made the whole case from a year ago feel a lot less clear-

cut.

He wasn’t truly convinced she was guilty–not all the way, at least.

Finn swallowed, forcing his heartbeat to slow, his hands curling into fists.

That uncertain possibility was even more unsettling than facing Tess‘ fury.

If he had truly wronged Tess a year ago…

Finn didn’t dare to think further.

He eased back until the couch cushions caught him. He’d done his share of digging into her past, but most of it had been scrubbed clean. Still, he’d gotten enough glimpses to know prison hadn’t been easy. People treated her like she was nothing, like someone to push around.

A cold, uneasy feeling settled in his chest.

If Tess hadn’t stolen those company secrets, then he wasn’t just mistaken–he’d been the one to send her to prison.

“Mr. Lock? Mr. Lock?”

The long silence had Zane wondering if the call had dropped, but the line was still open. Nadine’s broken sobs faintly carried through.

“No.”

Finn’s grip on the phone tightened until his knuckles went pale.

Chapter 216 I Don’t Need You

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He pursed his lips, as though he’d made up his mind. “There’s no need to reopen the case.”

Zane sounded thrown off, like he wasn’t sure he’d heard right.

Finn’s tone went even colder. “It’s just for show to keep the press quiet. There’s no truth to uncover. A mistake stays a mistake.”

His tone was firm, carrying a hint of detachment.

Zane frowned, sensing something wasn’t right. But as Finn’s subordinate, he had no choice but to follow orders.

After hanging up, Finn sank back into the couch, his back pressing into the cushions. In a heavy mood, his eyes were shadowed in the dim room.

He paused, staring at Tess‘ closed door. The inner conflict in his chest slowly gave way.

Everything from the past was done. Even if he uncovered the truth, he couldn’t turn back time.

He rubbed his knuckles over and over, tightening his grip.

Maybe it was better to just make things right with Tess now. No matter what had happened a year ago, she was still his wife, and she deserved more respect than anyone else.

Meanwhile, Tess locked herself in her room, smiling mockingly, though the sadness behind her eyes was unmistakable.

She actually still hoped Finn might care enough to dig into the past.

How could she have been so naive?

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9:47 Wed, Oct 8