Imprisoned While Pregnant, She's Back for Payback novel Chapter 316

Chapter 316 Why So Down?

Chapter 316 Why So Down?

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Bessie smacked her lips and muttered, “Too bad, Tess, you wouldn’t let me beat him up.”

The “him” was clearly Henry.

Tess couldn’t help but recall the way his face flushed red with humiliation, and a strange thrill of satisfaction welled up inside her.

There was nothing better than the revenge of tearing apart the pride of a man who lived only for his dignity.

Bessie flexed her fists with swagger; then cracked a joke that made both Tess and Lyra laugh softly.

While things went smoothly for Tess, Finn was sinking deeper into a cage of his own making.

At a bar.

Zane looked helplessly toward Abel.

“Maybe you should take a look. He’s in there, been drinking for who knows how long.” Zane scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

Abel followed the direction of his finger. Sure enough, he saw a lonely figure drinking alone.

Abel’s gaze shifted for a moment before he nodded and walked in.

The second floor was the same as always, but this time Finn seemed to have bought the place

out.

It should have been bustling at this hour, but only he sat there.

Abel stopped in front of him and tapped the table. “Why so down? You don’t even care about the work you value most?”

Finn swayed slightly and lifted his dark, hollow eyes.

He glanced at Abel, frowned, then lowered his gaze. “Why are you here?”

His voice was hoarse and low.

“I’d say you’re drinking yourself into oblivion. There’s a major event today that needs you. Zane had been calling nonstop, but you wouldn’t answer. Turns out you were here all along.”

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16:38 Fri, Oct 17 B…

Chapter 316 Why So Down?

Abel folded his arms and dropped lazily into the seat across from him.

A faint trace of clarity flickered in Finn’s black cycs.

He pulled out his phone, and sure enough, there were dozens of missed calls.

Annoyed, Finn rubbed his brow. “Cancel it.”

“That’s for you to tell him, not me. I don’t run errands.”

Abel propped an elbow on the table and poured himself a drink.

Unlike Finn, who was drowning in alcohol, Abel drank with a calm ease.

The presence of another man only made Finn more irritable.

“You’re still here?”

“Someone asked me to be.”

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Finn was speechless. With no other choice, he called Zane. Learning it was a meeting that had already been postponed several times, he finally rose and tugged at his tie.

The sky was getting dark the moment he stepped out of the bar.

Finn lit a cigarette, smoke curling up and hiding half his face.

Zane hurried over. “Mr. Lock.”

Finn answered coldly, “Not too late, right? Let’s go straight there.”

Zane glanced back at Abel emerging from the doorway, then gave a short nod and drove off.

The limited–edition Rolls–Royce roared down roads bathed in sunset glow. By the time they arrived, the sky was heavy with clouds.

The largest nightclub in Aetheris loomed ahead.

The moment Finn stepped into the private room, the noise froze. Then everyone immediately closed in around him, each taking turns to greet him.

“Mr. Lock, we thought you’d bail on us again tonight.”

The leader of the group–a carefree young heir–teased lightly while handing him a glass of

mild red wine.

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16:38 Fri, Oct 17 B…

Chapter 316 Why So Down?

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Finn pinched the bridge of his nose, took the glass, and downed it in one gulp before handing the empty glass back.

That one gesture shifted the air.

The young heir exchanged looks with the others. His usual playful grin vanished, replaced with serious concern as he sat closer. “Finn, what’s wrong with you?”

He had only offered the wine as a gesture. Everyone knew Finn valued a clear head above all else. He rarely touched alcohol in public, let alone drank like this.

The young men traded wary glances and noticed the surprise in everyone’s eyes.

“I’m fine,” Finn said flatly.

He grabbed the heir’s glass and swirled it.

A

young

waitress caught the hint and hurried forward to refill it.

Finn downed it again.

The strange scene left the whole room uneasy.

“Is this about Nadine?” the young heir asked carefully.

After all, what else could it be? The Lock Group already ruled Aetheris, and work could hardly trouble Finn. If it wasn’t business, it had to be family.

And it certainly wasn’t Tess, the convict wife. That left only Nadine, the mistress.

Nadine had been making headlines lately.

She had only just replaced Tess as Aetheris’s top lawyer. But the moment Tess walked free, Nadine lost a nearly impossible case against her. Now the internet was full of mockery and suspicion about her falsified résumé.

At the mention of Nadine’s name, Finn was visibly irritated.

“Shut up.”

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