Imprisoned While Pregnant, She's Back for Payback novel Chapter 34

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She slammed the phone onto the couch. “What, is she rebelling now? She doesn’t even bother to talk properly!”

Hearing that, Nadine, sitting nearby, gently massaged her shoulders. “She was in prison for a year. It’s normal for her to hold some resentment. Mom, don’t stoop to her level.”

“Resentment?”

Kylie let out a cold laugh. “What right does she have to resent anyone? I’m her mother!”

Right after saying that, Nadine pressed on a spot near her neck, and she shifted uncomfortably.

She didn’t think much of it and quickly asked, “Is Tess coming back?”

Kylie snorted. “It’s her grandma’s memorial. If she doesn’t come back, that’s just being unfilial.”

Meanwhile, Tess had already packed her suitcase. But now she was stuck on what to do with Layla.

When Charles heard she was heading home for the memorial, he offered to hire a nanny for a few days, but she refused.

That day, she took Layla in her arms and caught a cab back to the staff dorm where she used to stay as a cleaner.

“Hi, I’m looking for Bessie.”

“Looking for Bessie? What for?”

Tess tapped a woman sitting in the corner chewing bubble gum. The woman brushed her hand away, clearly annoyed.

Then a baby’s babbling broke the silence. The woman looked up–right into Tess’s smiling

eyes.

“Hey! Tess! What are you doing here? Looking for Bessie, yeah? I’ll drag her out right now!”

Her attitude changed instantly. She jumped up, gave Layla’s chubby cheek a squeeze, went off to find Bessie, grinning wide as she went.

and

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Moments later, not just Bessie, but a few other women who’d seen her off before came running too, all excited to greet her.

Tess found the scene amusing–and oddly heartwarming.

She felt at ease handing Layla to the group of women and followed Bessie to a quiet corner.

“Bessie, I might need to go back home for a few days. I can’t bring the baby with me. I was hoping you could watch her.”

Bessie’s kindness came purely from her own warmth and good heart–maybe also a sense of shared understanding, woman to woman, mother to mother.

Compared to Charles and that so–called “nanny,” Tess trusted this honest woman more.

“No problem. Leave her with me. Just come pick her up when you’re back.”

Bessie agreed without hesitation.

Tess finally felt relieved. Before leaving, she chatted a bit with the other women.

Layla nestled quietly in Bessie’s arms, not crying or fussing at all.

Tess handed over a milk bottle, spare clothes, and other things, then left and got on a commuter bus.

She dropped in two coins.

Her bank card had been frozen again. The wages from her sanitation job were still in there, but she couldn’t withdraw a cent.

Leaning against the window, she watched the trees slide backward outside, a shadow of worry in her eyes.

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Did they go to Grandma’s grave without me? Didn’t even wait?

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She realized that Kylie did it on purpose.

Standing at the doorway, soaked and chilled from the rain, she happened to meet Nadine’s gaze from the couch inside–warm, cozy, and staring right at her.

A shiver ran through Tess. She didn’t know if it was the rain or the cold creeping into her heart.

But shouldn’t she be used to it by now?

She gave herself a bitter smile, bit down on her trembling lip, and walked in without a word.

The moment she stepped inside, the warmth and sweet scent of the house wrapped around her.

Nadine sat on the couch, dressed in designer clothes, casting glances full of mockery and

scorn.

One looked like the picture of a happy, well–loved daughter. The other–like a stray dog tossed a bone by the family.

Anyone watching would think Nadine was the real daughter.

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Tess said nothing. She ignored Nadine’s gaze, kept her face blank, and walked straight toward her room.

“Hey, Tess, Mom turned your room into a walk–in closet. You’re barely ever here anyway. Use the storage room down the hall for now.”