Imprisoned While Pregnant, She's Back for Payback novel Chapter 377

Chapter 377 Shattered Illusions

Nadine gave a small nod, half understanding, and didn’t ask further.

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Henry patted her shoulder and kept talking, painting promises in the air. “For now, you can’t let Kylie suspect anything. I already agreed with her that we’d live apart for a while. Stay close to her; keep an eye on what she’s doing. If anything unusual happens, tell me right away.”

Nadine agreed without hesitation.

She might not have been strong in school or work, but she wasn’t blind. News reports and the falling stock prices made it clear–the Ember Group was falling apart. Even if her father sold all his shares and moved them overseas, life would only be modest at best. Their old days of luxury would be gone forever.

Her hands curled into fists.

Before prison, if Henry had told her they’d all be moving abroad, she would have refused.

Because of Finn.

She had always believed Finn treated her differently. She waited for him to one day make her his wife and place her at the top.

Why else would a man surrounded by executives choose her—a department head in legal—to stay at his side? When Tess was still his wife, he had sent her to prison without hesitation. He was cold and ruthless. Yet this same man once called in an entire hospital staff to treat her for a minor cut.

Those little details had filled her with hope. She never imagined it was only a dream.

Nadine bit down hard, her chest aching with sharp pains.

When he sent her to prison, he had shown no mercy.

Finn was heartless.

But in the long, bitter days behind bars, she finally understood.

She had only ever been a distraction for him and Tess. Even sending her to prison was his way of trying to win Tess back.

Henry’s voice broke through her thoughts. “You’ll need to help out at the funeral too. I’m going to see your mother.”

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Chapter 377 Shattered Illusions

With that, he strode away.

Nadine listened to the fading footsteps before slowly lifting her head.

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Her eyes, usually a mix of sweetness, innocence, and hidden malice, now looked as if covered in a gray mist.

Her body was stiff, like a scarecrow planted in the ground.

After a long time, she finally moved, feeling the numbness rush through her limbs.

She hesitated, then walked upstairs.

Henry, meanwhile, pressed harder on the gas and drove straight to the condo where Nadine had lived before. To make room for Shannon after she checked out of the hotel, he had convinced Nadine to give the place up.

“Strange, Nadine hasn’t been around lately.”

“Yeah, I haven’t seen her for a while either.”

Two elderly voices drifted over. Following the sound, Henry spotted two familiar faces.

Mom? Aunt Tamara?

When had they come to Aetheris?

Henry sensed trouble. He quickly turned away, trying to hide his face.

The two women each carried a basket of groceries and walked past him. They gave him a brief look but didn’t stop.

“Hey, just the other day I heard Henry’s name on the news again.”

“Well, he’s the Chairman of Ember Group. Of course his name pops up all the time.”

“That’s true.”

The two chatted as they went inside, closing the door behind them.

Henry let out a breath of relief, then followed the apartment number Shannon had given him.

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Chapter 377 Shattered Illusions

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He needed Nadine to talk to his mom and Aunt Tamara and get them back to Krigan as soon as possible.

Knock, knock.

He rapped on the door.

After just two knocks, the lock clicked, and the door swung open.

Kaleb stood there holding up a limited–edition model airplane.

Henry slipped inside quickly and shut the door. He scooped Kaleb up onto the couch. “Where’s your mom?”

“There!”

Kaleb pointed toward the kitchen.

Shannon was standing nearby, looking at Henry with both joy and a hint of resentment.

Henry motioned for her to put down the vegetables she was holding and patted the spot next to him on the couch.

Although she seemed somewhat hesitant, Shannon eventually sat down beside him.

“It’s been so many years—how would I even know how to cook?” Shannon whispered in complaint.

She lifted her hands, showing her fingers.

They used to be perfectly cared for, but now they were covered with blisters from trying out online recipes, along with red scratches from kitchen tools.

Henry frowned at the sight of her battered hands. Still, he tried to reassure her. “This is a critical moment. You’ll have to put up with it for now and stay away from others. Hiring a maid isn’t safe right now.”

Shannon gave a sharp little huff, her face sour.

Henry glanced at her but didn’t respond. Instead, his eyes shifted to Kaleb. “By the way,” he said, “when it’s just you and Kaleb at home, don’t open the door so carelessly. Always check the peephole first.”

Shannon crossed her arms and turned her face away. “I know. I’m supposed to be dead, right? Can’t exactly come back to life and answer the door.”