Imprisoned While Pregnant, She's Back for Payback novel Chapter 403

Chapter 403 I Came Here for You

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Raven muttered to herself as she stood with the others, following their gaze in the same

direction.

Finn was walking straight toward them.

She traded a look with Tess.

Uh… is it too late to bail?

“I came here for you,” Finn said.

Before she could even think it through, he was already standing right in front of them.

Tess frowned but didn’t rush to send him away.

“Shannon’s whereabouts are still unknown,” Finn said, his eyes locked on hers.

Her eyes were pale in color, catching the light like glass beads. But whatever spark used to live inside them wasn’t there anymore.

Finn lowered his gaze for a moment, hiding the dim look in his eyes.

Tess’s stare turned uneasy.

No news on Shannon–so why is he here?

And…

She glanced behind him out of habit. Zane wasn’t there.

The richest man in Aetheris, CEO of the Lock Group, and he’d shown up without an assistant or bodyguard.

“After you

Jeft,

I took Henry’s witness back to Lock Group. It might help you now.”

His voice was low, missing the usual sharp edge he wore in public.

“Mr. Lock, are you really planning to hand that to us?” Lyra asked with a small smile, her eyes sliding to Tess on the side.

If Finn was saying this, the intel had to be valuable. But his history with Tess made it complicated.

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Chapter 4031 Came Here for You

“Yeah.”

He nodded, eyes never leaving Tess. “I booked a private room.”

The meaning behind it was clear as day.

Tess’s palm tightened into a fist.

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By all logic, Tess had no reason to let Finn pull her back into his orbit–especially not in some closed–off space. The last time, when he handed over Henry’s shares in her family’s company for free, that should’ve been the end of it.

“Come with me. All of you.”

Finn’s calm words made Tess’s head snap up in surprise.

He hadn’t asked just her?

She had been sure if she refused to go alone, he’d keep the intel to himself.

Finn—the richest man in Aetheris, a man who owned power others only dreamed of. A man used to calling the shots, cold and absolute.

Even after the divorce, she’d seen how he couldn’t let go, how his quiet persistence clung to

her.

That was exactly why she wanted no part of him. Yet instead of using this moment to trap her one–on–one, he’d invited her friends along.

Tess dropped her eyes, swallowing her shock.

Around them, silence itself became the answer.

“Follow me.”

Finn led the way.

At the far corner of the bistro, a hidden spiral staircase rose to a second floor. The private rooms there were only for those with special arrangements.

He pushed open the door. The faint scent of sandalwood drifted out, soft and calming.

They all took their seats.

“This is a recording Abel left before he left town,” Finn said, pulling a recorder from his pocket.

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Chapter 403 I Came Here for You

Abel’s voice, along with three witnesses, began to play.

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When the crematorium worker’s voice cracked into near–collapse, the mood around the table shifted. Faces hardened, eyes darkened.

“Henry…. Did he threaten their families?” Tess whispered, her palm damp, the thought hitting

her first.

“Not sure,” Finn said, shaking his head. “But very likely.”

“Mr. Lock, you let us hear this because ?” Lyra leaned forward, her eyes narrowed, testing his

intent.

“Abel

…

gave it to me before he left. Thought it might help you.”

Tess stared at the recorder, emotions twisting in her chest.

Abel had once told her he’d stopped by his family briefly. But when he left again, it was without a sound. This time, though, the weight in his voice felt like goodbye.

If he ever came back to Aetheris again, it wouldn’t be soon–or easy.

He’d once said Finn owed him a favor. Tess hadn’t believed it. More likely, the two men had struck some deal behind closed doors.

The thought made her stomach knot.

Finn’s voice cut in again. “The two doctors and the nurse–digging into them won’t be too hard. They’re likely just in it for money, and even then, they can’t confirm much. My guess? That nurse never even pulled back the sheet on ‘Shannon’s‘ body.”

His eyes caught Tess’s, sharp and unreadable, like he could cut straight into her thoughts.

Her chest tightened.

“Yeah,” she answered faintly.

“I can’t say for sure Shannon’s still in Aetheris. If she’s already left the country, even I can’t track her,” Finn said, tapping the recorder on the table. “That means the crematorium worker is your best shot. And from what I know, the media deadline you agreed to is only a few days away.”

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