Imprisoned While Pregnant, She's Back for Payback novel Chapter 448

Chapter 448 Max Trying Hard

Abel watched his mother and spoke softly.

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Miranda knit her brows, thinking he still hadn’t given up; her face hardened, and she was ready to refuse.

“Yes, that’s our condition for the concession. Mr. Shaw has already signed the contract–please honor the agreement.”

Violet had left, but her secretary was still there with the file, waiting to hand it off to Shaw Corporation’s staff.

At those words, Miranda’s expression instantly soured.

She looked up at Abel and, sure enough, caught the faint arch of his brow.

A rebellious son! Really growing a spine.

But Abel was in an excellent mood; humming to himself, he didn’t even go back to the office- he took a cab straight home.

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At the Kenobi Lake Residence.

Max already had a spread of tempting dishes laid out in front of him–top–shelf ingredients, elegant plating–every detail showing how much he’d cared enough to prepare for whoever was coming.

Still, the hot dishes had cooled on the table, and an hour had passed beyond their agreed time.

Max’s jaw tightened; the smile that usually lived in his eyes had turned to frost.

Just as he started to think Tess had stood him up for good, he stood and saw a figure in black approaching.

Tess Ember wore a comfortable, tasteful black skirt and top. She arrived late, yes, wasn’t a trace of hurry on her face.

Max sat back down; whatever negative mood he’d been carrying evaporated.

“I thought you weren’t coming.”

but there

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19:51 Thu, Nov 6

Chapter 448 Max Trying Hard

“I really didn’t want to.”

Tess answered with a sarcastic edge, throwing a barb his way.

Max only smiled, unfazed by her resistance.

“Try this.”

He used the serving fork to put a piece of fish on Tess’s plate.

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He’d once lived close to Tess’s grandmother’s house and had been drawn in by the scent of her grandmother’s grilled salmon with chili–lime glaze–he’d drooled over the railings, and the grandmother, kind as she was, would always invite him in and offer a meal.

Tess had been a pretty, delicate child back then; she’d act possessive if Grandma gave him an extra piece.

“I don’t like fish. It smells fishy.”

Tess pushed the fish aside with an unused fork.

Since her grandmother passed, she hadn’t eaten fish again.

Max froze for a beat, then slowly withdrew his hand.

“Then, try something else.”

“Max, just say what you want. Is this really just some nostalgic get–together?”

Tess cut him off bluntly.

She had no patience when it came to him.

Max’s face went briefly ugly; he stared at Tess, then set his fork down. “Do we really have to get to this point? You won’t even talk to me?”

“Max, am I supposed to be grateful to you?”

Tess sounded like she’d heard a joke.

“If you hadn’t kidnapped Ken, I wouldn’t have had to run back to Aetheris in the middle of the night to find him. And you keep saying you pity what I went through—but didn’t last year’s mess have your fingerprints all over it?”

Tess spoke each word slowly, eyes locked on Max’s.

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19:51 Thu, Nov 6

Chapter 448 Max Trying Hard

Sure enough–she’d caught a tiny tremor in his pupils.

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“You resisted me, so I had to use drastic measures. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have agreed to see me at all,” Max said, lowering his head; he looked miserable and hollow.

That pitiful look earned Tess only a sneer.

Max had a darkness about him that made people uneasy; anyone who fell for that sorrowful act would be a fool.

“A year ago, yes, I rode the fallout from the damage to the Lock Group’s secrets to push the Hunt Group to the top. But I’m a businessman–when opportunity knocks, you don’t let it pass.”

“Tess, the real ones who hurt you were Finn and Nadine. I’ve been trying to help you—trying to pull you away from Finn and the Embers.”

Tess lifted her chin. Max’s eyes were earnest, desperate to convince her.

“So, now I should thank you?”

Tess laughed coldly.

She’d always been striking–like a pale wall painted with a single, vivid red blossom–beautiful, composed, and sharp.

Max’s Adam’s apple bobbed; his gaze flared with heat. “Of course.”

“Tess, you’re divorced from Finn now. Be with me–here in Aetheris, you won’t have to lower yourself to anyone, and nobody can frame you.”

His heartbeat quickened; he felt like he was inching closer to a lifelong dream.

Tess’s brow suddenly tightened.

…

“Is that so?” She sounded mildly interested, propping her chin on her hand. “Framed you say you can clear my name. Fine–then who actually stole Lock Group’s secrets a year ago? Was I wrong about you all along?”

19:51 hu, Nov 6

Chapter 449 Odd Sensation