Imprisoned While Pregnant, She's Back for Payback novel Chapter 481

Chapter 481: Didn’t We Already Cut Ties?

Abel could sense the tension radiating from Tess as she stood there, her body stiff and her hands trembling slightly. Without hesitation, he reached out with a gentle touch, brushing a stray lock of hair away from her face. He paid no mind to Viotet’s curious gaze fixed on them. “I’m not trying to keep anything from you,” Abel said softly, “It’s just that Mrs. Larson and the others wanted you to discover this on your own. There’s no need to be nervous. After all, they’re almost like your grandparents too.”

Tess lifted her eyes to meet Abel’s steady gaze. Usually, his expression was playful, teasing even, but now there was a seriousness there that caught her off guard. The boy she once thought of as just a kid had transformed into someone with a quiet strength — a calmness that somehow made her feel safe, even in the midst of uncertainty.

Her heart fluttered unexpectedly, and she quickly averted her eyes, unsure of why she felt so unsettled. When she looked away, Abel’s eyes dimmed ever so slightly, a flicker of something unspoken passing through them.

Tess pressed her lips together, forcing herself to meet his gaze again. Abel lowered his head just a bit, his eyes lingering on her longer than necessary. He felt a pull toward her, a magnetic draw he was trying hard to resist, all while maintaining a composed exterior.

Viotet arched an eyebrow but soon lost interest in their silent exchange, turning her attention instead to the scene unfolding before her.

Despite Tess’s stiffness, she still held Olivia’s left hand tightly. Olivia, in turn, clutched Benjamin’s arm with her right hand, as if anchoring herself to him. When Kylie’s voice rang out, Benjamin glanced down. Olivia tightened her grip on his sleeve, the fabric wrinkling under her fingers.

The mention of Kylie stirred a memory deep within Benjamin — a little girl dressed as a princess, giggling and posing cutely for them. The realization hit him hard: how much time had passed, how much they had all aged. His face, now marked with lines, probably bore more wrinkles than his worn clothes.

Henry’s heart pounded in his chest. He shot Tess a sharp look before turning a glare toward the assistant who had been instructed to lead the group. *This idiot! I told him to bring Tess, not the entire family!*

The assistant, catching Henry’s fierce gaze, shrank back in fear.

“Welcome, Aunt Olivia, Uncle Benjamin,” Henry said quickly, forcing a warm smile as he stepped forward to greet them.

Kylie hurried over, her excitement barely contained. Olivia’s eyes welled up with tears, especially as Kylie drew near and reached out to touch her.

“Aunt Olivia, is it really you?” Kylie whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief.

Despite standing right there with her long-missed family, Kylie felt as if she were caught in a surreal dream.

“You left the Larsons a long time ago,” Benjamin said, shaking off his emotions and adopting a stern tone. “Now Tess is grown, and we just came to Aetheris to see her. We heard she’d be coming here, so we decided to come along.”

Olivia shot him a sharp look at the mention of “left the Larsons.”

“Of course. Without you, we wouldn’t even be here,” Olivia added warmly.

Perhaps reminded by Benjamin’s words, she smiled gently at Tess, waiting patiently for her answer.

The two elders made their intentions clear, and Henry, who had been ignored, looked visibly irritated. But this reaction was exactly what he had anticipated.

To the Larsons, Kylie was now just a woman who had long since left the family. But Tess was different. Even though Kylie had distanced herself, she had never truly severed ties with the Larsons. Her daughter, Tess, remained a part of the family.

Good thing he had asked Nadine to bring Tess home.

“Tess, you should come too. I have something I need to discuss with you,” Henry said, his voice softer than usual, the cold edge replaced by a hint of genuine concern.

“Discuss what? Mr. Ember, didn’t we already cut ties?” Tess turned her head swiftly, her eyes wide and innocent as she stared at Henry.

At that moment, Benjamin’s sharp gaze flashed with anger. “Cut ties?!” he snapped, his voice low but fierce.