Imprisoned While Pregnant, She's Back for Payback novel Chapter 486

Keepsake 486

486 What a Fool

A bitter, hollow laugh escaped Violet’s lips, though inside she felt nothing but numbness, as if her emotions had been drained completely.

Henry grasped Kylie’s hand firmly and took a seat opposite the others, his posture tense and uneasy.

“Henry,” Benjamin began, his expression darkening noticeably, “I’ve been hearing some troubling rumors about you lately. Some say Shannon, Kylie’s best friend, never actually died. They claim you’ve been keeping her overseas as your mistress. Such stories don’t just appear out of nowhere, do they?”

Before Henry could even fully settle into his chair, a restless unease made him shift uncomfortably.

“Olivia, it’s all a huge misunderstanding. That rumor is absurd. We even held a funeral for Shannon to put those rumors to rest, and Tess was there to confirm it. But I admit, I was careless. I allowed gossip to spread, and that hurt Kylie deeply. That’s why people believed it,” he explained nervously, eyes flickering between the two elders, searching for any sign of their judgment.

“Careless? That’s not carelessness — that’s outright cheating!” Olivia snapped sharply, slamming her palm down on the coffee table with force. “Do you even remember the promises you made to us when you asked to marry Kylie?”

“Aunt Olivia, I’ve already forgiven Henry—”

“Silence!” Olivia cut Kylie off sharply, shooting her a glare filled with frustration and disappointment.

Kylie had meant to help by scolding her husband, but instead, she instinctively jumped to his defense.

“Olivia, Benjamin, I’ve let you down,” Henry said quietly.

Suddenly, with a heavy thud, his knees hit the floor.

The entire living room fell into a stunned silence. Every pair of eyes turned toward him, shocked by his unexpected gesture.

Without hesitation, Henry knelt there, head bowed.

Olivia and Benjamin exchanged a brief, disapproving glance.

Violet raised one eyebrow, a mocking smirk playing at the corner of her mouth.

Tess simply stared at him, her face cold and unreadable.

“Henry, what are you doing? Get up!” Kylie’s voice trembled with panic as she rushed forward, pulling at his arm.

Henry allowed her to help him to his feet, then bowed deeply once more. “This is entirely my fault. I betrayed Kylie’s trust and broke the promise I made to you when I asked for her hand in marriage. Please, forgive my foolishness.”

She remained unmoved, expression unreadable.

Lowering his eyes, Henry wiped his clammy palms on his suit trousers.

Only now did he fully grasp why the Larsons had appeared so suddenly.

And why they had approached Tess first, rather than Kylie.

It was clear: Tess was running out of time. She had promised the media proof but had nothing to show, so she involved the Larsons to increase the pressure on him.

The more Henry considered it, the more sense it made.

He lifted his head, a calculating glint flashing in his eyes. “Benjamin, you don’t know the whole story. It was Tess who stood before the reporters and promised answers—not me. She’s been rebellious, even going so far as to spread lies about her own father. As her father, I had to defend my name—and teach her a lesson she won’t forget.”

Henry forced a faint smile, adopting the role of a stern, righteous parent.

Benjamin responded only with a cold snort. “Then go tell the media to shut this down. If you can’t even protect your own daughter, you don’t deserve to manage the Embers family business.”

Benjamin’s words were blunt, almost like a command, leaving no room for argument.