Imprisoned While Pregnant, She's Back for Payback novel Chapter 504

**Chapter 504: A Taste of Regret**

Abel felt a sudden, jarring cramp twist through his stomach, a sharp reminder of the tension that had been building inside him. As Tess’s question reached his ears, he instinctively raised his head, forcing a smile that felt more like a mask than a genuine expression. “I’m fine. Just wanted to enjoy my own cooking a little longer,” he replied, his voice steady despite the turmoil within.

Tess studied him for a moment, her gaze lingering on the strained smile he wore. There was a flicker of concern in her eyes, but she ultimately chose to look away. “Take your time then,” she said, her tone softening as she turned to leave for the study.

Before she departed, she cast one last glance at the dishes spread out on the table. “The food’s really good,” she remarked, her voice carrying a hint of warmth that made Abel freeze momentarily. He looked up, hoping to catch her gaze, but she was already walking away, her silhouette fading into the dim light of the hallway.

Her words echoed in his mind, igniting a small spark of happiness within him. A smile crept onto his face, but it was short-lived. Almost immediately, another wave of pain surged through his stomach, sharp and insistent.

He pushed his plate away, the clatter of ceramic against the table breaking the silence. “Bessie, could you clean this up? I’m done,” he called out, urgency creeping into his voice.

Without waiting for a reply, he stood up abruptly and hurried off, the tension in his body propelling him forward.

Bessie blinked in confusion, her brow furrowing at his sudden departure. “I think he forgot the salt,” she muttered under her breath, shaking her head as she resumed her task.

The dinner concluded in an unusual quietness, the only sound being the soft rustle of the evening breeze outside, which had turned the sky into a canvas of gentle, muted hues.

Tess remained in the study for a solid hour, attempting to focus on the folder Zane had handed her. Yet, no matter how hard she concentrated, her mind wandered, straying from the words on the pages to thoughts of Abel. She found herself imagining his teasing grin and those mischievous eyes that always seemed to hold a secret.

After battling her inability to focus for too long, she finally surrendered to the distraction and exited the study, only to find that Abel was nowhere in sight.

Bessie was still busy mopping the floor when Tess approached. “Where’s Abel?” she inquired, a frown creasing her forehead.

Bessie looked up, pausing her work. “He left right after you went to the study,” she replied, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Tess nodded lightly, absorbing the information but still feeling a nagging sense of worry. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, so she decided to check on Layla, who was peacefully sleeping in her crib.

Meanwhile, at the Embers.

“You’ve been holed up in the Embers’ villa for days now. Are you planning to forget about your two kids and me?” Shannon’s voice crackled through the phone, sharp and petulant.

Henry quickly covered the receiver, glancing around to ensure no one was within earshot before lowering his voice. “You know I’ve been busy. I don’t want to stay here either. But the Larsons are sending people over, and I have to keep up appearances,” he explained, his tone dripping with a feigned helplessness, as if being at the Ember Residence was akin to a prison sentence.

Shannon’s irritation softened slightly upon hearing his tone. She tossed a fruit pit onto the freshly mopped floor, watching with satisfaction as it landed with a soft thud.

“I don’t care!” she snapped, her voice rising with indignation. “It’s been so long! You even held a funeral for me. Who’s left to be afraid of?”

Her tone grew spoiled, the irritation clearly fueled by her pregnancy mood swings.

Henry exhaled sharply, his patience wearing thin. “Fine. I’ll come back in a few days and take you to the hospital myself.”

That seemed to ease Shannon’s tension a bit.

She shifted in her seat, then suddenly straightened up. “Oh, right. I heard Nadine’s still in the hospital—hurt badly, too. I can’t go see her, so at least you should. You’re her dad, after all.”

Henry was quickly losing interest in the conversation, agreeing just to placate her. “Alright, I’ll check on her.”

“Okay, that’s it. I’ve got things to handle here. Gotta go,” she said, her tone dismissive.

Without waiting for Henry’s response, she hung up the phone, leaving him to contemplate the weight of their conversation.