Imprisoned While Pregnant, She's Back for Payback novel Chapter 54

Chapter 54 A Silent Ultimatum

At the same time, Tess found her way to Charles’s hospital room.

It was a double room, but for now, Charles was its only occupant.

He lay there weak and pale, an oxygen line tucked under his nose.

The only sound in the room was the steady hiss of the machine helping him breathe.

Tess tiptoed closer and sat down on the empty bed across from him.

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A few feet apart, she gazed at his unconscious form, guilt crashing down on her like waves.

CO–HN’S

If he hadn’t stepped in to help her, he wouldn’t have ended up like this.

Tess bowed her head. Her heart twisted in pain.

“Ms. Ember? Ms. Ember?”

A soft voice called out.

Tess wiped her face and looked toward the door, which had been pushed open a crack. The

stood at the threshold. young nurse she’d seen earli

Glancing once at the unresponsive man in the bed, Tess quietly stepped outside.

“What’s the matter?” she asked.

“Mr. Black asked me to give you this,” the nurse replied.

The moment she brought up that name, Tess’s fingers twitched violently as she reached out.

The nurse, startled by her intense reaction, gave her a look.

“What is it?” Tess asked again, her voice low and trembling.

“I didn’t read it,” the nurse said. “I don’t know.”

Back in the room, Tess sat down, her fingers clenching the small, crumpled slip of paper as though it might fly away.

Under the dim glow of the bedside lamp, she smoothed out the paper, even though it had already been crumpled from the force of her grip.

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Chapter 54 A Silent Ultimatum

“Tomorrow 10 a.m. Lock Group.”

Just five words. But to Tess, they struck like a hammer to the chest.

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She closed her eyes in anguish, the throbbing vein on her temple betraying the war inside

her.

The night passed in a hollow silence.

At home, Tess lay in bed holding Layla in her arms, staring blankly at the ceiling until the morning light crept in.

At sunrise, she called Bessie and asked her to help take care of Layla for the day.

Once she had handed Layla off in person, she made her way to the hospital.

The nurse told her Charles still hadn’t woken up. She consulted the doctor, who said he’d regained consciousness but needed rest. The news gave her a shred of comfort–however small.

Charles’s phone buzzed non–stop on the bedside table. Texts and voicemails poured in, one after another.

**

Tess couldn’t help glancing at the screen. They were all from Jackman Legal.

“Mr. Jackman, several of our clients have pulled their contracts. We’re hanging by a thread…

“Mr. Jackman, please return to the office as soon as possible. We need you to take the lead.”

“Mr. Jackman, our major clients refused to pay the remaining balances! We’re on the brink of a financial collapse!”

“Mr. Jackman …”

“Mr. Jackman, Southshore Legal is offering a buyout.”

On and on it went. Bad news, one after another, flooded his inbox like a tsunami,

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Now, she was just one of the many strangers who passed through these glass doors.

She lowered her eyes, letting her hair shield her face from the blinding sunlight, and walked straight to the front desk.

This time, the receptionist didn’t ask for her name or ID. Instead, she handed over an access card without hesitation.

Her gaze was laced with something between surprise and respect. “Ms. Ember, please use the employee elevator. Mr. Lock is waiting for you on the top floor.”

Tess nodded softly, stepping into the elevator she once took every day.

As the doors closed behind her, the receptionist watched her go, murmuring to herself in disbelief.

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Chapter 54 A Silent Ultimatum

So she really is Mrs. Lock–the once famous attorney, Tess Ember?

Ding!

The elevator chimed, halting at the top floor.

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Tess walked forward on instinct, following the familiar path straight into Finn’s office.

The leather chair behind the desk was empty. Zane was tidying up some documents. When he noticed Tess, he paused and looked up.

“Mrs. Lock.”

He gave a polite nod.

Tess didn’t bother with niceties. Her voice was cold. “Where’s Finn?”

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