Imprisoned While Pregnant, She's Back for Payback novel Chapter 499

**TITLE: Keepsake 499**
**Chapter 499: Did Tess Say She’d Come Home?**

Tess felt the palpable tension crackle in the air as she stood between the two men, a sense of urgency coursing through her veins.

“Let’s go,” she commanded, her voice low but firm.

With a sharp glare directed at Abel, she took hold of his hand, pulling him away from the scene.

Finn stood frozen, his heart racing as he contemplated calling her back, a desperate plea forming on his lips. But as he caught sight of their intertwined fingers, the words evaporated before they could escape. In that fleeting moment, a stark realization hit him—he no longer had the right to ask her to stay.

Was it true? Had he truly lost every reason to cling to her?

Zane, ever observant, noted the way Finn’s usually composed demeanor faltered, as if a heavy weight had settled upon his shoulders. The air around him shifted, thickening with an unspoken sorrow.

“Mr. Lock, is there something significant about that emerald bracelet?” Zane ventured, attempting to disrupt the heavy silence and draw Finn back from his spiraling thoughts.

Finn’s gaze dropped, his thick lashes casting shadows over his eyes, obscuring the turmoil within.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally lifted his gaze, revealing eyes that seemed unfocused, lost in a fog of confusion. A flicker of panic danced within their depths.

“That’s the Larsons’ heirloom,” he murmured, his voice heavy with implication. “It’s only given to their heiress.”

The weight of his words hung in the air. If Tess were to become the Larsons’ successor, it would mean a departure to Kingsland—an unfamiliar place far removed from Aetheris. And knowing Tess, she likely wouldn’t return. The thought gnawed at him; if he ever hoped to see her again, he wouldn’t even have an adequate reason to reach out.

Zane, catching the depth of Finn’s concern etched across his features, tried to offer a glimmer of reassurance.

“Mr. Lock, Mrs. Lock is still consumed by her quest for revenge against the Embers and Shannon. She’s definitely going to remain in Aetheris for the time being,” he said, hoping to lighten the burden resting on Finn’s shoulders.

Finn’s eyes flickered, a spark of acknowledgment igniting within him as he processed Zane’s words.

There was still time. He still had a chance.

“I asked you to restore the deleted security footage from a year ago. Any updates?” Finn inquired, his tone shifting back to its usual sharpness, the cloud of gloom dissipating as he focused on the task at hand.

Zane straightened, adopting a more formal demeanor. “The professionals reported that the security system and some internal systems were tampered with, but the experts are on it. We should have all the footage back in a few days.”

Finn nodded, his expression resolute. “Make it fast. And what about the man I asked you to investigate?”

Without pausing, Finn strode forward, his pace quickening as he fired off his questions.

Zane hesitated, then recalled Finn’s earlier inquiry. “He appears to be a world-renowned pianist, Lachlan.”

“A pianist?” Finn’s brow furrowed, a fierce intensity radiating from him, sharp enough to cut through steel.

“Hey, isn’t that Kylie?” Raven remarked as she pulled up nearby, her purpose solely to keep an eye on Tania. The unexpected sight of Kylie caught her off guard.

“She’s probably here to see Nadine. Should we inform Tess?” Raven turned to Lyra, seeking her input.

Lyra hesitated, contemplating the implications. “You follow Tania. I’ll check on Kylie and the others. We can update Tess later,” she decided, and Raven nodded in agreement.

The two women parted ways as soon as they exited the car, each on their own mission.

Knock, knock.

Kylie rapped lightly on the hospital room door before pushing it open.

Upon seeing her, Nadine’s pale face brightened with a weak smile. “Mom, you’re here.”

Kylie rushed to her side, taking Nadine’s hand in hers, warmth flooding her heart. “Of course. If I hadn’t needed to wait at the villa to see Tess today, I would have spent the entire day by your side at the hospital.”

A strange look flickered across Nadine’s face at the mention of Tess. She tugged gently on her mother’s sleeve, her voice barely above a whisper. “Mom, did Tess say she’d come home?”

The question caught Kylie off guard, her heart sinking at the thought of Tess. “Yeah,” she replied, her tone darkening as she bent down to adjust Nadine’s blanket. “Your dad mentioned that she’s still a daughter of the Embers. As for her promise to handle things with the media, your dad said he’d take care of it, so she doesn’t have to worry about it anymore.”