Imprisoned While Pregnant, She's Back for Payback novel Chapter 527

Chapter 527 The Dinner Table

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Henry frowned when he noticed Kylie

“Kylie? What are you standing there for?”

till frozen in place while everyone else was heading into the house.

Tess also stopped and turned around. Her expression was calm and emotionless.

Looking at that cold, detached face, the mix of irritation and resentment in Kylie’s chest kept growing.

Why does she always look like that?

Can’t she be a little more like Nadine, understanding, gentle, and sweet? Can’t she at least try to care a little, or maybe even act nice to please her dad once in a while?

“Let’s eat,” Kylie said stiffly, her face darkening as she marched toward the dining room.

Henry immediately caught the shift in her mood and quickly tugged at her sleeve, shooting her a look to calm down.

Realizing she’d lost her composure, Kylie bit her lip, forcing a smile. “Guess I got too excited knowing you were coming home. I’ve been looking forward to it all day. Come on, Tess, dinner’s ready. Mom made it herself—your favorite grilled salmon with chili–lime glaze.”

Tess’s eyes flickered for a second at the mention of the dish.

It was Gillian’s specialty–one of those meals that carried pieces of their shared memories.

She hadn’t expected Kylie to prepare it.

For a brief moment, Tess looked s. The frost in her eyes seemed to melt a little.

She didn’t say anything, just gave a small nod and followed them inside.

Seeing her reaction, Henry and Nadine exchanged glances, and the same pleased spark showed in both their eyes.

If they could just win Tess’s trust, transferring the Larsons‘ assets would be a piece of cake.

At first, their plan was only to squeeze one last bit of profit out of the Larsons. But since the Larsons were blind enough to name Tess as their heir, well, too bad for them.

Henry could barely hide the smug curl of his lips. He coughed lightly, forcing the smile away.

Nadine clenched her fists, forcing a smile to adjust her mood.

To welcome Tess home, Henry had rushed to get her discharged from the hospital, not even caring that she hadn’t fully recovered yet. She was still limping as she walked.

But that was fine.

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18:34 Tue, Nov 25!

Chapter 527 The Dinner Table

If it meant securing the Larsons‘ fortune, a little suffering now was a small price to pay.

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Nadine made up her mind and turned even more attentive, stepping forward to pull out Tess’s chair herself. “Tess, here, sit down.”

Tess glanced at her, one eyebrow lifting slightly as her gaze swept over Nadine’s covered arms and legs- every inch of her wrapped up.

She didn’t refuse. She sat down calmly, though her eyes stayed on Nadine. Her lips curved faintly, almost teasing. “I heard you were attacked a while ago. You’re all healed up already?”

She acted surprised, smiling lightly. “Did they catch who did it?”

Of course, she knew it had been Max. And Nadine knew that Tess knew, but she couldn’t say a word.

As soon as Tess finished speaking, Nadine’s face went pale.

She forced out a stiff smile, her tone dry. “No idea. Some lunatic, I guess. I just let it go–wasn’t worth making a fuss.”

“How generous of you,” Tess said flatly, shifting her gaze toward the table.

Her voice, though light, carried a sharp edge that lingered awkwardly in the air.

Nadine’s stomach churned with irritation, but she kept smiling anyway, even as she cursed Tess a hundred times over in her head.

“Alright, alright,” Henry jumped in quickly, sensing the tension. “It was just a minor injury, nothing serious. Tess, come try your mom’s cooking. She made your favorites.”

Kylie seemed to snap back to herself, quickly picking up the serving spoon to place some fish on Tess’s plate. “Here–try this first.”

The dish, a pan–seared white fish drizzled with creamy lemon sauce, looked almost exactly like the one Tess remembered from years ago.

She didn’t hesitate. She picked up her fork, cut off a small piece, and took a bite.

Henry leaned forward eagerly. “Well? How is it?”

Tess’s expression stayed the same. She gave a faint nod, then set her fork down and pushed the plate slightly aside.

Seeing her reaction, Kylie turned toward Hannah Woods, who was standing nervously in the corner. Didn’t she practice this recipe over and over? The look on Tess’s face clearly says she doesn’t like it.

“Maybe it’s not really your thing. Try something else,” Henry said quickly, flashing a smile as he scooped more food onto Tess’s plate. The lines on his face deepened with the effort.

Tess glanced at the fish again but didn’t touch it.

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18:35 Tue, Nov 25

Chapter 527 The Dinner Table

The sauce was heavy with dill–her least favorite herb. Gillian would never have used it.

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Still, she didn’t turn down Henry’s gesture. She even took a polite bite of the roasted eggplant he offered. but her brows pinched right after.

Too much garlic.

She swallowed a few bites before setting her utensils down. Half the pasta on her plate was still untouched, and each dish Henry had given her had only a single bite missing.

The table fell quiet.

Kylie looked uneasy.

I know everyone has their own preferences, but Hannah is a chef I personally chose after much thought. She’s talented. Tess can’t actually dislike every dish… right?