Imprisoned While Pregnant, She's Back for Payback novel Chapter 532

**Keepsake 532**
**The Trap at the Furniture Store**

Tess had only just begun to stride forward when she caught sight of Abel, who had been lingering outside, his expression a mix of boredom and impatience. Suddenly, his face brightened as if a light had flicked on inside him. He rushed to catch up, his voice cutting through the air, “Where are you going?”

Tess remained silent, her focus fixed on the collar of her coat as she adjusted it with a slight tug. With a deliberate motion, she turned her phone toward him, revealing the address displayed on the screen.

“I’ll go with you. My car’s parked downstairs,” Abel declared, his eagerness palpable.

Tess tilted her head slightly, a gesture that suggested she was weighing her options. After a brief moment, she relented, “Alright. Come on, then.”

With that, she quickened her pace, her heels clicking against the pavement.

The instant Abel heard her consent, he didn’t waste a moment; he dashed forward, calling out, “Tess! Wait up!” His enthusiasm was infectious, and he felt a surge of adrenaline as he hurried to join her side.

Before long, they arrived at one of Aetheris’s largest department stores, a sprawling complex that seemed to stretch endlessly. They took the elevator down, descending to the depths of the building, where the furniture section awaited them in the basement.

“So, you’re really planning to keep staying at the Ember Residence?” Abel asked, his curiosity piqued as they navigated through the rows of furniture. “Why are you even helping them pick out furniture?”

Tess halted a few yards from their intended destination, her body tense as she turned to face him. The seriousness in her expression was unmistakable. “Since you’re already here, I’ve got a job for you.”

At the change in her tone, Abel straightened, instinctively sensing the gravity of the moment. “Got it.”

She gestured for him to come closer, and he stepped forward eagerly, like a dog anticipating a treat, his eyes bright with anticipation.

“I might have to leave suddenly,” Tess said in a low voice, her gaze steady and unwavering. “You’ll need to stall them for me.”

“Use whatever works—make up some fake project, throw out a business proposal, flirt with Nadine if you have to. I don’t care what you do, just buy me some time.”

Abel’s expression shifted to one of confusion mixed with mild indignation. “Flirt with Nadine? Tess, you know I—”

“Then come up with a fake project,” she interrupted, her tone flat yet firm. “You’re Finn’s nephew. That alone makes you valuable to them.”

Abel’s shoulders sagged slightly, and he nodded, though his demeanor still bore a hint of sulkiness. When Tess mentioned Finn, a shadow flickered across his face, darkening his eyes momentarily before he masked it with indifference.

Not far away, Nadine had been observing their every interaction, her eyes narrowing as she took in the sight of them whispering so closely. Her jaw clenched tightly, as if she were trying to suppress a growing storm of emotions.

How long has it been since Tess divorced Finn? And now she’s getting cozy with his nephew? What a disgrace.

A wave of jealousy surged through Nadine, hot and fierce, igniting a fire in her chest.

First Finn, now Abel. Why does Tess get all the attention? Men practically line up for her like moths drawn to a flame. What’s so special about her? That scarred face?

Nadine’s gaze fixated on Tess’s features, a mix of disdain and disbelief washing over her.

Nadine followed closely behind, forcing a cheerful tone into her voice, “Yeah, Tess, we’ve been here a while. Come take a look.”

Tess didn’t respond, her expression inscrutable, but she moved forward nonetheless, her thoughts swirling in a tempest of uncertainty.

As they entered the custom furniture showroom, Tess was surprised to find that Kylie was not resting as Henry had claimed. Instead, she stood near the corner, engaged in an animated conversation with a saleswoman about a beige vanity table.

“Yes, my daughter’s vanity at home is getting old,” Kylie said, her voice soft and nurturing. “I thought I’d order a new one for her.”

Henry quickly stepped up beside her, a smile on his face as he glanced back at Tess. “See? Even though your mom didn’t wait outside, she’s been thinking about decorating your room.”

Catching Henry’s hint, Nadine hurried closer, ready to call Kylie over. But before she could, Kylie had already turned at the sound of footsteps behind her.

“Nadine, what do you think?” Kylie asked with a soft laugh, her eyes brightening. “Once Tess picks her things, we’ll get this one installed for you too.”

Just as she finished speaking, a pair of pale, slender legs appeared at the corner of the aisle.

Kylie’s gaze traveled upward, and she froze when she saw Tess standing there, only a few feet away, her expression a mix of surprise and something deeper.

From the look on Tess’s face, it was clear she had heard every single word, and the air in the room thickened with unspoken tension.