Chapter 14 Watching Him Choose Nadine
A woman carrying a six months old baby was asking to see Finn?
No matter how hard Zane tried, he just couldn’t connect the dots between the two.
He scoffed, “A scammer, maybe? Is she mentally unstable? Just send her away.”
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But the receptionist hesitated. “Zane, the baby really looks like Mr. Lock. Are you sure we should just send her away?”
Sending away a stranger was fine. But if she accidentally sent away Finn’s precious daughter, that would be a colossal mistake. She was torn.
Looking at the little baby in the woman’s arms and those wide, glittering eyes, her own heart melted despite not being married or a mother herself.
“Send her away. Ms. Nadine will be here any minute. Don’t create trouble for Mr. Lock,” Zane’s cold voice urged over the phone.
Setting down the receiver, the receptionist gave a polite but apologetic smile. “Miss, I’m afraid Mr. Lock isn’t available right now. Maybe you could come back another day?”
On a regular day, it might’ve been possible. But with Nadine visiting, showing up with a baby that bore a striking resemblance to Finn was just too conspicuous.
Tess bit her lip. Her arms trembled slightly as she held Layla.
She was furious–and cold.
She was soaked from the downpour–Layla too–and now, Finn had shut them out.
She let out a hollow laugh.
Ha!
She laughed through her tears.
She had been trampled to this point by Finn, but she couldn’t even step through the elevator doors to see him.
The nearby security guard, catching a glance from the receptionist, fixed his eyes on her–daring her to take even one step toward the elevator. If she moved closer, he’d throw her and her baby out of the building.
Of course, Tess didn’t look anything like the accomplished attorney from a year ago.
People came and went at the company. It wasn’t surprising no one recognized her anymore.
The rain was relentless. Not a single car had stopped for them on the way there.
She had taken off her coat to shield Layla but still had to watch helplessly as the rain soaked her child.
Sweet little Layla, nestled against Tess’s chest, didn’t even cry. She just shivered quietly and clung tightly to Tess’s fingers. Her gaze was unwavering, as if to say, “Whatever happens, I’m with you.”
Tess parted her pale lips. “Tell Finn, I’m Tess.”
But before she could finish, a flurry of commotion erupted at the entrance.
A tall woman strode in wearing a figure–hugging crimson dress, her two–inch heels clicking against the floor. She was surrounded by staff–bodyguards holding umbrellas, an assistant carrying her purse, a maid draping a down jacket over her shoulders.
She walked with confidence, radiating privilege. People stepped aside and admired her as she passed.
Tess’s mouth fell open slightly, and her eyes turned bloodshot. She knew that woman. She was one of the very people who’d
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Chapter 14 Watching Him Choose Nadine
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sent her to prison–Nadine, the Embers‘ adopted daughter and once Tess’s closest “sister“. She had claimed to act out of fairness and justice when she testified against Tess.
“It’s Nadine …”
“That’s Nadine? The rising star in law? She’s gorgeous.”
At that moment, Finn’s private elevator opened, and a tall, poised figure stepped out, wearing an uncharacteristically gentle smile.
Seeing Finn, Nadine lit up. She ran to him joyfully and threw herself into his arms. “Finn, I knew you’d come greet me in person!”
Finn gently placed his hands on her shoulders and nudged her away slightly. “Enough, Nadine. Mr. Mintz from the legal association said your performance was excellent. You gave sharp insights and had fresh ideas. He told me to praise you in person.”
Zane stood respectfully nearby. “Ms. Nadine, Mr. Lock planned a special welcome dinner to celebrate your return. He’s been thinking about you the whole time.”
Hearing “Ms. Nadine” made her expression freeze momentarily. But aside from the title, she liked everything else.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, hooked her arm through Finn’s, and was about to walk forward–until her gaze /swept over a corner of the crowd. She locked eyes with a pair of eyes filled with both mockery and sorrow.
In that instant, a chill ran down her spine. It was her.
“What are you looking at?” Finn noticed the woman holding a baby earlier, but Nadine had distracted him. Now, his eyes followed hers.
Nadine’s heart thudded. She quickly tried to divert his attention. “Finn, I’m not looking…” She stopped.
The woman was gone. That piercing gaze had disappeared like a dream.
Nadine steadied herself. “Just a lot of unfamiliar faces. Looks like the company has hired some new people while I was away,” she said with a soft laugh.
“Mm.” Finn nodded faintly. Nothing was there now—just a puddle of rainwater. He turned his gaze elsewhere.
“Everything Nadine has now was supposed to be yours, Tess.
“In fact, Finn and I both know that she’s nothing but a poor imitation.”
In a lounge around the corner, a man leaned close to Tess’s ear and whispered. Tess angrily shoved his hand away. “Let go of me! Max, what are you trying to do?”
Max’s eyes were red, his breathing ragged. He had come to handle some business. He hadn’t expected to run into Tess.
He fought to control his emotions, his eyes flicking between her and the baby in her arms. The more he looked, the more shaken he became.
Taking a deep breath, his striking eyes narrowed with sarcasm. “You saw it, didn’t you? Finn only has eyes for Nadine. Showing up here will only humiliate you. I was trying to spare you that. You should thank me.”
“Spare me?” Tess snapped. “You mean I should thank you for testifying falsely and sending me to prison? For betraying my trust and handing all my hard–earned research to Nadine at the most critical moment?
“Max, don’t tell me you were never in love with Nadine. You did everything for her. Was befriending me from the start part of your plan?”
Tess couldn’t even look at him without feeling sick.
She’d nursed a viper in her shirt, and it had bitten her.
She and Max had grown up together.
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When the Hunts rejected him, she stood by him. She believed in his talent and genuinely thought he could succeed on his
own.
He became a rising star in the business world, standing toe–to–toe with Finn.
And then he destroyed her.
She had treated him as her best friend. As a child, she’d had few friends. Socialites flocked to Nadine and ignored her, but she never cared. After all, she had Max.
But now…
“Even looking at you makes me sick.”
Hugging Layla tight, Tess brushed past him.
“Tess, I know you’ll never forgive me, but that’s okay. I can protect you now. Even Finn can’t hurt you anymore!”
He reached out to grab her arm again. Max’s eyes were tinged with red, those usually playful eyes now filled with longing.
But Tess looked at him with pure scorn.
“Save
your performance for Nadine.”
She yanked free, tempted to slap him.
If not for the fear of retaliation–if not for Layla–she wouldn’t have held back.
With a child, she had a new weakness. Tess walked several steps forward.
Max’s assistant was waiting nearby. He looked at her with a mix of surprise and pity.
Even Max’s lackeys pitied her now. Tess sneered. “Tell your mutt to move.”
Max clenched his jaw, then reluctantly waved his hand.
His assistant stepped aside.
“I know you won’t come with me, but it’s still raining. I’ll have a car take you home.”
“Max, I came to see Finn. Don’t block me just to protect Nadine!”
But Max shouted after her, “Tess, don’t bring the baby to see Finn. Nadine is pregnant! You and your child will only be obstacles to them!”
Tess stumbled but didn’t look back.
She didn’t return to the reception; she headed straight outside.
“Mr. Hunt, when did Ms. Nadine get pregnant? I didn’t hear anything about that,” Max’s assistant asked, feeling puzzled. He was Max’s top intel guy, so how did Max know something he didn’t?
Watching Tess walk away, the assistant turned and saw the icy calculation on Max’s handsome face.
“Leak a story to the media that Nadine is pregnant. Tell her not to deny it. I don’t care how she explains it to Finn. I just want Tess to give up on going back to him..
“Also, get me a car. Bring me the keys.”
The rain was heavy. Tess managed to hail a Volkswagen Jetta.
She didn’t check the car plate number and just got in quickly with Layla.
It was warm inside. She held Layla close, her tears falling uncontrollably.
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“I’m mute and can’t speak. Just tell me where you’re headed. The driver passed her a handwritten note. He wore a gray sweater, a mask, and a black cap. His face was obscured.
Tess gave the address and murmured, “I guess we’re both in the same boat.”
The driver handed her two clean towels, pointing at her and then Layla.
They smelled like fresh cotton. Tess understood. “Thank you! We really needed this. Let us pay you.”
Then, she remembered that he couldn’t speak.
Quietly, she tucked a bill for a hundred dollars at the front passenger seat. He didn’t seem to notice and just kept driving.
Thankfully, Layla’s inner clothes were dry. Tess peeled off the wet outer layer and wrapped her in the towel before drying herself with the other.
She closed her eyes for a moment. Her forehead burned, and her body swayed.
She had a fever.
One and a half years in prison had left her weak. Every time she got caught in the rain, she would come down sick. It was like
clockwork.
But she couldn’t close her eyes. Layla was here.
Through the rearview mirror, the driver watched her struggle to stay awake. Each time she was about to pass out, she’d pinch her leg to jolt herself back.
Behind his mask and cap, the man’s smoldering eyes widened with disbelief. When had this once–fragile girl grown so strong?
What had she endured in prison?
Max’s eyes lingered on the scar across her face. A sharp pain pierced his chest.
If she had to hate someone, it should be Finn. At worst, he’d only been the accomplice.
Tess, I never meant to hurt you.
His gaze shifted to the sleeping baby in her arms. One look was enough; it was clearly Finn’s child.
but hadn’t Nadine said Finn and Tess were already at odds before the incident went down? How had Tess gotten pregnant and carried the baby to term?
