Chapter <i>55 </i>A Deal for Dignity


    “Mr. Lock will be here shortly. Please wait a moment, Ms. Ember.”


    Zane motioned for someone to bring her a ss of water.


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    Momentster, a junior assistant arrived and called Zane away, leaving Tess alone in the grand, spacious office.


    Her eyes drifted toward therge executive chair, which was empty for now.


    She remembered how he always sat there in a crisp, couture suit, every button fastened meticulously to the top, handling the affairs of thepany with an air of effortless control.


    Back then, as his chief attorney, she had spent countless hours across from him discussing legal strategy andpany affairs.


    But never–not once–had she stood in this office as his wife.


    And now, standing here again, it felt like she had stumbled into a different life entirely.


    Her fingertips brushed against the armrest of the chair, and in that fleeting moment, she could almost see his eyes–sharp, dark, and fixed on her through the void.


    To others, those eyes might seem full of warmth and affection, but only Tess knew how cold and calcting they truly were.


    “I heard Mr. Lock and Ms. Nadine are getting married soon.”


    “Well, if I were him, I’d marry her too. She’s beautiful, smart–they’re the perfect couple.”


    “Ms. Nadine is right next door, actually. Word is, she’s waiting for Mr. Lock to get off work so they can grab dinner.”


    <i>Right </i><i>next </i><i>door</i><i>? </i>


    Tess clenched her fists inside her sleeves.


    So that’s why Finn wasn’t showing up. This was his way of putting her in her ce.


    She knew exactly why she hade–to ask Nadine for forgiveness.


    But she hadn’t expected their offices to be this close–separated only by à corner and a thin


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    Chapter 55 A Deal for Dignity


    When Tess entered, Nadine barely looked up, her eyelids liftingzily as if she’d been expecting her.


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    “Fancy seeing you again, sis,” she said with a bright smile, but her eyes glinted with mockery.


    The way Nadine called her made Tess’s skin crawl. Too sweet. Too fake.


    Tess met her gaze coldly. Their eyes locked in the air. Tess’s jaw tightened, her blood roaring in her ears, and then–she lowered her head.


    “I’m sorry,” she said softly.


    If an apology could spare Charles from Finn’s wrath, she’ll do it.


    “What did you say?”


    Nadine tilted her head and cupped her ear theatrically, feigning confusion.


    Tess looked up and caught the smug sparkle in her eyes.


    “I said, I’m sorry.”


    Tess felt a rush of bitterness and numbness rise in her chest.


    Nadine blinked, surprised by how quickly Tess folded.


    But she recovered fast, her smile widening. “Tess, Mom always said, “if you’re going to apologize, do it like you mean it.”


    Tess looked up and narrowed her eyes. “What do you want?”


    “Oh, you know,” Nadine said, feigning reluctance. “You did p me. And I’m not one to stoop to your level. But… ” Nadine recalled the humiliation of that day, and a sh of cold light flickered beneath her eyes.


    “How about this?<b>” </b>


    She leaned in, lowering her voice, her lips almost brushing Tess’s ear. “Go to the main lobby and bow for two hours. Then maybe I’ll forgive you.”


    She straightened up, arms folded, expression cool–like the words she’d just uttered hade from someone else entirely.


    Tess’s pupils shrank. She stared at Nadine as if she were a snake.


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    Chapter 55 A Deal for Dignity


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    Even the onlookers who’d gathered were stunned. No one had expected Nadine to be this ruthless.


    “What? You don’t want to?”


    Nadine’s voice dropped, a mocking whisper.


    “I heard Charles went out drinking just for you. He even auctioned off one of his properties. All that, and you can’t even do such a simple thing for him?”


    Her tone was yful, but the pressure behind it was unmistakable.


    “Ms. Nadine …” someone began to interject, unable to stay silent.


    But Nadine raised a hand, silencing them. “Finn sent her here to ask for my forgiveness. Are you saying you want to get involved in that?”


    Her smile was warm, pleasant even, but her eyes dared anyone to disagree.


    The room went quiet again. People backed off, ncing at Tess with faint sympathy.


    Her head stayed bowed, hair covering her face, her expression unreadable.


    But beneath her sleeves, her trembling fists betrayed her inner struggle.


    The silence pressed in. The only sounds were the unsteady rhythm of her breathing against Nadine’s calm, measured inhales.


    “If you don’t want to do this, I won’t force you,” Nadine finally said with mock concern, breaking the silence. “I’m not unreasonable.”


    Then she leaned closer and mouthed one name. “Charles.”


    “Fine,” Tess muttered.


    She lifted her head slowly, eyes filled with something bitter and hollow.


    All she felt was numb.


    Was this what they wanted? For her to surrenderpletely?


    They threw her in prison—and now even her right to exist made them ufortable?


    Was her very breath a sin?


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    Chapter <i>55 </i>A Deal for Dignity


    She stared straight into Nadine’s eyes. “If I did this, will Finn let Charles go?”


    Her eyes were detached. Hollow.


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    “Of course,” Nadine said, folding her arms. “You might not trust me, but you trust Finn, don’t you?”


    Her voice, soft and sweet and brimming with flirtation, lingered on his name.


    Nadine watched Tess carefully, savoring the stunned look on her face–then smiled.


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