Chapter 72 The Mother and Daughter is in Danger
Chapter 72 The Mother and Daughter is in Danger
Finn exhaled heavily, trying to soften his voice. “Come home with me.”
s
Tess had been deliberately provoking Finn, hoping he’d get so angry he’d finally sign the divorce papers and let her walk away for good.
But this? This wasn’t what she expected at all.
His sudden proposal sent warning bells ringing in her head. She tightened her arms protectively around La.
“Back to what? To the sneer of your servants? Or to lie awake through every one of the sleepless, wandering nights waiting for you toe home?”
Her tone dripped with scorn, and a mocking smile tugged at her lips.
Finn heard the bitterness in her voice and assumed it was just more resentment.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, already tired of the argument. “If the staff’s giving you trouble, tell me—I’ll handle it,” he said. “And as for thete nights…
Finn looked
up
11
and met her eyes. He promised, “I’ll rearrange my schedule.”
Tess was taken aback. Her gaze instinctively lifted to meet his, but the seriousness in his eyes made her heart skip. She quickly looked away.
<i>What </i>did <i>he </i><i>say</i>?
For a moment, her thoughts blurred into confusion. None of this made sense. And then, she found herself blurting out, “Finn, have you ever heard the saying?”
He frowned slightly. “What is it?”
“Love that shows up toote isn’t worth a damn thing.”
She raised her head, her gaze unwavering. “I don’t know if you’re trying to lure me back just to keep tormenting me, if you and Nadine want to use me for your twisted games, or if you’ve suddenly grown a conscience–but let me make this very
clear-
She clutched La and took a step back, pointing at the door. “Get out.”
Her tone left no room for negotiation. Her eyes were cold–sharp as frost on an autumn wind.
Finn rubbed his head, clearly frustrated at her stubbornness–but surprisingly, he didn’t lose his temper.
Instead, his voice dropped low, calm, and deliberate. “Do you really think what happened tonight was <b>just </b>a coincidence?”
Tess froze.
Of course not.
That kind of drug wasn’t something you could just get over–the–counter. Why would a waiter slip her something like that?
She snapped her head up, her gaze cutting straight through him.
“I’m not that desperate.
Finn twitched his mouth but held her stare.
“Why were you <b>even </b>there?” she asked, her voiceced with suspicion.
He shrugged, visibly rxed. “Last time, I ran into you at the bar because a client canceled a business meeting. Tonight was the same thing–just different ce!
Chapter 72 The Mother and Daughter is in Danger
She studied his face, trying to catch a lie. But he seemed sincere. She nced down, thoughtful.
Indeed, he had no reason to drug her. Finn wasn’t interested in her; Finn wouldn’t have drugged her.
He hadn’t done anything to her. Her body told her that much.
<i>So </i>then… Who<i>? </i>
A chilling thought crept into her mind, and a cold shiver shot up her spine.
s
“And if I hadn’t been there tonight?” Finn’s voice was quiet but heavy with meaning. “What do you think would’ve happened?”
The fear in her expression deepened, and he took advantage of that hesitation. “Come home with me; you’ll be safe there.
“If not for yourself, then at least think of her.”
He nced at the little one cradled in Tess’s arms.
Bringing her daughter up, without a doubt, hit Tess right where it hurt most.
“And why should I trust you? What makes you any better than the rest?”
Tess suddenly looked up, her emotions ring.
She’d actually hesitated just moments ago–how could she have been so foolish?
Hadn’t he been the one who sent her to prison?
Finn’s heart clenched at the sight of her–eyes burning with a mix of rage and sorrow. The words he was about to utter became stuck in his throat.
She was ming him for what happened back then?
But then another thought crept in.
The redness in her eyes said it all–every bit of it a silent cry of how deeply she’d been wronged.
Why did she look so hurt, so wronged, if she had been the one at fault?
His eyes darkened and flickered as the memory <i>of </i>the file Charles had given to him surfaced in his mind. Suddenly, his once- firm beliefs wavered.
Did he actually misunderstand her?
Meeting Finn’s increasingly dark and unreadable gaze, Tess wiped her face and put her mask back on–cold andposed.
“I don’t trust you. She’s my daughter. And I care about her safety more than anyone.”
Her voice dropped to a final, unyielding edge. “Leave. Now. I won’t say it a third time.”
She turned away, her resolve as hard as stone.
The tension between them thickened, the silence pressing down like ice.
Staring at Tess’s stiff posture, Finn felt as if a heavy weight had been dropped on his chest.
Still, he rose to his feet. Before leaving, he gave her onest look, “You’re not safe here. If you change your mind, you cane back anytime.
With that, the dull thud of his shoes echoed across the floor.
The door clicked shut behind him. And Tess copsed onto the bed like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
She clutched La tightly in her arms, every nerve stretched tant<fnd3ce> For original chapters go to find?novel</fnd3ce>
10:28 AM
Chapter 72 The Mother and Daughter is in Danger
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Finn’s warning still echoed in her ears. She jumped up and hurried to draw the curtains closed, sealing out the world.
A creeping dread crawled up her spine.
Tonight, it was an aphrodisiac. But what if next time it’s something stronger–something that knocks her outpletely? What would happen to La then?