What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 101

Josephine rubbed her temples, exhaustion settling deep in her bones. Years ago, she had orchestrated the marriage between Noelle and Rafael, and she had never regretted it. But fate had been cruel, taking Rafael entirely too soon. Heartbroken, Josephine had tried to send Noelle abroad to start fresh, only for her plans to be thoroughly dismantled by Finnian.

"Ma'am, Mr. Sanders said he was going abroad for work. Surely..." Giles, the butler, didn't dare finish the thought.

"Hmph! Rushing off abroad like the building is on fire. If you ask me, he's just flying over to play house with his little mistress."

"Ma'am..." Giles paled, visibly shaken by the implication.

"It's a disgrace!" Josephine slammed her fist against her knee.

Meanwhile, Elaine Sanders was out to lunch with her socialite friends when she heard the news of Finnian's sudden departure. Surprised, she didn't waste a second. The very next morning, she dialed his number.

The line connected, echoing slightly as if he were in a spacious hotel suite or an empty boardroom.

"Mom, what's up? I'm in the middle of a meeting," Finnian's deep, steady voice came through.

"Finnian, how... how are things going over there? When are you coming back?" Elaine kept her tone casually affectionate.

"It might take another two or three days. Why?"

Elaine frowned. "Well, since you're out of the country, shouldn't you check in on Noelle? Isn't she over there too?"

"She's right next to me," Finnian replied smoothly. "She flew in for the conference as well."

Elaine's heart sank, but she forced a pleasant tone. "Alright, well, focus on your work. Once it's handled, come home as soon as you can."

"I know, Mom," Finnian said, ending the call.

Night had fallen over the Alps, the air as still as water beneath a blanket of low-hanging stars. Inside an isolated wooden chalet, a roaring fire crackled in the hearth, casting a warm, golden glow.

Having wrapped up their meetings, Finnian and Noelle had driven up to the cabin to rest.

Exhaustion lined Finnian's features. The moment he stepped into the living room, he collapsed onto the sofa. "I'm going to shut my eyes for a bit."

"I'll go upstairs and grab you a blanket. Get some sleep," Noelle murmured softly.

Finnian hadn't rested properly the entire holiday season. Here, in the absolute quiet of the cabin, lulled by the heat of the fire, he fell into a deep, heavy sleep almost instantly.

Noelle returned and draped the blanket gently over him. She poured herself half a glass of red wine, took a seat on the opposite sofa, and let her gaze trace the sleeping man's features.

He was breathtakingly handsome. At twenty-nine, he was in the prime of his life, radiating a mature, masculine magnetism that was impossible to ignore.

Kaia nodded stiffly. "Yeah."

"It's the holidays. He didn't even finish his time off. Is this work really that urgent?" Jane couldn't hide her concern. She could tell her daughter was hiding something.

Kaia avoided her mother's gaze, terrified that a single look would shatter her composure.

"Mom, he's a grown man. He knows how to manage his schedule. It must be an emergency if he had to fly out," Kaia forced a tight smile, trying to sweep the issue under the rug.

"A responsible man doesn't leave his wife and sick daughter behind during the holidays to fly halfway across the world," Jane noted, her eyes narrowing.

Sensing her grandmother's disapproval, Brynlee quickly chimed in, "Grandma, don't be mad at Daddy, okay? He didn't mean to leave us. It really is an emergency!"

Seeing the child's pleading face, Jane swallowed her frustration and forced a warm smile. "You're right. Brynlee is so understanding. Daddy is just very busy."

Jane shot Kaia a look full of heartache. "Put Brynlee to bed. I've got some warm soup on the stove. Come down and have a bowl when you're done."

"Okay," Kaia breathed a sigh of relief.

Jane went downstairs just as Leo and his wife were getting ready to leave. Without hesitating, she marched right up to Leo.