What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 117

Elaine took a delicate sip of her tea, her gaze sweeping over the room before landing on Noelle, who sat quietly with her eyes respectfully lowered.

"Noelle has lived with the Sanders family for eighteen years. She was Rafael's wife, and now she's a widow. To put an end to the vicious gossip out there, and to honor the blood, sweat, and tears she's poured into Aethelstan, the matriarch and I have come to a joint decision."

Elaine paused, her voice ringing out clearly. "Next month, at my birthday banquet, I will officially announce that I am legally adopting Noelle. From now on, she will be the recognized daughter of the Sanders family. She is my daughter. She will have every ounce of respect, status, and privilege that comes with the name."

The air in the drawing room instantly turned to lead.

Kaia looked up at her mother-in-law, her face unreadable, before slowly lowering her eyes again.

Noelle clearly hadn't been prepped for this. She sat there, completely paralyzed by shock.

She instinctively shot a panicked look at Finnian, her eyes swirling with a chaotic mess of emotions.

She absolutely wanted to forge an unbreakable bond with the Sanders family—but becoming their daughter was not what she had in mind.

"Mom, I... I'm so overwhelmed. Where is this coming from?" Noelle stammered, looking perfectly panicked, her eyes darting nervously.

Elaine mistook Noelle's horror for sheer gratitude. She reached out and gently squeezed Noelle's arm, her voice softening into a maternal coo. "Noelle, don't be afraid. From now on, no one in this house will ever threaten to throw you out. And if anyone dares to play dirty tricks behind your back, they'll be dealing directly with me."

Finnian remained dead silent. His mother's words were a thinly veiled threat aimed squarely at Kaia.

Finnian believed that ever since Rafael's memorial, Kaia had become ruthlessly ambitious, deliberately stepping on Noelle, stealing her projects, and humiliating her professionally—all of which had deeply offended his mother.

Now, Elaine was putting Kaia in her place, warning her not to be greedy. To Finnian, it seemed like a necessary reprimand.

"Mom, I... I don't deserve this kind of kindness. I..." Noelle's mind was racing a million miles a minute. She didn't know how to spin this. The "new identity" felt less like a protective shield and more like a permanent straightjacket.

"Of course you deserve it. You've always been such a good girl—smart, obedient, and respectful. What mother wouldn't want a daughter like you?" Elaine laid it on thick, making sure everyone understood exactly who her favorite was.

Compared to Kaia, who was cold, overly intellectual, and fiercely independent, Noelle was sweet, deferential, and knew exactly how to play the game. She was exactly what Elaine wanted in a daughter-in-law—or, now, a daughter.

Kaia felt a chill settle over her skin.

Every word out of her mother-in-law's mouth was a deliberate slap in the face.

Elaine then turned her sharp gaze to Kaia. "Kaia. What are your thoughts on this?"

Kaia offered a faint, icy smile. "I'm sure your decision is the right one, Mom."

"Does this mean you and Noelle can finally get along? I do not want a repeat of what happened last week. Family members stealing credit from each other and stabbing each other in the back over corporate projects is absolutely unacceptable," Elaine lectured sternly.

Kaia remained perfectly composed, her voice flat. "Mom, if someone lacks the basic courage to face the truth, then calling them a coward is just stating a fact."

Elaine choked on her words, her face flushing with anger.

Noelle quickly jumped in, playing the peacemaker. "Mom, don't be mad at Kaia. Maybe I really did do something wrong. She has a point. I need to be more aware of my own shortcomings and work harder to fix them."

"You're just too soft-hearted," Elaine sighed, shooting Kaia a dirty look. "Regardless of the past, Noelle is now a daughter of the Sanders family. As the daughter-in-law, you need to show her the proper respect. Do not embarrass this family in public."

Kaia stood up. "Mom, if there's nothing else, I'm going to head home. I'll leave you two to your family bonding."

Elaine's face darkened further. Kaia was entirely too arrogant. She refused to bend the knee, even to her elders.