What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 13

"Noelle is the wife my brother legally married. She has lived in the Sanders family for over ten years. She is a part of this family. Now that my brother is gone, it is our responsibility to take care of her."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the table, lingering on each person's face for a moment. His tone softened but remained resolute. "I have made my decision. Noelle will stay in the country. She can stay at the estate or move out; that will be her choice. Her position at Aethelstan Biopharma will not change. If Grandmother still objects, I will cover all of her future expenses myself."

Kaia quietly attended to her daughter, using a napkin to wipe her small mouth. Finnian's firm and powerful words made her movements slow.

To keep Noelle here, he was willing to openly defy Josephine's authority. His final statement, in particular, clearly brought Noelle under his protection.

Josephine's face turned pale with anger. She pointed a finger at him. "Is this family run by you now? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

Finnian's tone softened, but his stance remained unwavering. "Grandmother, you will always have the final say in family matters. But Noelle's situation involves the company, so please forgive me for not being able to comply."

The dining room was dead silent. Josephine glared at her grandson. Elaine stepped in to smooth things over. "Mom, Rafael just passed away. In heaven, he would never want to see Noelle treated this way."

Finnian clenched his wine glass and drained the remaining red wine in one gulp. He swallowed, the tension in his jaw radiating a cold, uncompromising authority that filled the room.

"Daddy, please don't fight with Grandma... sob... I'm scared."

Brynlee, who had always been carefully sheltered, was frightened by the tense atmosphere and burst into tears. She suddenly jumped down from her chair and threw herself into Finnian's arms, her small hands clutching his shirt tightly. "I'm full. Daddy, take me upstairs to play."

Finnian gently picked up his daughter and said to the table, "I'm finished eating."

Then, he carried his daughter upstairs.

Kaia's neutral stance didn't give anyone at the table grounds for criticism. In their eyes, this was just who she was: quiet, low-key, never one to openly display her emotions or easily offend anyone.

After dinner, Kaia stayed the night at the estate. She gave her daughter a bath, and after playing for a bit, the little girl snuggled under the covers and fell asleep.

Kaia heard footsteps in the hallway outside. Her heart sank. A moment later, the footsteps turned and headed toward the study.

That night, Kaia felt that the path ahead was shrouded in fog. So many things were no longer clear to her.

She had never seen Finnian exhibit such a fierce protectiveness over Noelle before.

Everything that had happened tonight made the man who slept beside her seem like a complete stranger, deep and unfathomable.