What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 157

Finnian clearly knew why Kaia was there. Noelle had already called him before she arrived.

His expression was heavy, but he didn't look away from Kaia's accusing glare.

"Yes. I remember you saying that public statements, reports, and future revenue documents would permanently list you as the primary contributor for the core breakthrough and initial framework, and that all derivative intellectual property rights would belong to Veridian Future." Finnian recited it perfectly.

"Exactly. Glad to see you don't have amnesia," Kaia mocked. "So what the hell is this resource integration notice with the corporate seal on it? I guess Mr. Sanders's promises are as worthless as used toilet paper."

Finnian flinched at the insult, a flash of irritation crossing his handsome face.

But he didn't argue. He picked up his desk phone, dialed a number, and put it on speaker.

Without waiting for a greeting, Finnian demanded in a cold, authoritative tone, "Who signed off on transferring the Vitality Calm project to Aethelstan? When it reached my desk, why weren't the original intellectual property records attached?"

A nervous, middle-aged man's voice came through the speaker. "Mr. Sanders, the version submitted by the Strategy Department didn't explicitly highlight that detail. We assumed it was a standard project handover, so we just processed it as a standard transfer between the giving and receiving parties..."

"Find out who drafted that proposal and who intentionally fast-tracked it. I want a name in thirty minutes."

Finnian hung up, plunging the office into dead silence.

Kaia watched him coldly. His anger didn't seem faked. It was highly possible someone had tried to guess his intentions and decided to serve up this massive project to Noelle on a silver platter, conveniently sweeping the inconvenient paperwork under the rug.

When Finnian looked back at Kaia, his eyes held a rare trace of sincerity. "Someone downstairs was trying to be clever and completely overstepped."

Kaia was unimpressed. "And how do you plan to handle this, Mr. Sanders? Give them a slap on the wrist?"

Finnian looked as if she'd slapped him again, a slight flush rising to his cheeks. He quickly schooled his expression into something deadly serious. "Rest assured, I will personally oversee this. I will make sure the IP clauses are set in stone, and Veridian Future will retain final audit and retrospective rights. Is that acceptable?"

"I want a company-wide announcement," Kaia stated flatly.

Finnian frowned, looking at the fierce woman standing across from him. "Kaia, I know you're angry, but this restructuring was a major corporate decision designed to balance multiple departments. It's already been published. Revoking it now would tear the company apart from the inside."

Kaia just stared at him. A flash of utter exhaustion crossed her face, and she gave a bitter smile. "Fine. I 'respect' your corporate balance and the 'big picture'."

With that, she turned and walked out.

Finnian froze. For some reason, her last sentence felt horribly final, casting a heavy shadow over his heart.

Just then, Giles, the butler, walked over with a warm smile. "Miss Brynlee, these were sent for your aunt."

At that moment, Noelle descended the main staircase, dressed comfortably in loungewear. It looked like she had been staying at the estate for the past couple of days.

Seeing them, she immediately flashed a bright smile. "Kaia, Brynlee, you made it."

"Miss Sanders, these flowers..." Giles held the massive bouquet, preparing to ask Noelle where to put them.

Noelle frowned slightly, glancing at the card before waving it away. "Just put them in the greenhouse. Don't leave them out here."

"Yes, Miss Sanders," Giles replied politely, carefully carrying the flowers away.

Noelle crouched down to look at Brynlee. "Brynlee, are you feeling better? I was so worried about you."

Brynlee blinked, looking confused. "Am I supposed to call you Aunt Noelle now? Not Auntie Noelle?"

"Yep, just Aunt Noelle. It sounds much nicer," Noelle said with a sweet smile.