What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 163

After talking in circles, Finnian finally got to the point.

His eyes instantly darkened, turning razor-sharp as they locked onto hers. "I'm asking if we can put an end to all this pointless bickering and internal friction."

Kaia's gaze shifted, staring back at him coldly. She was still trying to connect the dots.

Seeing her confused expression, Finnian assumed she was playing dumb again. He stood up, his tall, commanding frame rounding the desk until he was standing right in front of her. Staring down into her eyes, he said, "There are only so many resources to go around. This feud and these 'misunderstandings' between you and Noelle do nothing but make us look like a joke to outsiders."

Hearing that, a surge of pure anger shot straight from Kaia's chest to her head. Staring at the man in front of her, it hit her with painful clarity: he was using his power and resources to protect Noelle from her. He was literally throwing stock options and dividends at her to buy her silence and force her to back down. How wildly ironic.

Still, letting him pay her off to step aside wasn't entirely a bad deal. After reigning in her emotions for a moment, Kaia took a slow, shallow breath.

"Finnian," she said, dropping into the guest chair next to the desk. Her voice was ice. "Is everything just a transaction to you?"

As she spoke, she reached over, pulled the folder toward her, and began carefully flipping through the pages.

She read it thoroughly. Finnian stood by, making no move to rush her. Once she was done, she closed the folder and tapped it against the desk. "A two percent increase, plus all the accompanying adjustments. It's a very generous offer. I accept."

Finnian's eyebrow twitched imperceptibly. He hadn't expected her to be so painfully straightforward. This wasn't the woman he remembered.

He studied her face, feeling a stifling sensation in his chest. Since when was she so easily bought?

Kaia glanced up at him, lightly tapping her fingers against the wood surface. "Before I officially sign these papers, we need to get a few things straight."

Finnian crossed his arms, towering over her. "Like what?"

Kaia's tone was calm, yet undeniably forceful. "I am accepting this settlement because I genuinely earned it through my work at Aethelstan. And because I want to ensure Brynlee's financial future is ironclad. But... you just hurled a few accusations at me. Care to clarify them?" She enunciated every word with crystal clarity. "I have the moral high ground here. I did nothing wrong. If I make a mistake, I'll own it and apologize. But I am not taking the fall for something I didn't do, and I will absolutely not accept your vague, passive-aggressive accusations."

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