What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 168

Finnian shrugged off his suit jacket, leaving him in a tailored vest and black dress shirt, an air of relaxed lethargy clinging to him. He lounged in the sitting area just outside the playroom doors while Elaine brought over a tray of fresh fruit and a cup of coffee.

Finnian grabbed the coffee and reached for a strawberry, tossing it to Brynlee. She caught it while playing, tilting her little head back like an adorable bunny. Elaine watched the heartwarming scene between father and daughter, yet the anxiety etched into her face only deepened.

Once Brynlee had her fill, Finnian finally settled back into his armchair. Feigning a casual air, Elaine nibbled on some fruit and asked, "I heard you recently adjusted Kaia's equity. Not only did you finalize her dividends, but you gave her an extra stake in the conglomerate?"

Finnian's dark eyes sharpened on his mother. He had handled that transaction with absolute discretion. The equity increase hadn't even been formally announced yet. How did she find out?

Annoyance flared in his chest, though he kept his expression perfectly smooth. "That's correct. She spearheads our core technology. Proper incentives are a necessity."

Elaine scoffed outright. "Finnian, do you think I'm losing my mind in my old age? Sure, she contributes to the company, but over the last six years, has she walked away empty-handed? You've subsidized her entire pack of useless, broke relatives year after year. What? Is she saying that's still not enough?"

Working herself up into a frenzy, Elaine began fiercely tapping her manicured fingers against the table. "You're handing her a mountain of money! Be careful, or she'll take every last dime and run off into some other man's arms. By the time that happens, it'll be too late. You giving her more shares just strokes her ego and accelerates her exit strategy!"

Finnian's jaw locked. His mother's words were violently abrasive. He shot a quick, protective glance at Brynlee, who was still happily engrossed in her toys, before leveling a stern look at Elaine. "Mom, don't talk about this in front of the kid."

Elaine startled slightly. Checking over her shoulder at Brynlee, she dropped her voice to a harsh whisper, her fury boiling over. "Finnian, tell me the truth. Is she trying to divorce you? Are you throwing all this money at her, hoping a massive paycheck will convince her to keep up appearances and stay?"

Finnian's breathing hitched. His mother's instincts were terrifyingly sharp. She had hit the nail squarely on the head.

"Mom..."

"Finnian, you've made a fatal miscalculation. I am a woman. When a woman genuinely decides she's done, you couldn't drag her back with a bulldozer. Especially not Kaia. She looks sweet and submissive, but she is stubborn to the bone. Every single thing you give her, she'll just see as compensation for what you put her through. She won't feel an ounce of gratitude."

By his side, Finnian's hand silently curled into a tight fist.

"It's not as dire as you're making it out to be," Finnian lied flatly, his voice remarkably strained. "I know how to handle Kaia."

The first half of the interview went off without a hitch. Noelle fielded every question beautifully, weaving in personal anecdotes that made her sound both highly relatable and remarkably profound. Mr. Jensen nodded along enthusiastically, his eyes reflecting genuine admiration.

As they neared the conclusion, the host expertly pivoted toward more personal territory. "Ms. Lawrence, the public is well aware that you've navigated some incredibly tragic and unique circumstances. Do you feel these massive life transitions will influence your trajectory as an executive moving forward?"

Noelle's smile faded softly, a delicate shadow of sorrow brushing her features. She allowed for a beat of silence before answering in a low, gentle voice. "Those experiences absolutely shaped who I am today. And for that, I will always remain grateful."

A faint glisten of unshed tears gathered in her eyes, though she bravely fought them back. "My husband was an incredibly honorable and protective man. Losing him shattered me. When I'm alone, the isolation is suffocating. I'm not sure if you understand what it feels like when the whole sky just collapses on top of you."

The host immediately projected deep sympathy and understanding.

Catching herself at the perfect moment, Noelle reeled her grief back in. Her voice grew steady, laced with newfound strength. "But life has to keep moving forward. My primary focus now is entirely on my work. The only way I can truly honor his memory is by elevating Aethelstan to entirely new heights."

Mr. Jensen seized the narrative thread. "Having experienced such profound love and devastating loss... do you hold out any hope for a new relationship in the future?"