What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 17

Kaia looked at him, stunned for a couple of seconds, before replying, "I'm a little tired tonight."

Finnian's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. Then, he threw back the covers and got out of bed.

"Alright. Get some rest then." Finnian walked past her, a faint scent of woodsy cologne trailing in his wake.

In that moment, Kaia's heart felt as if it had been shattered by a hammer.

She tilted her head back and squeezed her eyes shut. This was the first time she had ever refused him.

The next morning, Kaia woke up early, changed into workout clothes, and went for a run. When she returned to the living room, she saw Finnian sitting on the sofa drinking coffee. Brynlee, already dressed, was playing with building blocks beside him.

The morning sun streamed in, casting a warm glow on the quiet, peaceful scene of father and daughter.

"Mommy!" Brynlee ran over happily and danced around Kaia.

Kaia poured herself a glass of water and asked softly, "How about we go out for lunch with Celine?"

"Yay, I want to go!" Brynlee cheered, her eyes shining.

Finnian glanced up at Kaia.

Kaia didn't say anything to him. She went upstairs and changed into a plaid dress. Her figure was well-proportioned and slender, and the dress made her look gentle and elegant.

"Mommy is so pretty!" Brynlee gushed, giving her a full dose of validation. "I want to wear a little dress to go out too."

Kaia laughed. "So fashion-conscious at such a young age?"

"But I want to!" Brynlee whined.

Brynlee also loved this lady who always smelled so nice, and she nuzzled her face into Celine's shoulder.

Then, she was captivated by the animal-shaped rice balls on the table and began to study them intently, scooping them into her mouth with a small spoon.

The two friends chatted about their recent lives for a bit before the topic turned to their personal affairs.

"Divorce is such a nightmare," Celine said, leaning back and pressing her temples. "I swear he's just deliberately wasting my time. We've been going back and forth for so long, and he still won't sign the papers. What's worse, I found out he secretly used one of his holding companies to invest in my studio, and now there are financial disputes involved. The man is a calculating snake."

Kaia's heart ached for her friend. It had been a year, and her marriage was still not legally over.

"Do you need me to recommend a better lawyer?" Kaia asked with concern.

"It doesn't matter who I hire. Now I just have to wait." Celine gritted her teeth as she cut her steak, launching into a tirade. "After all this, I've finally understood something. Some men, they're not evil, they're just selfish. As long as you go along with them, everything is fine. But the moment you resist, they act like you've stabbed them in the back and will do anything to make you submit."