What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 181

Julian's eyes flickered, and he chuckled. "I invited him, but who knows if he'll actually show up."

Right on cue, Finnian Sanders pushed the door open. He must have picked up Brynlee this afternoon; he wasn't in a suit. Dressed in a dark overcoat and a black turtleneck, he radiated a relaxed, effortless wealth.

Noelle Lawrence's smile widened the moment she saw him.

Just then, Julian spoke up, sounding excited. "Hey, I saw someone released a Women in Power List today. Regardless of whether it's perfectly accurate, it's definitely causing a stir. A few women we know made the cut. The healthcare sector is getting the most attention this year. The tides are definitely turning."

Hearing this, one of the men smiled and looked at Finnian. "Finnian, you'd better keep a close eye on your tech goddess. Don't let her get poached."

As soon as the words left his mouth, everyone looked at Finnian to see his reaction.

Noelle's fingers tightened around her wine glass. She kept a smile plastered on her face, pretending to be part of the joke, but inside, her chest tightened. It felt like a block of ice had been smashed against her heart. It was a suffocating, uncomfortable ache.

Finnian reached for a drink. He didn't seem fazed by the teasing. He took a sip, his voice as steady as ever. Listening closely, there was even a hint of matter-of-fact pride in his tone. "Kaia's dedication and results in her field are obvious to everyone. It's not surprising she made the list."

Right at that moment, Dr. Miles Kendrick pushed the door open and walked in. Catching Kaia's name, he asked curiously, "What's going on with Kaia?"

Julian immediately laughed. "Miles, you're way behind the curve. Your favorite junior colleague just ranked seventeenth on the Women in Power List, and you didn't even notice?"

Miles looked stunned for a second before a smile broke across his handsome face. "My fault. I've been swamped with work. But Kaia making the list just proves her capability. It's well-deserved."

Miles then looked over at Finnian. Finnian kept his head down, taking a sip of his drink, completely ignoring Miles's gaze.

The group started discussing the list in more detail. As they chatted, Noelle realized something. In the past, her name had always been the center of attention in these conversations. But tonight, Kaia's name was the most frequently mentioned.

She secretly observed Finnian's reactions again. From his objective statements about Kaia, she detected a subtle hint of possessiveness.

He didn't brag excessively, nor did he shy away from the fact that Kaia was his wife. But every time he heard Kaia's name, a fleeting look of admiration crossed his face.

Noelle felt a sharp sting in her heart. She knew Finnian better than anyone. If he truly had no feelings for Kaia, he would never show this side of himself.

Desperate to shift the focus, Noelle quickly brought up some recent developments at Aethelstan Biopharma, mentioning a brand-new pilot project.

Everyone was highly interested in the healthcare sector lately, looking to increase their investments in that area.

Since Noelle was willing to talk, they eagerly followed her lead.

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