What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 228

"So." Finnian's voice turned raspy. "You just couldn't wait to start meeting new people, is that it? Who else is there besides Jackson? Why don't you introduce them to me? I can vet them for you."

Kaia could tell he was lashing out in anger. She offered a slight smile. "Your taste isn't exactly great, so I won't trouble you with that."

"My taste isn't good enough? Seven years ago, I chose you." Finnian grabbed onto her words, offering a sharp smile in return.

Kaia froze, as if a raw nerve had been struck. She stood up immediately. "I'm sorry, I'm not in the mood tonight. We'll discuss the divorce when we get back home."

"Kaia!"

Just as she was about to leave, Finnian stood up and grabbed her arm. "Brynlee has to be at least seven years old before she can have her surgery. She's only five. Are you really in that much of a rush?" Finnian asked, his displeasure evident.

Kaia took a deep breath and said, "You're just going to drag it out anyway. I'm just letting you know my intentions early. I wouldn't call it a rush."

"Since we still have two years, let's shelve this agreement for now, alright?" Finnian stared at her tense profile, his voice dropping a fraction. "We might not be the best parents, but... Brynlee needs us."

"Finnian, I just hope you realize what role you're playing in all this. You don't need to remind me of my responsibilities." With that, Kaia yanked her arm free and strode away.

Finnian watched her retreating figure, his brow furrowed deeply.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and sat down in the seat Kaia had just vacated. Staring at the coffee she had only taken a few sips from, Finnian reached out and picked it up.

The image of Kaia's overly intimate interaction with Jackson earlier clawed at Finnian's chest, plucking a chaotic string he couldn't ignore.

Perhaps it was time he truly got to know his wife.

What kind of past did she have? Who had she met during her teenage years?

What roles did those people play in the trajectory of her life? Finnian felt an inexplicable, overwhelming urge to find out.

He had never thought he would waste his precious time investigating something like this.

But today, tangled in a mess of unfamiliar emotions, Finnian pulled out his phone and dialed Dexter.

"Get me the most detailed background report you can on Kaia's youth. Everyone she knew, everything she did," Finnian ordered, his voice laced with a chill.

Dexter was taken aback for a moment before replying, "Mr. Sanders, I already ran that investigation two years ago... at your request. I left the file on your desk. Did you not read it?"

Finnian frowned sharply. He had investigated this two years ago?

He hadn't cared about the results back then, so the file had likely been shredded along with other unimportant documents.

"Finnian, did you ask Kaia to come have a coffee with you?" Noelle asked softly.

Finnian finally snapped out of his daze and looked at her. "Yeah. How did you find me?"

Noelle quickly sat down, eyeing the half-empty cup on the table. "Is this the one Kaia was drinking? I had a little wine earlier, I'd love an Americano to clear my palate."

Finnian paused, then gestured for a waiter and ordered a fresh Americano.

Noelle's hand, which had been reaching for the cup, froze instantly.

"That's Kaia's friend's coffee. Let them clear it away." Noelle's chest tightened. Her beautiful eyes darted down, locking onto the warm latte in Finnian's hand.

She remembered clearly that Kaia only drank lattes, and only hot ones.

So, Finnian was sitting here drinking Kaia's leftovers?

That realization sent an intense, suffocating wave of discomfort crashing through Noelle's heart. She lowered her eyes, secretly clenching her fists. Why wasn't Finnian disgusted?

Back in the day, the only person's leftovers Finnian would ever touch were hers.