What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 239

Kaia froze and immediately looked at Brynlee. The little girl's eyes widened with pure excitement. "Mom, are we getting a new house? Yay! I want to live in your new house!"

Kaia had been terrified the news would traumatize her daughter, but Brynlee's brain clearly worked differently. Her first reaction was unbridled joy.

Finnian hadn't expected that reaction either. His jaw tightened slightly.

Before Kaia could answer, Elaine shot Finnian a furious glare. "You're her husband, and you're just letting her throw a tantrum? Regardless of whether it's for work or something else, living apart for too long destroys a marriage."

Kaia turned to Finnian, her eyes screaming, Your family, your problem. Fix it.

Finnian read her expression instantly. He set down his fork, his movements calm and composed. "Mom, she's not throwing a tantrum. Veridian is at a critical juncture right now. As the head of R&D, her workload is immense. Wasting two hours a day on a commute would seriously impact her progress."

"That doesn't mean she has to move out completely! And without even consulting the elders?" Elaine's voice rose sharply. "What will people think? The daughter-in-law of the Sanders family moves into staff housing? People will say we're mistreating her."

Brynlee, taking tiny sips of her soup, frowned. "Grandma, Mom just wants a new house. Why does she have to listen to what random people say? They don't give Mom money, so why do they get to be bossy?"

Elaine practically choked. Staring at her fiercely loyal granddaughter, she was entirely at a loss for words.

Noelle sat quietly beside Elaine, picking at her rice.

Since she was now officially recognized as the eldest daughter-in-law of the Sanders family, Elaine loved having her around. She practically lived at the estate every weekend. Dressed in elegant, soft loungewear, her hair tied back simply, she looked like the epitome of domestic perfection.

Secretly, Noelle was thrilled by the argument. She wanted nothing more than for Kaia to move out and put an end to any marital intimacy between her and Finnian.

"Mom, don't be mad," Noelle chimed in softly. "You've known Kaia for years. She's incredibly ambitious. In the modern world, that's not a bad thing. Independent women always prioritize their careers."

Finnian continued, his voice firm. "Transferring from Aethelstan to Veridian was already a significant setback for her. Veridian is the conglomerate's top priority right now. Kaia is building an entirely new R&D ecosystem from scratch. That's a workload most people would crumble under. Her success will dictate the biological and pharmaceutical roadmap of this company for the next decade. As the CEO of The Sanders Conglomerate, I have zero reason not to support her."

"Dad, you must really love Mom to support her this much!" Brynlee, only half-understanding the conversation, threw her hands in the air. "I totally support Mom too! Go Mom! You're the best, and I want to be just like you when I grow up."

Kaia wasn't moved by Finnian's corporate rhetoric, but her daughter's sweet words melted her heart. She reached over and gently stroked Brynlee's hair.

Elaine saw that Kaia was remaining totally silent, letting Finnian fight her battles. She suspected Kaia was playing dumb just to disrespect her authority.

"So you're saying our family was holding her back?" Elaine demanded furiously.

"That's not what I said, Mom." Finnian recalled the sharp kick to his leg and didn't waver. "Times have changed. Kaia is brilliant and driven. Playing the dutiful housewife was never going to suit her. Why force her to be someone she's not?"