What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 262

Noelle offered a self-deprecating smile. "It's nothing."

"Are you missing Rafael?" Finnian asked quietly.

Noelle froze.

"If he were still here, his birthday would be the day after tomorrow," Finnian added.

Hearing this, it was as if all the air had been punched out of Noelle's lungs. A second later, she collapsed against the desk and began to sob uncontrollably.

Seeing her in such agony, Finnian's eyes darkened with a complex mix of emotions. He walked around the desk, stopped beside her, and gently grasped her trembling shoulders. "Alright, Noelle. Don't cry. Just erase that day from your memory. Don't think about anything related to him."

"Finnian..." Noelle suddenly straightened up. Through tear-filled eyes, she leaned heavily against him, her tears soaking his shirt. "Sometimes, I get so confused. I keep thinking he's still alive, but he's really gone. He can't take care of me anymore. Why... why did he have to leave so suddenly? It caught me so off guard."

Looking at Noelle, who was crying like a lost child, Finnian gently stroked her hair and murmured, "He didn't want to leave, Noelle. He hated leaving everything behind just as much. So, you have to be strong. Please don't cry anymore, okay?"

"Finnian, I... I think I relied on him too much. My feelings for him always felt like they were missing something. I could never figure out what it was, but now I wonder... was I truly in love with him? Or was he just so good to me, so spoiling, that I mistook my reliance on him for romantic love?"

Noelle looked up at him, her fingers instinctively clutching the fabric of his shirt. "Finnian, what is true love? Have you ever experienced it? Please tell me. I feel so lost. I can't tell the difference anymore."

Finnian looked down at her. He reached for a tissue, gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and patted her arm. "You've stumped me. I don't think I can answer that."

Noelle blinked her teary eyes, about to say something else, when Mrs. Wagner suddenly walked in. Seeing them holding each other, she gasped and hurriedly backed out of the room.

Finnian immediately let go and took a step back.

Noelle's cheek had been pressed against his side just a moment ago. Now, feeling the sudden loss of that warmth, a flash of disappointment crossed her face.

"Alright, stop overthinking everything. And don't stress about the press conference. Grandmother is just stubborn and old-fashioned. Just play along with whatever she wants; don't fight her on it," Finnian advised, assuming her distress was also tied to the humiliating public spectacle Josephine had demanded.

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