What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 281

Simon Quinn's emotional walls seemed to crumble completely at his mother's words. He froze in place, a flicker of disappointment and vulnerability crossing his features.

"Mom... you knew all along." Despite his embarrassment, Simon realized there was no point in hiding his feelings from her anymore.

"I've heard rumors lately that her relationship with her husband isn't doing so well. Is it true?" Mrs. Quinn suddenly leaned into the gossip.

"Where did you hear that?" Simon asked, genuinely surprised.

"From your distant great-aunt," Mrs. Quinn replied easily. "She knows everything going on in high society. She also mentioned that the second Sanders son and their adopted daughter are childhood sweethearts. Now that the eldest son, Rafael, is gone, Noelle isn't going to spend the rest of her life alone. She's firmly planted in the Sanders family and clearly refuses to marry an outsider. If Finnian and Kaia divorce... well, it wouldn't be the first time a man stepped up to marry his late brother's widow. It might raise a few eyebrows, but they aren't blood relatives. If you ask me, if there's mutual affection between those two, it's highly likely to happen."

Simon's heart sank as he listened. He stared out into the night, his eyes filled with a deep, suffocating ache.

Had Kaia truly been unloved for the entire seven years of her marriage?

Noelle Lawrence had always been a wedge between Kaia and Finnian.

"Why did Kaia even marry Finnian in the first place? Was she just after the Sanders family's wealth and status?" Mrs. Quinn couldn't help but voice her doubts.

No matter how capable Kaia was, she came from an ordinary background. A top-tier family like the Sanders wouldn't normally choose her. Sure, Kaia's expertise filled a critical gap in their pharmaceutical business, but why marry her if he didn't love her? Tying her down with a loveless marriage was fundamentally unfair.

"Mom, Kaia isn't like that," Simon defended her, his tone somber. "From what I know of her, she is absolutely not the type of woman to chase after money or fame."

Mrs. Quinn looked surprised, then mused, "If she isn't after the money, then she must have been after the man. She actually loves Finnian?"

The words felt like a physical blow to Simon's chest. He stared down at the floor, remaining silent for a long time.

Seeing her son's reaction, Mrs. Quinn knew she had guessed right.

"Well, it makes sense. The Sanders brothers are both exceptional men—handsome, capable, and charismatic. It's hard for any woman not to fall for them." Mrs. Quinn had met them before; they were undeniably striking, composed, and distinguished.

"Mom, if Kaia divorces him... I want to pursue her. Do I have your blessing?" Simon asked softly, finally breaking the silence.

Noelle's stomach plummeted at the mention of Josephine. A terrible sense of foreboding washed over her.

Since the press conference incident, Noelle had kept a strictly low profile, barely even setting foot in the main estate. She had assumed the matriarch was done holding grudges.

But clearly, the trouble wasn't over.

"Of course. Did Grandmother mention what it was about? Should I prepare anything?" Noelle asked, keeping her tone sweet and gentle.

"No need. Just meet her at The Oak Grove restaurant at six-thirty," Ava replied.

Knowing she couldn't escape it, Noelle braced herself and canceled her evening plans with her friends.

She knocked on the private dining room door and entered at Josephine's command.

To her shock, Josephine wasn't alone. Sitting at the table was an elderly couple Noelle immediately recognized—the elders of the Rhodes family. Her chest tightened in panic.