What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 285

"Kaia, are you alright? You're hurt!" Silas rushed to her bedside, immediately spotting the bandages on her leg and arm. "Is it bad? We should transfer you to a better hospital for a full exam."

Seeing the raw, unfiltered concern on Silas's face, Kaia realized her boss was actually quite decent.

"I'm fine, just superficial wounds," she replied with a tight, forced smile.

Finnian stood on the opposite side of the bed, his predatory gaze sweeping over her injuries with intense scrutiny. "You got stitches. How is that superficial?"

"Thanks for the concern, but I'm fine," Kaia said coldly.

"This is a workplace injury. The company will cover all expenses. Just rest," Finnian stated firmly.

"Understood," Kaia replied flatly, then turned her attention back to Silas. "I've already called Laura to come over. You two can leave. I'm fine here."

Silas frowned. "Kaia, having just one person isn't enough. Finnian should stay and take care of you."

Finnian didn't say a word, simply watching Kaia's reaction.

Kaia shot him a brief glance before replying with freezing indifference. "No need. He's a very busy man. I don't want to waste his precious time."

Finnian's jaw tightened, his expression turning unreadable.

Silas looked at his cousin. "Finnian, she's your wife. You should at least say something."

Finnian nodded curtly. "Alright. I'll stay. You can head back."

Silas blinked, caught off guard. He hadn't actually expected Finnian to agree. Given the blatant tension, Silas suspected they were on the verge of divorce, so Finnian volunteering to stay broke his expectations.

"I said no. I don't need your help. Leave," Kaia demanded, equally stunned by Finnian's persistence.

"Kaia, you're injured. Stop being so stubborn. I'm staying so people don't start gossiping," Finnian shot back, his face darkening.

The subtle dismissal in Finnian's tone hit Silas hard, making him feel like an intrusive outsider. Hiding his awkwardness with a quick smile, he backed away. "Well, since you're staying, I'll head back to the office. Kaia, call me if you need anything. I'll be here in a heartbeat."

Recognizing the thinly veiled hostility in Finnian's words, Kaia pressed her lips together and stayed silent.

Once Silas was gone, the room plunged into suffocating silence. Finnian grabbed a chair and sat down next to the bed.

"There's no one else here, so you can drop the act. Leave," Kaia snapped, losing her patience. She was sick of his cheap, performative concern.

"Maintaining superficial peace is part of our agreement, Kaia. Did you forget already?" Finnian retorted, clearly agitated. For whatever reason, he was fully weaponizing their contract against her.

Kaia reached out to grab it back, but Finnian raised his hand out of reach. As she lunged for it, a sharp spike of pain radiated from her bruised lower back. She gasped, freezing in place, suddenly terrified to move.

She glared at the ointment in his hand. "Give it to me. I can do it myself."

"You injured your back. You can't reach it properly. I'll do it," Finnian commanded, asserting his dominance with undeniable authority.

"I don't need your fake sympathy," Kaia rejected him coldly.

"Kaia!" Finnian snapped, his frustration boiling over. To him, she was just being utterly unreasonable. They couldn't even have a normal conversation. "Can you stop being so difficult for one second?"

"No!" Kaia fired back. She was entirely done playing the gentle, compliant wife. "I told you, I don't want your help. Give me the damn medicine."

Seeing her pure, unyielding stubbornness, Finnian's grip tightened on the tube. A second later, he slammed it down on the bedside table and turned his back to her.

Kaia grabbed the ointment, awkwardly rubbing the cooling gel onto her swollen back. As it seeped into the inflamed skin, the sharp pain finally began to dull.

Standing with his back to her, Finnian was as rigid as a statue. Finally, he slowly turned his head. His eyes landed on the massive, purple-black bruise spreading across her lower back. It was horrific.

Finnian clenched his fists. "Are you going to tell Brynlee?"