What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 298

"Grandmother!" Finnian snapped, immediately losing his temper. "I know you hate Noelle and don't consider her part of the Sanders family, but for over a decade, she has never betrayed us. Why do you insist on forcing her into a corner?"

"You fool!" Josephine sprang to her feet, pointing a trembling finger right at his face. "You abandoned your hospitalized wife yesterday to attend some ridiculous yacht party! Aren't you afraid of becoming a laughingstock?"

"Who would dare?" His face darkened. "It was a standard business function. What's there to laugh at?"

Josephine stared at him, her eyes brimming with sheer disappointment, heartbreak, and overwhelming exhaustion.

They say you can't wake a person who is pretending to be asleep. It seemed that was entirely true.

"Finnian," her voice softened just a fraction. "I hope you realize what you're doing."

Finnian's eyes remained frosty and entirely unbothered.

"If you keep acting this stupid, your wife is going to run away," she jabbed her finger at him again. "And when she does, I will not help you win her back."

Finnian replied with supreme confidence. "If she wants to run, why chase her? I have never forced anyone to stay in a relationship, and I never will."

Hearing those words nearly gave the matriarch a stroke. She smacked his arm twice with her fists. "You ungrateful brat! You better keep a close eye on Kaia. Do not forget everything she has done for the conglomerate and for Aethelstan. Stop digging your own grave."

With that, she spun on her heel and stormed out. Finnian stood absolutely still, not moving an inch.

When she found out the matriarch had left the estate, Noelle rushed straight over.

She dragged the leather box from her room and set it by the trash cans where Rafael's belongings had once been burned. Striking a match, she set the box ablaze.

The flames licked at the leather, turning the area engraved with the FS Initials to pure ash.

Ava stood silently to the side, throwing in an extra piece of kindling, too terrified to ask questions.

Watching the flames devour the evidence, a twisted smirk tugged at the corner of Noelle's mouth.

Finally, she turned and pressed a solid Gold Bracelet into Ava's palm, pleading softly, "Ava, if anyone ever asks about this box, please keep it a secret."

Ava froze, but looking at the heavy gold in her hand, she nodded quickly. "Of course, Miss Sanders. It didn't look like there was anything valuable inside anyway."

"There wasn't," Noelle replied, before turning to leave.

She was just about to drive off the estate when Josephine's corporate van suddenly pulled through the gates. Noelle panicked, trying to steer her car to the side, but the van swerved aggressively, completely blocking the driveway and trapping her inside.

Her heart slammed against her ribs. She threw open her door, rushing forward and bowing nervously. "Grandmother!"

Josephine stepped out of the van, barely lifting her eyes to acknowledge her.

"Stop aiming for Finnian. Or I will make you pay."

"Grandmother, I'm not..." Tears instantly spilled down Noelle's cheeks. "I swear, I'm not."

"You're not? Are you certain?" Josephine's hawk-like gaze pinned her down. "Do you dare swear on it?"

"I swear." Without missing a beat, Noelle raised her hand to the sky. "If I harbor even a sliver of ulterior motive, let me die a gruesome death."

Even Josephine was caught off guard by the sheer audacity. She was truly ruthless.

Anyone who could curse themselves so viciously was utterly terrifying.

It only cemented Josephine's belief that Noelle was incredibly dangerous. A viper like her could absolutely not remain in the Sanders household. She had to be thrown out for the family to have peace.

"Enough," Josephine raised a hand to cut her off. "I have no interest in your hollow lies."

Noelle dropped the act, spiraling into a frantic panic. "Grandmother, I promise you, I will never do anything inappropriate!"

"I don't care about your vows, and I don't care about your promises. I have decided to marry you off. If the Rhodes boy won't take you, then The Archer Family, or The Laurent Family. Someone will take you."