What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 518

How much did he like her? Did it escalate to love?

Noelle had always been a deeply pragmatic and calculating woman. She knew perfectly well that a man's love was like a cloud in the sky—drifting and uncertain. It required time, energy, and manipulation to maintain. The moment you let your guard down, it would be blown away by the wind.

For the past decade, she had poured all her energy, time, and schemes into the two Sanders brothers. She had cultivated the persona of a fragile, innocent flower. She knew exactly when to show weakness, when to be stubborn, and when she needed to appear strong. She had flawlessly manipulated the emotions of everyone in the family, believing her schemes were airtight and that she would never miscalculate again.

But her husband's sudden death and Kaia's unexpected awakening had left her carefully crafted persona crumbling. Now, her mask had been entirely ripped away, shattering the perfect illusion she had spent years building.

"Kaia, you're such a bitch," Noelle cursed viciously in her mind.

But right now, she had to figure out a plan. She needed to know if she could still use her old tricks to reel Finnian's heart back in.

The night was thick and heavy.

The lighting in The Alibi was dim and moody. Finnian sat in a corner booth, nursing a glass of liquor in his hand.

Quentin and Chad arrived together. They spotted Finnian sitting there zoning out, looking like a silent, unapproachable glacier.

The two exchanged a look, then glanced back at their brooding friend. Finally, they shrugged off their jackets, pulled up chairs, and sat down.

"I got divorced."

Finnian spoke abruptly, his mood uncharacteristically bleak.

"Didn't your mother always treat her like a daughter? She even announced it to everyone at her birthday banquet last time. So why did she kick her out to live with her own family now that she's pregnant with your brother's kid? Isn't she worried a middle-class family like that won't be able to take proper care of her?" Chad voiced his doubts.

Finnian's face turned a shade paler, his grip on his glass tightening. These two were his closest confidants; they often shared and advised each other on their respective family dramas.

Right now, Finnian leaned back into the sofa, draping an arm over his eyes. His voice sounded muffled and heavy. "I've known her for eighteen years. But with everything that's happened lately, I feel like I don't know her at all. She's not the person I thought she was."

Chad's eyes lit up as if catching the scent of fresh gossip, his expression turning downright excited. "Oh, finally seeing her true colors? Finnian, I honestly thought you loved her enough to intentionally blind yourself."

Finnian lowered his arm, staring at Chad in a daze.