What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 535

Kaia blinked, not having entertained that thought for a second.

"That's impossible. He's here to oversee the project," Kaia stated logically. She knew Finnian; he wouldn't show up in person unless millions of dollars were on the line.

"But what if he didn't come for the project? What if he came for you? What then?" Celine teased cynically. Finnian was a notoriously complex man. His mind was an ocean she couldn't fathom. Even after seven years of marriage, Kaia had never truly understood him. Falling in love with a man that ruthless and calculating was a massive occupational hazard.

"It won't happen. If he didn't care while we were married, he's certainly not going to start now," Kaia said, perfectly self-aware. Besides, she was done trying to decode Finnian. Seven years of guessing had left her exhausted.

"Listen, men are intrinsically stupid," Celine laughed. "When you give them attention, they strut around like they own the world. But the second you freeze them out, they can't handle it. Given his emotionally repressed, brooding personality, I wouldn't put it past him."

"Alright, enough about him," Kaia smiled, steering the conversation toward Celine's work instead.

Around 11 PM, Finnian was slumped on his hotel sofa, staring blankly at a file he couldn't comprehend.

It wasn't just a lack of focus. His throat was burning. He had only had a small glass of alcohol earlier, but now he was severely lightheaded, his throat feeling as though it were stuffed with dry cotton.

"Dexter, get me a thermometer," he rasped.

Dexter, who was organizing things in the adjoining room, rushed out. "I'll call the front desk right away! Boss, are you feeling sick?"

Finnian pressed the back of his hand to his forehead. "I think I have a fever."

Panic gripped Dexter. The thermometer arrived moments later. It read 102°F.

Dexter hovered anxiously. "Mr. Sanders, when did this start? We need to get you to a hospital right now. And you had alcohol earlier, so you absolutely cannot take antibiotics!"

Finnian shook his head. "It's late. I'm not going to a hospital."

"But Dr. Collins isn't here!" Dexter fretted. "Wait, Dr. Chavez is a doctor! She might have some medicine on her. I'll call her."

Finnian's dark eyes flickered, but he didn't stop him.

Dexter stepped away to make the call, explaining the situation and begging her to come over. Kaia's voice came through the speaker, crisp and entirely unbothered, telling Dexter to take him to the emergency room immediately.

Dexter grimaced. "He refuses to go. Could you please just come take a look at him?"

Kaia had just stepped out of the shower when her phone started ringing relentlessly. She hurried over to find a video call request.

The screen lit up with Brynlee's anxious little face. "Mommy! Daddy says he's sick. I just talked to him and his face is all red! He says he feels awful!"

Kaia paused.

If he feels awful, why doesn't he go to the hospital? Is he trying to torture himself?

"Mommy, you're at the same hotel, right? Can you please go check on him? You're a doctor! Please save him, I don't want Daddy to die..."

By the end of her plea, the little girl was full-on sobbing. It was likely the first time Brynlee had ever seen her father look vulnerable, and it had thoroughly terrified her.

Hearing her daughter cry sent a sharp pang through Kaia's chest.

"Sweetheart, don't cry. He's not going to die. I'll go check on him right now," Kaia promised, secretly suspecting Finnian was genuinely quite ill if he looked that bad on camera.

"Okay, Mommy, hurry! Being sick is scary," Brynlee urged, clearly traumatized by the ordeal.