What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 571

Dexter watched Noelle Lawrence acting so unreasonably arrogant and was momentarily at a loss. Did pregnancy really alter someone's temperament this drastically? In the past, she had always seemed so genuinely friendly, as if she didn't have a temper at all.

Unable to figure out what was going through her head, Dexter resorted to calling Finnian Sanders.

When the phone rang, Finnian was in the car, driving Brynlee Sanders to the City Zoo. The little girl had fallen asleep, and the interior of the car was completely quiet.

"Let me talk to him," Noelle demanded the second she saw Dexter about to speak. She snatched the phone right out of his hand and pressed it to her ear.

Finnian frowned when he heard her muffled sobs over the line. She sounded like she was trying desperately to hold back her tears, sounding utterly helpless. "Finnian, where are you? Can I please see you?"

Her voice trembled with a pitiful edge, like a stray kitten abandoned by its owner.

Finnian glanced down at his deeply sleeping daughter in his arms and lowered his voice. "What is it?"

The sheer coldness and distance in his tone made him sound like he was talking to a total stranger. His feelings for her had long since shifted away from sympathy. In fact, everything he thought he knew about her had been completely overturned. Looking at her now was like staring through frosted glass—he could no longer see who she truly was.

Finnian's lowered voice was deadly serious. "Hitting someone is wrong. No matter what excuse you have, you should never lay a hand on another person. Apologizing and paying compensation are just afterthoughts. Next time, I suggest you use your brain before you act."

Hearing his reprimand, a spark of hope ignited in Noelle's eyes. Even though she had hit someone, he was still lecturing her like a responsible older brother, which meant he still saw her as family.

"I know, I'll listen to you. I won't be so impulsive ever again. Finnian, where are you right now? Can I come find you? About the situation at Aethelstan..." She finally pivoted to what she really wanted.

"Noelle," Finnian cut her off sharply. "Stay out of Aethelstan's affairs."