What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 58

"Absurd!" Josephine slammed her hand onto the table, rattling the plates and bowls.

She immediately redirected her fury at Finnian. "Finnian, what is the meaning of this? You handed over Aethelstan's most crucial, defining project to an outsider?"

The entire table held its breath.

Noelle's chest tightened, a suffocating sense of impending doom washing over her.

Finnian absorbed the brunt of Josephine's rage. The sharp line of his jaw tightened. He knew she would be angry, but he hadn't anticipated an eruption this violent.

He glanced at Kaia, but she simply kept her eyes down, acting like a completely detached bystander.

"Grandmother," Finnian began, "Gordon Hayes is a top-tier research expert. His academic background and industry experience are impeccable. Kaia has already been appointed as the R&D Director at Veridian Future, where she has major projects of her own to run. Plus, she consults at the Holistic Wellness Center two days a week. Her schedule is incredibly demanding. This transition allows her to focus more on..."

"Focus on what?" Josephine cut him off sharply. "Focus on her clinic work? Just so you can clear the way and sideline her?"

Josephine's piercing gaze locked dead onto Noelle's face.

The color drained entirely from Noelle's face. She whispered frantically, "Grandmother, I swear I will lead Aethelstan to..."

"Hold your tongue," Josephine snapped, slicing off Noelle's explanation before it could even begin.

Noelle gasped and snapped her mouth shut, utterly humiliated.

"Have you all forgotten that before Kaia married into this family, she was the sole protégé of the legendary Dr. Eleanor Vance? Are you telling me an outsider knows more about traditional formulas than she does?"

"Mom, please calm down. I'm sure Finnian has his reasons..." Elaine quickly stepped in to play peacemaker, shooting her son a look that screamed at him to stay quiet.

Josephine sighed, utterly heartbroken by Kaia's endless understanding. "Look at her. She is so fiercely loyal and reasonable, yet you all have the audacity to strip away the very projects she built from the ground up?"

"Kaia, my head is throbbing. Come upstairs and give me a treatment." Josephine dropped her napkin and stood up.

Kaia walked over, gently took Josephine's arm, and helped her up the stairs.

The atmosphere in the dining room was suffocatingly awkward.

Noelle set her napkin down and looked at Finnian, her voice soft and dripping with victimhood. "Finnian, it looks like my team needs to work much harder. Josephine clearly doesn't trust me, and Kaia's words... it felt like she was mocking me."

Finnian rubbed his temples and handed a glass of orange juice to his daughter. "Then don't disappoint me. Turn the pressure into motivation. The company won't collapse just because one person leaves."