What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 599

As the heavy iron gates slowly began to close, Noelle threw caution to the wind and bolted through the final few feet of open space, squeezing inside just before the gates clanged shut behind her.

Her face was a ghostly white from the freezing temperature, her lips a bruised purple. Tears pooled in her eyes, threatening to spill over at any second. She looked so fragile, as if she might collapse at the slightest breeze. And this time, it wasn't an act. She was genuinely freezing to death, physically shattering, desperately needing the man who had once promised to protect her for the rest of her life to offer her warmth and salvation.

Seeing the figure trailing behind them in the rearview mirror, Dexter gasped. "Boss, she slipped in. She looks like she's going to pass out any second. Are you sure you don't want to get out and check on her?"

Finnian opened his eyes, a profound, terrifying apathy staring back in his reflection. Finally, he said, "Stop the car."

Dexter immediately hit the brakes. Seeing the car halt, a spark of absolute hope ignited in Noelle's eyes. She stumbled over, slapping her palms against the glass of the window, frantically tapping. "Finnian, please don't ignore me. Please don't do this. I'm so scared."

Finnian rolled the window down. But the face half-hidden in the shadows possessed none of the familiar tenderness or heartache she had weaponized for years. There was only a bone-chilling numbness and a ruthless disappointment.

"Finnian..." The moment she met his eyes, Noelle jolted in sheer terror, instinctively taking a step back.

She had never found him intimidating or unapproachable before. In her memories, he was always accommodating, endlessly indulgent, the man who couldn't bear to see her suffer even the slightest grievance.

But right now, Noelle felt like she was looking at a complete stranger—a stranger so terrifyingly cold she didn't even dare breathe near him.

Noelle violently flinched, her eyes going wide with shock. "Finnian, how could you say that? I've been in so much pain. I'm not acting. I am genuinely terrified and suffering."

"The only thing you're terrified of is losing the Sanders family's backing. You lost control of Aethelstan, and you lost your status as a beloved daughter of this family. Noelle, the only reason it got this far is because I was a fool. You played me for years."

"Are you trying to blame all of this on me now?!" Noelle suddenly shrieked, letting out two hysterical laughs. Her voice turned venomous. "Finnian, I am this way because of you! Since we were kids, whatever I wanted, you gave me. Whenever I got hurt, you came running to take care of me. You told me girls were meant to rely on others. You promised you would always be my rock..."

"Shut up!" Finnian snapped, his voice echoing like thunder. "Noelle, the Sanders family has given you enough wealth and privilege to last three lifetimes. If you're still greedy for more, you need to ask yourself if you even deserve it."