What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 60

"Kaia, so... I heard through the grapevine that there was a massive executive shakeup at Aethelstan. Your sister-in-law apparently took over the company, and now she's making serious waves in our social circles." Celine hated to poke at her best friend's wounds, but she knew if she didn't bring it up, Kaia would never breathe a word of her family drama to anyone.

Unfortunately, you couldn't keep high-society gossip buried forever.

Celine's words dropped like a stone into a quiet lake, instantly shifting Kaia's expression.

"Social circles?"

Celine nodded. "Yeah. My design studio caters mostly to the wives of these legacy families. We've hosted a few private salons and fashion previews lately, and Noelle's name keeps coming up. They aren't talking about her as 'the Sanders family's tragic widow.' They're talking about Dr. Lawrence, the new absolute powerhouse of Aethelstan."

Celine crossed her arms and scoffed. "They were hyping her up so much I thought I was losing my mind. How could she ever compare to you at Aethelstan?"

Kaia listened quietly before letting out a bitter laugh. "She has been incredibly active lately."

"Kaia, something isn't right here." Celine looked at her friend with deep concern. "When her husband was alive, she never pulled these kinds of stunts. What the hell is going on now?"

Under her best friend's penetrating gaze, the fragile armor Kaia had been holding together finally cracked.

"Because she has Finnian's absolute backing. She's maximizing the reach of her capabilities."

"What do you mean?" Celine's eyes widened in sheer disbelief. Then, she voiced the bizarre rumors she had been hearing. "Wait... are those sick rumors actually true?"

Kaia looked at her. "What else are people saying?"

"They're saying she's the talent Finnian values above all else. Calling her the future pillar of the Sanders empire. Saying her status as the princess of the Sanders family is untouchable..."

Kaia didn't look surprised at all. She simply offered a mocking, ice-cold smile.

Watching the raw exhaustion and crushing disappointment Kaia couldn't hide in her eyes, Celine's heart broke, and her voice spiked with fury. "So you're saying she didn't just seize control of the firm; she's actually running a PR campaign to paint herself as some kind of untouchable genius? Please. She certainly knows how to put herself on a pedestal. Has she forgotten where she came from? Does she honestly think she can just hitch her brand to Finnian's and call it a day?"

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