What She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 82

"Do you even hear yourself? Finnian's feelings for you..."

"Finnian is loyal and values relationships. He's only looking out for me because of Rafael," Noelle interrupted, cutting off Josephine. "Ma'am, you can't let what some people say twist the truth."

Josephine was left momentarily speechless by the retort. Then, her gaze turned even colder. "Let me make this perfectly clear. The Sanders family has no room for someone with a restless heart who causes chaos in this house. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Noelle slowly lifted her head, staring at Josephine's gray hair. She thought to herself, You already have one foot in the grave. How much longer can you really control me?

"Ma'am, Rafael's picture is right up there. He's watching. How can you be so cruel to me?" After her calculated pushback, Noelle's tears flowed even harder.

"From this moment on, you will stay kneeling here and think about what you've done. You are not to get up without my permission. The Sanders family will function just fine without you. Once you've figured things out, we can talk."

With that, Josephine turned and left the chapel without a backward glance.

Through her tear-filled eyes, Noelle's gaze burned with red-hot hatred and resentment.

The heavy wooden doors slowly closed behind her, cutting off the last sliver of natural light.

Noelle had no intention of staying on her knees. She immediately slumped to the floor. As tears rolled down her cheeks, a dark, defiant flame ignited in her eyes.

She didn't know how much time had passed. The cold winter wind howled past the eaves of The Sanders Estate.

Noelle alternated between kneeling and sitting, enduring the ordeal for over two hours. Her white dress was stained with dust, her hair had come loose, and a mixture of tears and cold sweat stuck the strands to her pale, bloodless face.

She closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and forced herself back onto her knees. No matter how much it hurt, she had to endure it.

She had a feeling that tonight would bring a major turning point.

It was already late into the night. To Noelle, it felt like a century had passed.

Finally, the heavy wooden doors of the chapel were pushed open from the outside with a violent force.

A tall figure rushed in, bringing with him the freezing night wind.

"Noelle!"

It was Finnian's voice.

He had rushed over in a panic. His usually impeccable hair was slightly messy, and his breathing was heavy.

When he saw the frail figure kneeling precariously in the center of the room, his pupils constricted.

Anger and guilt slammed into his chest.

"Finnian, she is Rafael's widow! Acting like this is scandalous and crosses every line of decency." Seeing the offensive scene before her, Josephine felt a profound sense of grief. "It's bad enough that you constantly defy me for her. But are you really going to throw away the entire family's reputation for her sake?"

"I'm not doing that," Finnian growled, a vein pulsing at his temple. "Noelle and I have nothing to hide. If you hadn't tortured her like this, why would I have needed to rush over and save her?"

"And what if I say she must kneel until dawn to earn her place in this family?" Josephine narrowed her eyes, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"That's not happening." Finnian's response was absolute. He looked down at the weak, trembling woman in his arms, her eyes filled with tears. The next second, he tightened his grip and began walking straight toward the door.

"Finnian Sanders, stop right there!" Josephine roared, raising her cane and striking him hard on the shoulder.

Finnian flinched from the impact but ignored the pain. He kept walking, his voice ringing out cold and sharp. "Grandmother, family rules are meant to keep the family prosperous and united, not to drive our own people to death. I am taking her away tonight, and you can't stop me."

Without another pause, he carried Noelle out of the dark, oppressive chapel, his long strides eating up the distance.

He left his grandmother's furious reprimands far behind him.

Navigating through the winding corridors of the Estate, Finnian finally gently placed Noelle into the car.

"Finnian, you shouldn't have done that for me..." Noelle covered her mouth and sobbed, curling into a tight ball as she trembled with anxiety.