Whats She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 144

Chapter 144

The two men’s eyes met in the crisp morning air.

Finnian straightened up to his full height, watching the little girl run over.

Simon walked toward him, a polite, formal smile anchored on his face. “Mr. Sanders. I’ve heard a great deal about you. I’m Simon Quinn, Anna’s uncle.”

Finnian’s gaze lingered on Simon’s face for a fraction of a second too long. His eyes were calm, yet laced with a sharp, assessing intensity. His smile was unreadable.

He extended a hand. “Finnian Sanders.”

They exchanged a brief, firm handshake.

Finnian’s voice was perfectly even, betraying no emotion as he smoothly delivered his line. “Thank you for the hospitality last night. Kaia and Brynlee told me all about it.”

Simon was momentarily taken aback, but his smile remained flawless. “You’re too kind, Mr. Sanders. It’s rare for kids to get along so well. Kaia and I go way back, so inviting them over for a casual dinner was the least I could do as an old friend.”

The two little girls were already chattering away, walking hand–in–hand toward the school gates. The two men had no choice but to follow briskly until the teachers safely ushered the kids inside.

“I’ll be off, Mr. Sanders,” Simon said with a curt nod. With perfect posture and steady strides, he returned to his car and drove away.

Only when the Maybach disappeared into the traffic did the smile finally fade from Finnian’s face. He got back into the Bentley. “Let’s go, Dexter.”

Late March. Today was Elaine Sanders’s 53rd birthday. While she didn’t throw an overly extravagant bash, she had booked the ballroom on the

eighth floor of The Gra

and family.

Aside from celebrating her birthday, there was a major announcement to be made to the public.

Elaine had been preparing for this event for weeks, and Noelle Lawrence had been right by her side helping out. Kaia, on the other hand, the actual daughter–in–law of the Sanders family, hadn’t shown her face once during the preparations.

Though Elaine harbored some resentment, she kept it to herself. Kaia might have lacked the fawning tact expected of a daughter–in–law, but her professional competence was undeniable. Elaine didn’t want to pick a fight over trivial matters.

Early that morning, the hotel staff finalized the ballroom decor.

Around eleven o’clock, VIP guests began to trickle in, filling the grand room with lively chatter.

The Sanders family and extended relatives were busy greeting guests. As the head of the family, Finnian occasionally stood near the entrance, holding Brynlee as he welcomed the attendees.

Kaia arrived early and was currently seated on a sofa with her parents. Her brother, Leo, and sister–in–law, Sophia, had also arrived.

When Leo looked at Kaia, his eyes darted away guiltily.

Kaia immediately thought of her brother’s new project. She had already investigated through back channels and confirmed that Finnian had handed him two massive contracts. The deals had gone suspiciously smooth, which meant Leo had intentionally bypassed her so she wouldn’t interfere.

Jane’s eyes narrowed as she watched Noelle from across the room.

Standing beside Elaine, Noelle was draped in a shimmering sapphire–blue satin gown with a demure, classic silhouette. Her hair fell in soft,

romantic curls, giving her the air of a dutiful, wide–eyed daughter–a far cry from the cutthroat corporate shark she usually was. She was a master of the mask, a woman who knew exactly how to play her audience to get what she wanted.

Kaia’s gaze followed. Noelle seemed uncharacteristically restless, her fingers fluttering in a faint, almost protective rhythm against her lower stomach. Even as she socialized, her eyes kept drifting, searching the crowd for one specific face.

Kaia knew that look. Noelle was waiting for a sign from Finnian.

Jane set down her glass and let out a cold scoff. “Who is she putting or this act for? Is the optics of him being with his late brother’s widow too scandalous for them? Are they planning to revert her back to a daughte so she can repeat the same old trick?”

Warren Chavez had never fully approved of his daughter’s marriage to t Sanders family. Now that he knew Finnian’s heart belonged to someone else and that Kaia was finally clear–headed enough to demand a divorce he saw it as a blessing. The day the divorce was finalized, Warren fully intended to throw a massive party and pop a bottle of his finest vintage the day the papers were signed.

Kaia’s heart skipped a beat. Her mother’s words struck a chord.

Years ago, Noelle had been the Sanders family’s adopted daughter, only to suddenly become Rafael Sanders’s wife. Now, returning to the status of an adopted daughter… could it be paving the way for her to become Finnian’s wife one day?

So that was the plan!

By noon, all the guests had arrived. The room hummed with hushed conversations as people enjoyed fine wine and hors d’oeuvres. As the star of the day, Elaine was radiant, greeting everyone with impeccable grace.

Just as the atmosphere reached its peak, Elaine took a glass of wine, preparing to take Noelle’s hand and step onto the stage for her grand announcement. Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a message.

Elaine initially intended to ignore it, but the preview text made her freeze.

She quickly set her glass aside and opened the message.

It was from an anonymous sender: Noelle’s biological mother is still alive.

Elaine stared at the screen, assuming it was a sick joke.

She quickly typed a reply: Who is this? Why are you spreading vicious

lies?

The sender replied with a photo. It was a picture of Pearl and Noelle standing together by an elevator.

Elaine’s face drained of color. She snapped her head up to look at Noelle

across the room.

Noelle was smiling and chatting with guests. Sensing Elaine’s gaze, she immediately walked over with a gentle smile. “Mom, it’s about time. Shall we head up to the stage?”

Elaine abruptly grabbed Noelle’s arm. “Let’s step outside for a minute.”

Noelle instantly sensed the shift in Elaine’s mood. Panic fluttered in her chest, but she obediently followed Elaine out of the ballroom and into a quiet, private lounge nearby.

‘Noelle, something this important… why did you hide it from me?” Elaine demanded, shoving the anonymous message into her face.

Noelle looked as though she had been struck by lightning. She froze on the spot.

‘Your mother is still alive, and you’ve been meeting her in secret. Why did you lie to me?” Elaine’s expression was stern. She had always believed Noelle was completely devoted to her, reporting every detail of her life. This deception deeply angered her.

Noelle immediately adopted the look of a terrified child caught doing wrong. Her innocent eyes filled with panic, and tears began to well up, spilling down her cheeks in large drops. “Mom, I didn’t mean to… I… I just couldn’t bear to leave you.”

Seeing Noelle’s sudden tears and the genuine grief and fear in her eyes, Elaine let out a heavy sigh. “You silly girl. Even if you told me, it wouldn’t