Whats She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 169

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But after lunging for a particularly vicious shot, teenage Noelle froze dead in her tracks. Slowly, a bright red stain blossomed across the back of her white skirt. Hugging her racket to her chest, she stood perfectly still, her face turning scarlet with absolute mortification.

Without warning, a tall, broad-shouldered young man in a black athletic shirt vaulted into the frame Finnian’s face betrayed zero emotion, but his actions were swift and fiercely decisive Stripping off his zip-up jacket, he quickly tied it securely around Noelle’s waist, shielding her embarrassment from

the world.

“Stop filming! I’m going to die of embarrassment. Cut it out!” Noelle shrieked, whirling around and frantically waving at the camera. The girl behind the lens just giggled hysterically. “Aww, isn’t he just the sweetest?”

Then, closing the distance in a few massive strides, Finnian shoved his hand straight over the camera lens. A low, furious voice hissed, “Stop filming her.”

The video abruptly cut to black.

Kaia sat perfectly still, gripping the phone. It wasn’t until a draft from the window hit her skin that she realized she was chilled to the bone. Even as teenagers, his instinct to shield her had been a raw, undeniable force-fierce and completely unapologetic.

Truthfully, before she overheard that catastrophic conversation up on the third floor, Kaia had never really analyzed their dynamic. She had always known Finnian felt deeply responsible for Noelle, but she assumed it was just familial loyalty to his dead brother’s widow. Now, she realized it ran far deeper. It was rooted in an unspoken, childhood romance that neither of them had ever fully abandoned.

Slumping back against her chair, Kaia closed her eyes. Her determination to finalize the divorce had never burned so furiously.

Noelle’s interview sent massive ripples through the corporate world. That evening, riding high on the momentum, Noelle hosted an opulent dinner party, inviting Aethelstan’s top executives, along with key players from Profile Weekly and various PR powerhouses.

The private dining club was drenched in warm, golden light. Noelle floated flawlessly among her guests, effortlessly dictating the pace of the evening and locking in the phenomenal success of her

interview.

Halfway through dinner, the atmosphere had thoroughly relaxed. Noelle subtly checked her watch. She had personally invited Finnian, but there was still no sign of him.

“Excuse me for just a moment,” she said with a glittering smile, excusing herself from the table.

She checked her phone and saw a text from Finnian. He was just a few blocks away. The champagne was humming pleasantly in her veins, loosening her ironclad restraint Feeling overwhelmed by the dizzying rush of anticipation, she stepped out into the restaurant’s private courtyard to catch her breath.

Meanwhile, a man in his late forties stumbled out of an adjacent private room. Clearly hammered, he had staggered outside for a smoke. But his drunken haze vanished when he spotted a breathtakingly elegant figure leaning casually against one of the pillars. Bathed in the soft courtyard lighting, she looked like a masterpiece straight out of a painting.

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Chapter 169

But after lunging for a particularly vicious shot, teenage Noelle froze dead in her tracks. Slowly, a bright red stain blossomed across the back of her white skirt. Hugging her racket to her chest, she stood perfectly still, her face turning scarlet with absolute mortification.

Without warning, a tall, broad-shouldered young man in a black athletic shirt vaulted into the frame. Finnian’s face betrayed zero emotion, but his actions were swift and fiercely decisive. Stripping off his zip-up jacket, he quickly tied it securely around Noelle’s waist, shielding her embarrassment from

the world.

“Stop filming! I’m going to die of embarrassment. Cut it out!” Noelle shrieked, whirling around and frantically waving at the camera. The girl behind the lens just giggled hysterically. “Aww, isn’t he just

the sweetest?”

Then, closing the distance in a few massive strides, Finnian shoved his hand straight over the camera lens. A low, furious voice hissed, “Stop filming her.”

The video abruptly cut to black.

Kaia sat perfectly still, gripping the phone. It wasn’t until a draft from the window hit her skin that she realized she was chilled to the bone. Even as teenagers, his instinct to shield her had been a raw, undeniable force-fierce and completely unapologetic.

really analyzed

“she said with a glittering smile, excusing herself from the table.

Finnian. He was just a few blocks away. The champagne

ng her ironclad restraint. Feeling overwhelmed by the

nto the restaurant’s private courtyard to catch her

M

forties stumbled out of an adjacent private room. Clearly hammered, he or a smoke. But his drunken haze vanished when he spotted a breathtakingly casually against one of the pillars. Bathed in the soft courtyard lighting, she piece straight out of a painting.

16.41

Chapter 169

The man’s breath hitched. Wasn’t that his ultimate corporate crush? Noelle Lawrence?

“Ms. Lawrence…” Bolstered by the liquor, he swaggered over. “I watched your interview today You looked absolutely… ravishing. You spoke so beautifully.”

A sickening wave of stale alcohol washed over Noelle. She immediately took a discreet step back. “Thank you for the compliment, sir, but I don’t believe we’ve met.”

“I’m a VP at one of your outer supply chain companies… Ms. Lawrence, you are the total package Beauty and brains. I…” Standing face-to-face with his absolute fantasy, Mr. Sterling stammered, his eyes burning with predatory hunger.

Chapter 170