Whats She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 2

She turned and walked back downstairs.

At the landing, she saw her four–year–old daughter, Brynlee Sanders, hopping around, trading candy with a few other children her age.

‘Mommy…” Brynlee ran over happily and hugged her leg. “Mommy, I’m playing games with my new friends. We’re having so much fun!”

Looking at her daughter’s innocent, joyful face, the pain in Kaia’s own heart was unbearable.

She knelt down and wiped a smudge of candy from her daughter’s mouth.

Brynlee’s little hand immediately pulled two chocolates from her pocket and pressed them into her mother’s. “For you, Mommy.”

A lump formed in Kaia’s throat. With chilled fingertips, she reached out and took the chocolates from her daughter.

Not far away, the master of ceremonies announced that guests should proceed to the main hall for the service.

The words brought Kaia back to reality. She stroked her daughter’s hair. ‘Be a good girl, Brynlee. Go find Maria and have her get you something to eat. Mommy has to go help our guests.”

‘Okay!” Brynlee nodded obediently and skipped away.

Kaia stood up, her fingers gripping the banister as she took a deep breath.

So all these years, what she thought was a harmonious marriage, a close bond between brothers, and a sisterly affection between herself and Noelle… it was all a lie.

She turned her head to look at Noelle, who stood on the other side. She wore a long black dress with a simple white flower tucked behind her ear, making her face look as pale as paper. Her eyes were red and swollen, and she was supported by two friends, looking so fragile it seemed she might faint at any moment.

Kaia thought of all the times Noelle had been kind to her, and a wave of nausea washed over her.

As the service neared its end, the rain outside lessened, and the guests began to depart.

Finnian saw off a few important guests, then came to Kaia’s side, rubbing his temples. “You must be exhausted, running around since this morning.” As he spoke, he reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Almost instinctively, Kaia turned her head away, a barely perceptible movement.

Finnian’s handsome face froze for a second, his hand suspended in mid–air.