Whats She Overheard in Her Own Marriage novel Chapter 76

Chapter 76

Finnian sat up suddenly. “It’s a pretty far walk. I’ll go with you.”

“No need. Stay with our daughter,” Kaia replied as she unzipped the tent and stepped out.

Finnian followed her anyway. He asked Heather to sit in the tent and keep an eye on Brynlee.

Kaia led the way, with Finnian’s tall figure trailing a short distance behind. The flashlight beam cut through the pitch–black night, illuminating the path.

Finnian followed her all the way to the restroom block. While Kaia went into the women’s side, he walked into the men’s.

A few minutes later, Kaia stepped out. As she finished washing her hands, Finnian emerged and stood next to her at the sinks.

Kaia’s mind was completely occupied by the video of Noelle shaving his face. Looking at Finnian standing beside her, she felt that whatever halo he once had was completely gone. He was nothing but a hypocrite.

Finnian followed her silently all the way back to the tent.

Heather spoke up as they returned. “Noelle’s tent is empty. If it’s too cramped in here, Mr. Sanders, you can go sleep over there.”

Finnian glanced at Kaia.

Kaia simply hummed in agreement and thanked Heather for watching Brynlee.

Finnian didn’t go to Noelle’s tent. He lay back down in his own, still fully dressed.

That night, he kept his arm extended, lightly resting it over his daughter’s tiny frame to protect her.

Morning came.

When Finnian woke up, Kaia was nowhere to be found. In his arms was a warm, sleeping little girl.

He gently tucked the blanket around Brynlee and unzipped the tent to look outside.

A short distance away, Kaia and Miles were sitting by the remnants of the campfire, holding hot cups of tea. They were roasting bread and sweet potatoes, chatting effortlessly. The atmosphere between them looked incredibly easy and natural.

The morning sun spilled over them, wrapping them in a warm, golden glow.

Finnian’s dark eyes narrowed as he watched them for a long time. He checked his phone for a message, then looked back down at his sleeping daughter. Lowering his long eyelashes, he completely masked the storm brewing in his eyes.

Chapter 76

After the weekend, the brutal workweek resumed.

Kaia’s handover to Gordon Hayes was in its final stages. She no longer attended Aethelsta project meetings, but there was still cross–departmental business between Aethelstan and Veridian Future. Usually, Kaia would be at the Holistic Wellness Center in the morning, but today’s meeting was critical, so she arrived early with Silas.

classes. Elaine and Finnian took turno 6

Brynlee had already started her winter break, but she was enrolled in a few extracurricular

dropping her off during the day, and Kaia accompanied her at night whenever she was free. With the Veridian Future launch event rapidly approaching, Kaia was swamped.

Kaia went to Veridian to grab some files. Just as she parked her car, she spotted Finnian’s Bentley pulling up to the front doors of the Aethelstan building.

Finnian stepped out first. Then, he turned and very naturally offered his hand into the car.

A slender wrist reached out, displaying a striking, elegant white women’s watch.

A second later, Noelle leaned out of the car. Because of her injured ankle, she was wearing flat shoes today.

She stepped out very carefully. The moment her feet hit the pavement, she frowned, clearly wincing through the pain.

Finnian supported her with one hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist. He practically half–carried her, matching her slow pace as they walked toward the lobby doors.

Leaning heavily against him, Noelle turned her head and murmured something to him. Then, she raised a hand as if to gently push him away. The second Finnian loosened his grip, she immediately lost her balance and tipped to the side. Finnian yanked her right back against him, holding her tight, looking almost annoyed that she had tried to pull away.

Kaia stood frozen in place, holding her files.

The morning sun was beating down on her, but it couldn’t touch the bone–deep chill flooding her chest.

The scene playing out in front of her was absolutely absurd.

This wasn’t some remote mountain forest; this was broad daylight in the middle of a corporate plaza, with dozens of people walking by. Yet they carried on as if they were the only two people in the world, acting completely natural.

So this was how it happened. Boundaries were crossed again and again until the lines blurred entirely, turning a forbidden path into a paved highway.

Kaia took a sharp breath and walked into her building.

Rumors were already running rampant through the company, though they only survived in

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Chapter 76

whispered conversations by the water cooler and in the bathrooms.

As for the people involved? They either didn’t hear them or simply didn’t care.

Eventually, the gossip broke through the corporate walls and found its way to the Sanders Estate, landing directly in Josephine’s ears.

Smack!

The beads hit the table with a deafening clatter. The cord snapped. A dozen dark, polished spheres scattered like buckshot across the hardwood, a chaotic percussion that echoed her

outrage.

The housekeeper, Layla, jumped and immediately scrambled to pick them up.

“Tell me again. What exactly are people saying?”

Josephine’s voice shook with absolute authority and rage,

Layla carefully placed the broken beads back on the table before answering in a hushed voice. “The talk… it’s about how attentive he is to Miss Noelle. People are whispering that he’s positioning her to take the seat at the head of the table… and that a divorce is already being settled in the shadows.”

“They’re also saying it doesn’t look like a boss taking care of an employee. They claim his actual wife is preparing to move out, and that divorce papers are being drawn up…”

“Outrageous!” For a woman who had spent a lifetime guarding the family’s prestige, these whispers were an insult. To have the Sanders name dragged through the gutter like common filth was a humiliation she refused to endure.

“What an absolute disgrace. Is he trying to strip the Sanders family of whatever dignity we have left? Parading around like that in public with no sense of boundaries. Does he think I’m already dead?”

Layla stood by the wall, keeping her head down, too terrified to speak.

“Get the car ready. I’m going to the office at noon.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Layla hurried out.

Lunch hour.

Finnian had just stepped out of a grueling business negotiation when he got a call from his grandmother.

He arrived at the private dining room, still radiating the cold, ruthless energy of the

boardroom. But the moment he saw Josephine’s furious expression, his guard instantly went

1. up.