The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 115

Lucia raised a brow, her tone brimming with unrestrained glee. "Seraphina! That arrogant princess of the Sterling family who always looks down on everyone!"

"I got off the plane yesterday, turned on my phone, and bam—news from the gala! The whole circle is talking about it. They said that overbearing brat Seraphina deliberately went out of her way to harass you, and Gideon kicked her out on the spot! Not only that, he publicly ordered the termination of every single contract with The Sterling Group!"

Lucia grew more animated as she spoke, her eyes shining brightly. "Nora, you have no idea how crazy the rumors are today. They say Seraphina's dad ended up in the hospital this morning with high blood pressure. Seraphina doesn't even have the guts to step out of her house."

"Everyone's guessing that the boss's furious revenge was his way of laying down the law for everyone. Anyone who dares touch a single hair on Mrs. Hayes's head is declaring war on the entire Hayes empire!"

Nora listened quietly, her lowered lashes hiding the faint, shimmering light in her eyes.

"People are exaggerating."

Nora gently stirred her black tea, the corners of her mouth twitching upward in a tiny smile. "He was just acting in a professional capacity. He couldn't stand seeing someone disrespect the Hayes family's reputation in public."

"Oh, please, do I look like I was born yesterday?" Lucia rolled her eyes.

"There are hundreds of ways to protect a reputation, and he specifically chose the absolute most brutal one. Nora, I told you. Ten years of history can't just disappear without a trace. He's used to having you by his side, and seeing someone bully you clearly rubbed him the wrong way. Have things been getting better between you two lately?"

Nora thought back to the past few days at the villa.

He came home on time every day, covered her with a blanket when she fell asleep reading, and got up in the middle of the night to fetch her medicine when her stomach hurt.

Under Lucia's eager questioning, all those silent gestures slowly pieced together a heart-stirring silhouette in Nora's mind.

Pushing the door open, she found the living room completely quiet. She walked over to the sofa, and just as she was about to sit down and rest, the steady sound of footsteps echoed from the stairs.

Wearing a dark gray, lightweight cashmere sweater and casual trousers, Gideon was walking down from the second-floor study. He hadn't gone to the office today, nor had he gone to the manor. For the first time ever, he stayed at the villa to work from home.

Seeing Nora return, Gideon paused on the bottom step.

"Done catching up with your friend?" His deep voice was gentle, entirely stripped of the tense strictness he carried on workdays.

Nora nodded and sat down on the sofa.