The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 120

Nora looked at the man standing by the car. She hadn't expected Gideon to come pick her up himself; he had explicitly said he would send the driver.

She turned her head and gave Julian a polite nod.

“Goodbye, Julian.”

With that, Nora stepped down the stairs.

Watching her walk toward him so obediently, the frost in Gideon's eyes thawed just a fraction.

She stepped under the canopy of the black umbrella. Gideon naturally tilted it, shielding her completely in a dry, safe space. In doing so, his own shoulder was exposed to the downpour, the fabric of his suit quickly darkening with moisture.

Gideon opened the car door, shielding Nora as she slid into the backseat.

He closed the umbrella and got in from the other side.

The door shut, instantly cutting off the sound of the rain and the freezing air outside.

The Maybach pulled smoothly away from the tea house. Julian stood on the steps, watching the fading taillights, his gaze behind the gold-rimmed glasses growing dark and unfathomable.

The interior of the car was dead silent.

“You did a good job on that new project.”

Gideon spoke suddenly, his voice slightly hoarse. “But you need to understand that in this industry, some people hand you a ladder so you can climb, and others hand it to you just to ensure you take a harder fall.”

Nora sat on her side of the seat, her fingers absently tracing the strap of her bag.

“Are you talking about Julian?”

“He's not the gentleman he pretends to be.”

Gideon turned his head, staring at Nora with a piercing gaze. “Stay away from him. I won't say it again.”

Nora met his eyes, a mocking smile pulling at the corner of her mouth.

“Are you warning me because he's actually dangerous, or because you can't stand it when someone slips out of your control?”

She gave a brief summary of her day. Knowing Gideon hated wasted words, she kept it as concise as possible.

Gideon nodded. He leaned back against the leather seat, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. The consecutive days of high-stress work had finally left traces of exhaustion on his face.

“The Zimmerman family has a massive manufacturing empire. Mrs. Zimmerman has a viciously critical eye. If you managed to close a deal with her, it proves your designs are compelling enough.”

Gideon offered an objective assessment with his eyes still closed.

Nora turned to look at his exhausted profile.

“Whether you want to work or just prove yourself, as long as you behave appropriately, the Hayes family can provide you with all the resources you need.”

Gideon opened his eyes to look at her. “Just stop meeting with people who have ulterior motives.”

Nora lowered her head and didn't reply.

The car cruised smoothly into the driveway of their villa.