The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 124

Gideon seemed to be deliberately trying to make up for his past mistakes.

When they occasionally crossed paths in the living room, he would proactively ask about the progress at her studio. Nora no longer kept her defenses entirely raised; she would answer his questions calmly, and even explain technical jewelry terms in a soft voice when he encountered them.

One morning, Gideon surprisingly didn't leave for work early. He sat at the head of the dining table, holding his coffee, and asked about the new design project Nora had taken on.

He even, completely uncharacteristically, suggested taking her to a private art gallery in the suburbs that weekend to see an exhibition by an emerging designer.

Nora's fingers tightened slightly around her glass of milk. It was the first time in ten years he had actively suggested taking her on a date.

She had just looked up, ready to say 'okay.'

When Gideon's phone suddenly lit up on the dining table.

He froze. He picked it up, glanced at the screen, and answered the call. His voice instantly dropped several degrees into utter softness.

“What's wrong? Didn't you promise Gideon you'd sleep in today?”

“Gideon.”

Giselle's crying voice came through the speaker, so loud that even Nora, sitting further away, could hear it clearly. “My car got rear-ended on South Loop Road.”

Gideon shot up from his chair, his previously relaxed posture instantly snapping rigid.

“Are you hurt?”

Gideon spoke rapidly, his brows locked into a fierce scowl.

“I'm fine, just a little dizzy. The person who hit me got out and keeps banging on my window. He's so scary, I don't dare step outside. Gideon, please hurry.”

The girl's voice was utterly consumed by panic and helplessness.

“Lock the doors. I'll be right there. Don't hang up the phone.”

Gideon comforted her through the receiver while taking massive strides toward the entryway.

“We're canceling the gallery. Giselle is in trouble, I have to go over there.”

Gideon broke the silence in the living room.

Nora's finger paused on the page.

She slowly closed the book, looked up at Gideon, and replied crisply, “I don't want to go.”

Ever since Silas Hayes's memorial, she hadn't set foot in the manor once.

To her, that place was even more suffocating than this villa.

As long as she stepped through those doors, Giselle would inevitably deploy every trick in the book to humiliate and exclude her, which would inevitably end with Gideon unilaterally reprimanding Nora.

She had zero desire to subject herself to that toxic environment after working a full day.

Gideon saw the resistance on her face and immediately understood her hesitation.

“Giselle isn't there.”