The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 132

She stumbled backward, tripping over the threshold, and fell awkwardly out of the bedroom.

The door slammed shut in her face.

Deathly silence fell over the room once more, broken only by Gideon's heavy, ragged breathing.

He stood rooted to the spot, his chest heaving from the violent surge of emotion. Staring at the closed door, his fingers slowly curled into fists at his sides, his knuckles turning a stark white.

Gideon turned his head.

His gaze bypassed the wide desk, landing on the messy floor in front of the storage shelf. The photo album, the diary, the colorful greeting cards—the items that held his most precious memories were now scattered in chaotic disarray.

The memory of Nora's final, terrified look lingered in his mind for a fraction of a second, before being swiftly chased away by the sight of the strewn mementos.

He walked over and dropped to one knee. Reaching out with gentle, careful movements, he gingerly picked up the fallen photo album.

The corner of the album had a slight white scuff mark from the impact. Gideon rubbed his thumb over the mark repeatedly, trying to erase it.

Setting the album aside, he moved on to pick up the loose diary pages. One of them bore a distinct crease where Nora had accidentally stepped on it. Gideon laid the page flat against his palm, using his other hand to smooth out the wrinkle over and over, desperate to restore it to its original perfection.

He caressed that single page until it was flat again, then closed the diary and placed it safely on a clean patch of floor to his left.

Next, he reached for the greeting cards scattered further away.

During those starving days, constantly under the threat of abuse, she filled every emotional void he had. She needed him, and her sheer dependence gave him a reason to fight for his life.

Later, when Silas Hayes reclaimed his power and sent his men to find him, Gideon could have left the orphanage entirely unburdened. But a second before he crossed through those rusted iron gates, he stopped.

He looked back at the filthy little girl. Perhaps he had been in the dark for too long and needed to hold onto something to prove he was still alive. He pointed at her and told the Hayes family men that he was taking her with him.

He gave her the name Giselle Hayes, gifting her a brand-new identity.

With his parents gone and his grandfather’s health failing while trying to stabilize the corporation, Silas had no time to raise a newly recovered grandson, let alone a stray orphan girl brought along for the ride.

So, Gideon became Giselle's only pillar of support.