The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 17

After the tirade, a brief silence settled over the table.

Lucia sighed, interlacing her fingers on the table as she shifted gears.

"As long as you've thought this through, Nora, I'm behind you a hundred percent."

"But have you really thought about it?"

Lucia leaned forward, locking eyes with Nora. "Everyone in our circle knows Gideon planned to stay a bachelor forever. When his grandfather forced the marriage on his deathbed, a stubborn guy like Gideon wouldn't have signed those papers if he truly felt nothing for you."

"He ended up marrying you after all. Maybe subconsciously, he actually cares."

Nora just looked at Lucia, remaining silent.

Lucia's eyes lit up as if she'd found a breakthrough, lowering her voice to pitch an idea.

"Why don't we find a hot guy to make him jealous? Men are so predictable. Seeing someone else flirt with you might just be the push he needs to realize who he really cares about."

Nora listened quietly to the absurd suggestion. Seeing the hope in Lucia's eyes, she slowly shook her head, offering a bitter, heartbreaking smile.

Find a man to make him jealous?

"He does get jealous, Lucia."

Nora's voice was barely a whisper. "Just never over me."

Gideon definitely got jealous.

When his territory was threatened, he displayed a predatory, possessive instinct.

He would snap instantly, using the immense power of the Hayes Group to mercilessly crush any man who dared approach.

Gideon delivered vicious punch after punch to the man's face, the skin on his knuckles torn, blood dripping down his long fingers.

His dark eyes held a murderous rage, the sheer violence rolling off him terrifying the bodyguards and managers into cowering in the corner, too scared to intervene.

Giselle was curled up in the corner of the booth, sobbing hysterically. Only the sound of her crying made Gideon finally stop.

He released his grip, letting the bloody man crumple to the floor. Striding over to the booth, he took off his bloodstained overshirt, wrapping it tightly around Giselle's trembling shoulders before scooping her up into his arms.

Carrying Giselle out, Gideon's gaze landed on Nora, who had just rushed over.

"What kind of wife are you?"

His voice, suppressed with fury, cut through the noisy air, filled with misplaced anger and accusation. "Giselle was hanging around with this kind of trash, and you were too blind to notice? I left the family matters in your hands, and this is how you handle them?"