The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 181

"Janie, what did you say?"

Nora stared at the girl across from her in disbelief.

"I said, agree to his terms."

"I'm leaving. I'm going back to my hometown. I'm quitting jewelry design."

Nora's face instantly went deathly pale. She reached out to grab Janie's hand, but the girl subtly pulled away.

"Janie... you don't have to do this..."

Nora's voice was hoarse and dry, a suffocating lump forming in her throat. "I'll think of another way. I can definitely find other investors. You don't need to sacrifice your own future for the atelier. You love design so much, you can't just give up like this..."

Janie tugged at the corner of her bandaged mouth, letting out a self-deprecating laugh.

"Nora, am I supposed to stay here and watch the entire atelier go bankrupt because of me? Or wait for Gideon to have my legs broken next time?"

If she didn't do this, what other choice was there?

Stay and face the endless suppression from The Hayes Group? Watch the atelier go completely bankrupt because of her, watch everyone's hard work go down the drain?

Nora wouldn't be able to find any other investors. With just one word from Gideon, every capital firm in the industry would avoid this atelier like the plague.

The meager amount they'd get from mortgaging the atelier wouldn't even begin to cover the massive penalty loop of the project's breach of contract.

If they fought to the bitter end, not only would they lose the atelier, but Nora would also be saddled with crippling debt. And Janie would still be tormented mercilessly by the socialite spies working for Giselle.

She had no background, no powerful backers. In this city swarming with the rich and elite, she couldn't even protect herself, let alone fight against the people who controlled the capital.

"If I stay here, I'll only be a burden to everyone. Sloane was right. I didn't know my place, trying to play the hero. Now my face is ruined, and my future is gone. I brought this on myself."

She saved the atelier, she saved the project, but she had single-handedly lost the girl who had been battered and bruised just to protect her. The heavy weight of self-blame and guilt crushed her chest, making even breathing feel like a sharp, agonizing pain.

The night was deep and suffocating.

The lights were off in the guest room of the Hayes villa.

Nora sat alone on the edge of the bed. Outside the window, passing headlights occasionally cast moving shadows of trees against the stark white walls.

She pulled out her phone. The screen lit up, its harsh glare making her squint slightly.

Nora opened her contacts, found Julian's name, and opened a new message thread.

Her fingers hovered over the digital keyboard, hesitating for a long time. The image of Janie's retreating back outside the cafe, and her terribly swollen and bruised cheeks, flashed relentlessly in her mind.