The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 226

Julian's fingers jerked to a halt, his expression instantly turning gloomy. A sinister look flashed through his eyes as the hand resting at his side slowly clenched into a fist, his knuckles cracking sharply.

Nora ignored his reaction, taking long strides out of that suffocating door and stepping into the elevator without looking back.

Leaving the Pierce Headquarters, the cold wind outside rushed straight down her collar.

Nora stood by the roadside, hailed a cab, and gave the address for the Xavier Residence.

She had to finish revising the necklace design for Giselle before tomorrow morning.

The old design materials and jewelry texture samples from her college days that she had stored at the Xavier house were now the only lifeline she could grasp.

The taxi pulled up to the wrought-iron gates of the Xavier Residence.

The Xavier family villa was quite old. The ivy on the exterior walls grew exceptionally thick, blocking out most of the sunlight and giving the entire building a stale, decaying atmosphere.

Since she signed that marriage agreement three years ago and moved into the Hayes estate with the title of Mrs. Hayes, she could count the times she had returned on one hand. This house had long been devoid of anything that could make her feel warm.

Just as she reached the entryway and was about to change her shoes, the sound of voices from the living room made her freeze.

That deep, cold male voice was all too familiar to her.

Nora swapped into her slippers, walked around the entryway partition, and her gaze landed in the center of the living room.

Gideon was sitting on the Xavier family's leather sofa.

He was wearing an impeccably tailored dark black suit today, his long legs elegantly crossed, his slender fingers holding a white porcelain teacup.

Gideon was actually here.

Nora stared blankly at the man.

In their three years of marriage, Gideon was so busy with the Hayes Group's massive business empire every day that he felt returning to their nominal home was a waste of time, let alone setting foot in this old Xavier house. The sun must have risen in the west today for him to pay a personal visit.

"I've been tied up with company matters lately, so I haven't found the time to visit."

Gideon spoke to her parents in a gentle tone. "Nora takes such good care of the Hayes household. I should have come to visit sooner."

Caring about her?

Nora scoffed internally.

The number of times he had stepped through the Xavier family doors was pitifully small, and every single time, he had come bearing high-handed charity or warnings.

This act of the 'considerate son-in-law' today was probably just for some business trade-off, or to placate her as Mrs. Hayes so she would quietly draw Giselle's design.

"That's very thoughtful of you, Gideon."

Nora pulled her hand free from her mother's grasp and sat down in the single armchair furthest from Gideon, her tone utterly cold.