The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 229

Gideon stopped in his tracks and turned his head to look at her.

"Just came to see your parents."

Gideon answered honestly.

His voice was deep and steady, devoid of his usual commanding presence, instead carrying a gentleness that struck Nora as somewhat bizarre.

Just came to see her parents.

Nora twitched her lips, lacking the energy to even expose his lie.

If Nathan hadn't been making so many little moves around Giselle lately and offending him as the protective brother, Gideon probably wouldn't have stepped foot in the Xavier house in this lifetime.

She turned her back to him, walked over to the bookshelf, squatted down, pulled open the bottom drawers, and began digging through piles of dusty file folders for the documents she needed.

Gideon stood where he was, his gaze slowly drifting around the room.

Finally, his eyes settled on the glass display cabinet next to the desk.

On the very top shelf of the display cabinet sat a solitary gold-plated trophy. It was the Gold Award Nora had won at The Paris Grand Prix for Jewelry seven years ago.

The Nora from back then had just turned twenty—spirited, brilliant, and widely regarded as the most promising rising star in the entire design world.

But later, in order to chase after his footsteps and cater to his preferences, she had given up her chance for further studies, dimmed all her brilliance, and willingly locked herself inside the icy walls of the Hayes estate, turning into a timid, lifeless Mrs. Hayes.

A complex emotion he himself hadn't quite recognized flickered in the dark depths of his eyes, and his normally sharp gaze softened unconsciously.

Nora dug around for a long time but still couldn't find those old sketches. Her brows knotted tighter, and a fine layer of sweat beaded on her forehead.

Gideon pulled his gaze away from the trophy, walked over to the desk, and stopped right beside Nora.

"I'm looking for a few black sketchbooks from my sophomore year. I'll have to trouble you then, Mr. Hayes."

She placed a heavy emphasis on 'Mr. Hayes,' her tone dripping with the sarcasm of someone who had completely given up.

Hearing her volatile tone, Gideon's face surprisingly didn't show its usual disgust. Instead, he dipped his head slightly, a fleeting smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Gideon rolled up the sleeves of his suit jacket, exposing his muscular forearms, bent down, and actually started carefully sifting through the dust-covered drawer.

Leaning against the wardrobe door behind her, Nora watched the scene unfold with cold detachment.

The Gideon who wielded absolute power in the business world, who would instantly turn ruthless at the mere mention of Giselle's name, was now bending his dignified back in her cramped, shabby room, rummaging for a few worthless old notebooks.

This was truly a scene absurd to the extreme.