The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 233

Mrs. Xavier's voice sliced through the suffocating tension in the room.

Nora took a deep breath, violently swallowing the fury and accusations that had been burning in her throat.

She refused to fight with Gideon in front of her parents, and she certainly didn't want to give her mother an opening to deliver another long-winded lecture on how to salvage this shattered marriage.

She shot Gideon a cold, warning glare to keep his mouth shut, then turned and walked straight toward the door.

Opening it, she found Mrs. Xavier standing in the hallway, an apron tied around her waist and a hopeful smile plastered across her face. Seeing Nora and Gideon walk out of the room together, the older woman's smile only grew wider.

"Nora, Gideon, dinner is ready downstairs."

Mrs. Xavier greeted them warmly, her eyes darting between the two of them as she desperately searched for any signs of marital harmony.

"I made all of Nora's favorites. Gideon, please stay for a casual dinner. Have a drink with her father."

Gideon stood behind Nora, his long, elegant fingers slowly adjusting his suit cuffs.

"You two go ahead and eat, Mom."

His voice slipped back into his usual polite, distant professionalism. "I have a few overseas video conferences to handle for the company, so I need to head back. I'll officially come visit you and Dad another time when my schedule clears up."

His excuse was perfectly flawless, his manners impeccable.

A flash of disappointment crossed Mrs. Xavier's eyes, but she quickly covered it with an understanding smile.

"Work comes first, of course. The Hayes Group is a massive operation, you have so much on your plate. Go on, don't let us hold you up. Tell your driver to be careful on the way back."

Mrs. Xavier practically escorted him down the stairs as she spoke.

Gideon gave a polite nod. As he brushed past Nora, his gaze lingered on her pale profile for a fleeting second before he took the stairs with long strides and walked out of the Xavier Residence.

"Eat up, sweetheart. Look how much weight you've lost lately. Your face is so thin."

She noted the utter exhaustion etched into her daughter's features, testing the waters carefully. "How is Lawrence Atelier doing? Don't push yourself too hard. With Gideon around, you could do absolutely nothing for the rest of your life, and the Hayes family would still keep you wrapped in luxury."

Nora stared down at the shiny, caramelized rib, her appetite completely gone. She put down her fork and grabbed a napkin to dab her mouth.

Sitting at the head of the table, Mr. Xavier set his soup spoon down, his face stern and lined with a deep frown.

"Your mother is right. What's the point of clinging to that failing studio?"

His voice dripped with disapproval. "Running around outside every day, drafting designs for other people just to earn a few pennies. If word gets out, it makes the Hayes family look bad."

"Listen to your father and shut that studio down. If you're really that bored, just come back to the family business. We'll give you an empty title, and you can focus on being a proper Mrs. Hayes."