The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 234

Seeing that Mr. Xavier's words were entirely too harsh, Mrs. Xavier immediately kicked him under the table, glaring daggers at him to shut him up.

"Keep your voice down! Our daughter finally comes home for a meal, and you have to start a fight!"

She snapped at her husband before turning back to Nora, instantly shifting to a soothing tone.

"Nora, your father is just stressed about the company's cash flow these past two days. Don't take his harsh words to heart. If you want to design, I support you. Just take care of your health and don't work yourself to the bone."

Nora listened to her parents bicker in silence.

They were still exactly the same. Her father habitually measured everything by profit and social standing, while her mother constantly tried to play peacemaker, using that slightly fawning affection to keep the family balanced.

They genuinely, naively believed that if she just stayed home and behaved, Gideon would bestow a lifetime of protection upon her.

Looking at her parents' aging, wrinkled faces, the very last shred of hesitation in Nora's heart dissolved completely.

"Mom. Dad."

Her voice cut through the quiet dining room with absolute clarity. "There's something I need to tell you."

Mrs. Xavier paused her chopsticks, looking at her daughter with a sudden sense of unease.

"After Giselle's birthday party, I am officially filing for divorce from Gideon."

The smile instantly froze on Mrs. Xavier's face, the color draining from her cheeks in real-time.

Her hand trembled, and the heavy mahogany chopsticks clattered loudly against the marble table.

"What... what did you just say?"

Mrs. Xavier collapsed into her chair. Her eyes instantly turned red, and massive tears began to roll down her cheeks.

Staring at the empty seat Nora had just occupied, she covered her mouth, letting out a stifled, agonizing sob.

"Stop crying! This is all because you spoiled her!"

Mr. Xavier yanked irritably at his tie and slumped back into his chair at the head of the table, his chest heaving violently.

"All you ever do is scream at her!"

Mrs. Xavier dropped her hands, her tear-streaked face snapping toward him. "Did you not see how she looked just now? She's so thin that coat was practically hanging off her! Are you blind? Did you not see the dark circles under her eyes?"

How could her heart not break for her daughter? That was her own flesh and blood, the child she had carried.