The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 24

He always talked about how much Giselle suffered, but back in that hellish orphanage, Gideon had shielded her. Every strike of the cane landed on his back, and his rations were given to her.

Then she was adopted into the Hayes family, living in luxury and getting whatever she wanted.

His grandfather pampered her, Gideon spoiled her. Whether she wanted a designer bag or a limited-edition sports car, it would be parked at the Manor the very next day. Whenever she caused trouble, someone was there to cover for her, and the entire social elite treated her like royalty.

Even if Giselle had suffered, hadn't Nora paid her dues too?

In that same orphanage, while he protected Giselle, Nora huddled in the corner, enduring the starvation and beatings alone.

After she returned to the Xavier family, her past made her quiet and withdrawn, turning her into an outcast among their peers.

For ten years, she had swallowed every humiliation and trampled her dignity, only to be denied even a single word of comfort.

Gideon would always view Giselle as a pitiful little girl who needed saving.

He completely overlooked that his helpless little girl was actually a calculated, vindictive menace who used every advantage to torment Nora.

The second Giselle frowned or felt slightly wronged, the world rushed to comfort her, turning immediately to condemn Nora for being petty and immature.

Why should she take it anymore?

Nora inhaled deeply and picked up the divorce papers resting on the manila envelope.

The terms were clear. She wasn't taking a dime from the Hayes family, relinquishing all assets generated over their three years of marriage.

She uncapped her fountain pen and pressed hard as she signed her name at the bottom.

Nora picked up her phone and scrolled through her contacts until she found a long-forgotten number.

Arthur Lawrence was her college mentor and a top-tier jewelry designer. When she graduated, he had high hopes for her, strongly urging her to study abroad.

Instead, Nora had thrown away that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity just to marry Gideon. Furious, Arthur had scolded her over the phone for her foolishness, and they hadn't spoken since.

Nora took another breath and dialed.

She had spent her days orbiting Gideon, turning into a hollow accessory. She had practically forgotten she was once a confident, gold-medal-winning prodigy.

"Arthur, I want to... restart my career."

The line fell quiet. A long sigh followed, carrying no blame, only immense relief.

"You finally woke up, kid."

He chuckled. "Be at the atelier tomorrow at 9 AM with your old portfolios. I've had a desk waiting for you this whole time."

Nora's vision blurred, a tear slipping down her cheek and landing on the rug.

"Thank you. I'll be there."

Ending the call, Nora grabbed the suitcase she had already packed and walked out of the prison she had lived in for three years, never looking back.