The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 248

Gideon's voice carried a faint tremor that he didn't even notice himself.

How could he ever abandon her? He had spent over a decade tearing through the corporate world, doing whatever it took to reach the top of The Hayes Group, even bearing the reputation of a cold-blooded monster. All of it was so she could spend her life as the most carefree, pampered princess in The Metropolis.

He stared in absolute disbelief at the girl spewing such hateful words.

The sister he had shielded from the world was actually using filthy words like "seduce" against him, twisting his lifelong protection into something so ugly.

That flawless face didn't hold a single trace of her usual innocent charm.

Instead, it was etched with fierce devotion for another man, alongside bitter resentment, doubt, and venomous hostility toward him.

She couldn't care less if he was bleeding or suffering. She only cared about her own feelings being validated, completely furious that someone had dared to go against her wishes.

His Giselle was no longer the little girl shivering in the corner of a shipping container, relying entirely on him for survival.

"Gideon Hayes, I am never speaking to you again! Go back to your mansion and play house with Mrs. Hayes. I hate you!"

With those final words, Giselle turned and grabbed Julian's hand.

"Julian, let's go. We need to get you to the hospital."

Gripping the other man's hand tightly, she marched toward the clubhouse without a single backward glance.

Gideon stood frozen in place.

She had called him Gideon Hayes.

For nearly twenty years, ever since he led her out of that rundown orphanage, she had never used his full name.

She used to follow him everywhere like a shadow he couldn't shake, constantly calling his name with affection.

He whispered her name unconsciously.

Trembling, Gideon lifted his battered right hand, reaching out toward her retreating silhouette.

He wanted to grab hold of the sister who used to adore him, the girl who would happily leap into his arms the second he beckoned.

He wanted to pat her head like he had countless times before and tell her he would never abandon her.

But she had explicitly told him she didn't need his protection anymore.

His fingers slowly curled into a fist in mid-air.

His palm was entirely empty, holding onto nothing but a faint, chilling breeze that slipped through his fingers.