The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 257

"I looked around downtown this morning but couldn't find anything suitable. In a few days, I'll take you to choose something yourself."

Gideon turned to her, his dark eyes locking onto hers, speaking as if this was the most natural thing in the world.

Nora's mind went completely blank at his words.

It wasn't until Gideon mentioned the gift that she belatedly recalled Giselle's screeching accusations on the club's lawn.

Giselle had been demanding to know why Gideon went behind her back to shop for Nora, furiously accusing him of a change of heart.

Too much had happened recently. Her studio had been blacklisted, Janie Fisher had been banished from the city, and Julian was holding her lifeline hostage with relentless threats.

Every brutal dose of reality had pushed her to the brink of collapse. Every day, she woke up thinking only about survival and hitting her deadlines. She had completely forgotten her own birthday.

But did celebrating it even make a difference?

For the first three years of their marriage, she used to be brimming with anticipation as this date approached.

She would meticulously pick out a dress a week in advance, prepare soup in the villa's kitchen with her own hands, and sit joyfully in the empty dining room from dusk until the dead of night.

She had just wanted Gideon to rush home and share a birthday dinner with her, desperately hoping the man would finally acknowledge her existence.

But all she ever received was an icy phone call late at night, or a robotic, emotionless notification from his assistant.

"Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Hayes has several critical international video conferences tonight. He needs to remain at The Hayes Group headquarters to handle business. You should turn in early."

Or.

Nora retracted her gaze and stared out the window, offering neither agreement nor refusal.

A few afternoons later.

Wispy clouds drifted across the sky above The Metropolis, allowing the spring sunlight to spill down onto the streets.

Gideon bypassed The Hayes Group headquarters entirely. Swapping his usual suit for a rare dark casual jacket, he finished breakfast, pushed open her bedroom door with a stoic expression, smoothly took her hand, and led her out of the villa.

He didn't take her to the city's most extravagant luxury malls this time, nor did he return to the exclusive private jewelry club reserved for elite heiresses.

It seemed he had belatedly realized that Nora possessed a profound pride in her jewelry design. She likely had zero interest in those mass-produced, soulless pieces reeking of commercial greed.