The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 264

"Mrs. Hayes has an incredibly refined eye. I am certain these priceless manuscripts will unlock their maximum potential in her hands,"

he stammered, his hands trembling violently as he secured the astronomical check. His eyes practically bled as he watched the hulking security team from The Hayes Group load his prized legacy into crates and haul them out.

Thirty minutes later, leaving behind a curator who was literally weeping into his millions of dollars, the two walked side-by-side out of the cobblestone alley.

The sky had completely cleared up. Golden sunlight struck the puddles on the street, fracturing into a dazzling array of diamonds.

Hugging a ridiculously expensive ebony case containing Victorian-era micro-carving tools, Nora led the way.

Glancing over her shoulder, she spotted Mr. Hallowell still clinging to the white doorframe, looking as utterly gutted as a man whose family crypt had just been looted.

The corners of Nora's mouth twitched before a light, bubbly laugh finally escaped her lips.

"What's so funny?"

Gideon closed the distance, matching her pace stride for stride.

Catching the fleeting mischief dancing in her eyes, the rigid tension in his jaw inexplicably dissolved.

Nora instantly killed the smile, whipping her head back around to stare awkwardly at the pavement ahead.

"Nothing. I just realized we essentially gutted half of his life's work in an hour. Did you see his face? He looked ready to lock us in the vault. Aren't you worried he'll hold a massive grudge, Mr. Hayes?"

But Gideon's hearing was razor-sharp, and he caught every single syllable with crystal clarity.

Raising an eyebrow, Gideon paused mid-step, leaning in to give her a highly amused stare.

"What was that, Mrs. Hayes?"

Nora's heart skipped a beat. Feeling utterly busted, she gunned it toward the black Maybach parked at the end of the alley, pretending she had suddenly gone deaf.

Watching her bolt like a deer in headlights, the rare smile that had been absent for half a month fully bloomed in his eyes, and he launched his long legs forward to catch up.

The exact second he popped the car door, he smoothly reached out and snared Nora's left hand, totally engulfing her slender fingers in his massive, warm palm.