The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 268

Later, upon returning to the Hayes family, he faced scheming distant relatives and vicious wolves eager to fight for the family fortune. He slept only three hours a day, studying business management with everything he had, fighting ruthlessly at the negotiation tables.

He did all of that just to firmly grasp the power of the Hayes family, to build an indestructible fortress around them.

Before his grandfather passed away, lying in that massive hospital bed, his skeletal hand had gripped Gideon's wrist tightly.

Handing over the massive empire of the Hayes Group, Silas Hayes had used his last breath to instruct him, "Gideon, the Hayes family is in your hands now. Giselle's health is poor. You have to protect her for me. Don't let her suffer."

After Silas passed, the only genuine bond Gideon had left to hold onto in this massive, icy world was his sister.

He thought that as long as this fortress was impregnable, Giselle could stay safely inside forever, forever playing the role of the carefree little girl.

But a sister eventually had to get married.

She had grown up, formed her own attachments, and found someone she wanted to spend her life with.

He couldn't realistically lock her in the Hayes fortress forever. Hadn't he used every ruthless tactic precisely so she would have the freedom to choose her own life?

He had spent over a decade pampering her like a greenhouse flower, terrified she would suffer even the slightest grievance. He always thought he could shield her from every storm, always believed he alone could provide her with the best protection.

Could he really destroy her happiness?

He couldn't do it.

He would rather suffer the agony of a thousand arrows piercing his heart than see Giselle shed a single tear.

If Giselle had her heart set on Julian, if she believed that being with him was her true source of joy...

Then he had no choice but to...

He had to force himself to accept this reality. As her brother, the only thing he could do was utilize the full power of the Hayes Group to hold an umbrella of protection over her from the shadows.

He was grieving for his beloved sister, forcing himself to accept the reality that Giselle was leaving him, swallowing down all his bitter resentment.

The tables had turned. This man, who had always trampled on the genuine feelings of others, was finally tasting the despair of wanting something he couldn't have and being forced to suffer in silence.

Taking in his devastated appearance, Nora coldly spat out a single word in her mind.

Pathetic.

A sharp ringtone suddenly pierced the silence.

This time, it was Nora's phone.

Hearing the sound, she withdrew her gaze, slowly reached into her pocket, and pulled the device out.

The caller ID read: "Mom".