The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 269

Nora hesitated for two seconds before swiping the screen to answer the call.

Mrs. Xavier's voice drifted from the receiver, laced with deliberate warmth and sycophancy.

"Nora, are you busy right now? I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

"Just tell me what you need."

Nora didn't want to waste time on pointless pleasantries.

"Your birthday is coming up soon. You've been so busy at the studio lately that you haven't even come home. Your dad and I talked it over, and we want to throw a birthday dinner for you at the house. A nice family get-together."

Nora frowned slightly, her tone cold. "The studio just took on a project for the Pierce Group. There are a lot of sketches and setting specifications that I need to verify personally. The schedule is tight. We can just skip the birthday fuss. There's no need to go to all the trouble of hosting a banquet at the villa. I don't have the time."

Catching the rejection in her tone, Mrs. Xavier immediately raised her voice, adopting an urgent, uncompromising edge.

"No matter how busy you are with work, your health comes first! You must celebrate your birthday at home. It's settled."

Mrs. Xavier paused, then quickly dropped the real motive behind the call.

"When you come, make sure you bring Gideon with you. You hear me? This is your birthday, after all. It's only right for him, as your husband, to make an appearance. You two come back together so the elders can see you."

Nora's fingers tightened slightly around her phone.

She didn't even need to think to know what her parents were plotting. The Xavier family's recent investments had suffered back-to-back losses, and their company's cash flow had severely ruptured.

Mrs. Xavier insisting on throwing a grand birthday banquet at a time like this was nothing more than an excuse to lure Gideon back to the Xavier estate.

Mrs. Xavier's voice was instantly amplified, echoing clearly through the quiet car.

Hearing nothing from the other end, Mrs. Xavier assumed Nora hadn't caught her instructions and patiently, earnestly repeated them.

"Nora? Are you still there? I know you two are usually busy, but your birthday only comes once a year. You absolutely have to bring Gideon back. Just treat it as a casual family dinner."

"I've already given the kitchen their orders. All the dishes are prepared exactly to your and Gideon's usual tastes. You must not act out and throw a tantrum. Make sure he comes back with you..."

Mrs. Xavier's rambling calculations continued to echo in the car.

Nora felt incredibly humiliated.

This naked calculation and social climbing were laid bare, entirely undisguised, right next to Gideon's ear.