The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 273

Gideon hesitated for a long time.

He was terrified that hitting send would result in a glaring red exclamation mark, a sign that his sister had been ruthless enough to block him.

He was even more afraid that sending the message would invite a reply far more heartless and piercing than the ones she had thrown at him at the club.

He was terrified she would tell him herself that she never wanted to return to this house again.

Finally, he took a deep breath and hit send.

The message went through, leaving a green bubble hovering lonely on the right side of the chat.

No red exclamation mark appeared.

This allowed his tightly wound nerves to relax just a fraction. As long as she hadn't blocked him, there was still room for salvation.

Gideon stared intensely at the screen, his breathing shallow as he waited for a response.

Minutes ticked by, and the green bubble on the screen vanished like a stone in the ocean.

One minute. Five minutes. Ten minutes passed.

The chat interface remained dead silent.

Gideon's Adam's apple bobbed heavily, the panic in his eyes deepening.

He raised the phone again, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

"Giselle, I was wrong."

"I shouldn't have gotten physical at the club, and I shouldn't have made you angry. The food outside isn't clean. The chef at the manor made your favorite soup today."

"I'll come pick you up, okay?"

Green bubbles flew out one after another, filling half the screen.

Across the city, inside an elegant three-star Michelin French restaurant.

The melodious sound of a violin drifted through the dining room. From her window seat, Giselle had a perfect view of the dazzling Metropolis skyline.

Wearing her pure white dress, she sat on a plush velvet chair. Exquisite caviar and vintage red wine adorned the table.

Julian sat across from her, watching her with a tender gaze.

Thinking about the news that Gideon had taken Nora to book some shabby private gallery today, splurging on antique manuscripts, Giselle's smug expression twisted for a brief second.

A raging fire of jealousy burned in her heart.

Her brother was hers.

All the wealth of the Hayes family, all the doting, all the privileges—they belonged to her and her alone.

Why did that bitch Nora get to enjoy Gideon spending money like water on her! Why did she get to make her brother lower himself to cater to her tastes!

When she was a teenager, that bitch had shamelessly chased after Gideon, debasing herself to the dust just to catch his attention. And what was the result? She still couldn't hold a candle to Giselle's place in his heart!

Later, riding on Silas Hayes's dying wish, Nora shamelessly married into the family and took the seat of Mrs. Hayes.

But what had she actually gained in these three years? Nothing but her husband's cold violence and Giselle's own humiliation!

"What's wrong, Giselle?"

Sitting across from her, Julian noticed the strange shift in her expression. He set down his cutlery, elegantly wiped his mouth with a crisp white napkin, and looked at her with gentle concern behind his glasses.