The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 278

Gideon coldly observed the two of them, who were nearly frightened out of their wits, his thin lips curving into a slow, utterly mirthless smile.

He reached out with his slender fingers and unhurriedly picked up the glass of dark red wine.

Seeing him finally pick up the glass, Mr. and Mrs. Xavier felt their hearts, which had been in their throats, instantly drop back down. Both let out long, inward sighs of relief, their previously rigid shoulders relaxing.

"Mom, Dad, you seem very eager for me to drink this."

Gripping the cold glass, Gideon's smooth, deep voice rang out abruptly in the silent dining room.

The words hit like a sledgehammer, smashing squarely into the chests of the Xavier parents, who had just managed to relax.

Their breath hitched again; Gideon's ambiguous question shot their hearts right back into their throats.

"Gideon, what are you saying? Today is Nora's birthday, and it's rare for the whole family to gather together. This is a bottle of Romanee-Conti Vintage I've saved for ten years. I normally can't even bear to open it for myself. I brought it out specifically to treat you today, to celebrate for you and Nora."

As Mr. Xavier spoke, he shot a pointed look at his wife.

Catching his drift, Mrs. Xavier immediately stepped forward, plastering on a warm smile and spouting various excuses to urge him to drink.

"That's right, Gideon. You manage so many huge projects at the Hayes Group, you're busy with a million things a day. It's rare for you to visit the Xavier house, so let's have a nice drink and relax."

"In the three years Nora has been married into the Hayes family, we're grateful for all your care. As her parents, we've always kept your kindness in our hearts. Consider this glass a small token of appreciation from your elders, for the sake of family harmony and good luck."

Singing the same tune, the two trotted out all sorts of high-sounding excuses, their underlying desperation to get him to drink practically screaming through their words. Mr. Xavier completely threw his usual dignity out the window, his tone dripping with flattery and urgency.

Mrs. Xavier's unnaturally enthusiastic behavior tonight, deliberately clearing all the servants out of the hall, the security guards using a pathetic excuse to stall Liam at the door, right down to the parents harboring ulterior motives and desperately urging him to drink.

Every single detail screamed that this wine was spiked.

Those rivals desperate to latch onto the Hayes Group had tried countless times to shove women at him using similar methods, and he had mercilessly dealt with every single one of them.

He just never expected Nora's parents to be stupid enough to use such despicable tactics against their own son-in-law, in their own home.

What he was curious about now was the exact role Nora was playing in this setup.

Did she know about this too? Was she in on it?