The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 28

Gideon leaned back, his fingers drumming against the leather armrest.

"No need."

His tone was calm, laced with the arrogance of absolute certainty. "She only owns that old apartment she bought in college; she has nowhere else to go. Her family is on life support thanks to our project funds. Her parents won't dare take her in, let alone support this ridiculous divorce stunt."

Liam nodded, proceeding to ask about the financial logistics.

"Should I temporarily freeze her supplementary credit cards and the monthly allowance deposited into her personal account?"

"Leave them. I don't make it a habit to cut off a woman's pocket money."

Gideon picked up his glass and took a sip of water.

"Let her swipe them all she wants. She's probably just exhausted from the marketing department, and the gala last night clearly upset her. She just needs a vacation to cool off. If we cut her cards, how would she survive out there? File those papers away and ignore her."

"Yes, Mr. Hayes."

Liam stepped back. "Regarding the urgent documents..."

"Leave them on the desk in the study. I'll sign them shortly."

Gideon waved him off, signaling for him to leave.

Sitting alone on the leather sofa, Gideon stared at the empty glass coffee table. His gaze inadvertently drifted to the long couch across from him.

It was Nora's favorite spot.

She used to curl up in the corner with a throw pillow, reading or drawing those tedious sketches. The moment he walked into the room, her eyes would spark with a brightness he always found grating.

Last night in the entryway, she had gripped his sleeve so hard her knuckles turned white. She had looked up at him with red, tear-filled eyes, her voice shaking as she begged him to stay for just ten minutes.

His frown deepened.

A cheerful ringtone shattered his thoughts.

He pulled out his phone, the screen flashing Giselle's name. The gloom in his eyes dissolved instantly, the fleeting annoyance vanishing into thin air.

He answered immediately, his voice softening.

He surrendered, his tone filled with total indulgence. "Be good and wait at home. Put on a jacket. I'm heading to the Manor now."

"Thank you! You're the best, Gideon!"

Getting her way, her voice brightened instantly.

Listening to the dial tone, Gideon shook his head helplessly, an unconscious, doting smile touching his lips.

Hanging up, he stood and grabbed his jacket off the sofa.

"Push the morning meetings to the afternoon."

He fired off orders to Liam as he walked out. "Tell the driver to get the car ready. We're going straight to the Manor."

The priceless emerald set lay completely ignored under the dim lamp.

Gideon strode out of the mansion without a backward glance. The engine roared to life and faded into the distance.