The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 292

Nora truly had no idea.

She hadn't played any part in this pathetic scheme, and her cold resistance over the past few days hadn't been some manipulative act of playing hard to get.

"I'm sorry."

The tension in Gideon's jaw softened slightly. He pulled his gaze back to the road and accelerated the car.

"I shouldn't have suspected you."

A suffocating silence fell over the cabin once more.

Nora bit down hard on her lower lip. A crushing wave of humiliation and sorrow dragged her under.

She turned her head to stare out the window, taking several deep breaths, fighting with everything she had to force back the burning tears threatening to spill.

This was Gideon's car. She refused to show any sign of weakness or breakdown in front of him.

It took a long time before she could finally steady her breathing. She folded her hands in her lap, her voice incredibly low, heavy with deep exhaustion and shame.

"I apologize."

Nora kept her eyes fixed out the window, enunciating every word softly.

"I apologize on behalf of my parents. They... they must just be desperate. The Xavier business has been tanking lately, and the banks are freezing their funding on several projects. They hit a dead end, which is probably why they resorted to something so extreme."

"Plus, my mother has been obsessively talking about wanting a grandchild. She thought a baby would solidify our marriage, hoping it would make you show the Xavier family a little more mercy."

In her mind, Gideon should have employed his usual ruthless efficiency. He should have exposed the Xaviers' vile behavior on the spot and crushed their dignity into the dirt.

The car glided to a smooth stop right in front of the villa.

Gideon cut the engine, plunging the cabin into darkness. He unbuckled his seatbelt, turned his body toward her, and locked his deep, intense gaze onto hers in the dim light.

"What did you think I was going to do? Smash your birthday dinner to pieces in front of the entire Metropolis media, and then send your biological parents to jail?"

Gideon leaned in slightly, closing the distance between them until they were inches apart.

"What would have been so bad about playing along with their plan?"