The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 300

But instead, he had traded his own life to pull her from the wreckage.

It was a suffocating, unbearable price that she could never repay.

The entire Hayes family was reeling from the news of their patriarch fighting for his life.

Liam York stood thirty feet away from the trauma bay, his Bluetooth earpiece buzzing non-stop with emergency updates from various departments.

"Tell PR to initiate a total media blackout regarding the accident at the refinery. Cut off all external communications for the workers on-site. Contact The Metropolitan Police Department and enforce a temporary lockdown on every road within a two-mile radius."

"Not a single word about Mr. Hayes's injuries can reach the press. Notify the core board members of the Hayes Consortium to activate protocol alpha and stabilize our stocks for when the market opens tomorrow."

Ever since Silas Hayes had passed, Gideon had been the sky holding up the Hayes family; he was the sole pillar supporting their massive empire.

Now, with the head of the family hovering near death, their core power structure was suddenly thrown into violent turbulence.

The hospital corridors were quickly locked down by Hayes family security, barring any reporters from getting close.

Down at the end of the hall, the elevator doors opened with a crisp chime.

A frantic barrage of footsteps shattered the dead silence outside the emergency room.

Flanked by a squad of suited bodyguards, Giselle Hayes sprinted desperately out of the elevator.

She wore nothing but a thin silk dress, not even bothering to grab a coat. Her usually immaculate long hair fell in disarray around her shoulders.

Julian Pierce trailed tightly beside her, keeping both hands firmly on her shoulders to keep her from tripping.

Her eyes were swollen and red, her face streaked with terrified tears as she let out harrowing sobs with every step.

"Gideon... Where is Gideon?!"

Giselle wailed, stumbling her way right up to the trauma bay doors.

Seeing Nora perfectly unharmed—while drenched head to toe in Gideon's blood—Giselle's grief instantly warped into a blazing inferno of hatred.

If Nora hadn't gone to that damn refinery, and if Gideon hadn't gone looking for her in that filthy place, he would never have gotten into this accident! He wouldn't be lying in there, teetering on the edge of death!

Nora was an absolute jinx! First she had stolen her brother's exclusive affection, and now she was taking his life!

She violently shoved Julian away, her heels clicking aggressively as she marched right up to Nora.

Hearing the chaotic footsteps approaching, Nora sluggishly raised her head.

But before she could even see who was standing in front of her.

Smack!

A vicious, resounding slap landed squarely across Nora's left cheek.