The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 313

"In the Hayes family, we do not use our women as human shields. If I couldn't even protect my own wife, the company stock would crash the moment the news got out."

His answer was meticulously logical, attributing his actions entirely to the family's honor and corporate interests.

But only Gideon knew the truth: in that split second when the machinery snapped and tons of rock plummeted toward Nora, his brain hadn't processed a single thought about profit or duty.

He just instinctively didn't want her to get hurt. He didn't want the hands that drew those beautiful blueprints to be crushed, and he refused to watch the life leave her body.

When danger struck, his only thought was to pull her under him, to make absolutely sure she survived.

That terrifying sensation of complete loss of control still throbbed vividly in his muscle memory.

But out of habit, Gideon rationalized these complex, inexplicable emotions simply as his responsibility as a husband.

Hearing his cold "Mrs. Hayes" and his matter-of-fact "my duty," Nora felt as though something had violently stabbed her in the chest, making it impossible to breathe.

So that was it.

The only reason he had thrown his life away in that rubble was because she wore the title of his family.

In the eyes of a rigid man like Gideon, who valued family reputation above all else, his nominal wife simply could not be allowed to die in his factory, bringing scandal down upon the Hayes name.

He was merely fulfilling his role as the head of the empire, as a husband.

He used his life to preserve the integrity of that title.

Seeing Nora's eyes grow even redder at his words, heavy tears welling up rapidly, Gideon felt an inexplicable surge of frustration and helplessness.

He couldn't help but sigh, his voice softening to a tone of reluctant indulgence.

"What are you crying for? I'm not dead yet."

She threw his own reasoning right back in his face.

Since he justified risking his life as fulfilling his duty as a husband, then her staying in this room to serve him water and meals was naturally her obligation as his wife.

"You..."

Gideon was completely choked on his own words.

Watching her use his logic as a weapon against him, his usually stoic mouth twitched slightly.

He looked at Nora's bull-headed expression, a faint glimmer of helplessness and compromise flashing through his deep black eyes.

Gideon lay in silence for a long moment. Ultimately failing to out-stubborn her, he closed his dry eyes and begrudgingly caved to her demands.