The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 335

Nora was entirely stung by his condescending lecture.

In his eyes, she would always be nothing more than a foolish parasite clinging to the Hayes family to survive.

He had saved her, so that gave him the right to stand there, trampling on her dignity and mocking her resolve to be independent.

"How I survive is none of your business!"

Nora bolted upright, completely ignoring the blanket slipping from her shoulders.

She glared at him with red-rimmed eyes, looking like a cornered animal with all its defenses raised.

"Even if I died out there, even if I was schemed against until there was nothing left of me, that would be my choice! I don't need your arrogant pity!"

She gasped for air, her chest heaving violently.

Her gaze shot past Gideon's arm, locking onto the neatly bound stack of A4 papers on the nightstand.

It was the investigation report his men had rushed to compile overnight.

Nora knew all too well how frighteningly efficient Liam York and the Hayes security team were.

Winston Walsh's shattered wrist—crushed under a bodyguard's boot in that private room—was merely the beginning.

By now, that repulsive, greasy man had likely been tortured to the brink of insanity, his entire history and family lineage ripped wide open by Gideon's operatives.

Gideon was undoubtedly fully aware of where this investigation ultimately led.

Fueled by rage, Nora's mind achieved a sudden, terrifying clarity.

The primary investor behind her studio was Julian Pierce, and the Pierce conglomerate had just publicly announced their financial backing for Lawrence Atelier.

At the height of such a media storm, not a single supplier in The Metropolis would dare risk offending both the Pierce and Hayes empires simultaneously by tearing up a contract—let alone orchestrating a lethal trap for the nominal Mrs. Hayes.

Unless... the mastermind pulling the strings had the absolute confidence to completely disregard both Julian and Gideon.

He stood here lecturing Nora on her stupidity, yet conveniently omitted any mention of the hands that had shoved her into the abyss.

A crushing wave of sorrow and resentment drowned out whatever rational thought Nora had left.

"You must think I'm a joke."

"You blame me for being stupid, for not knowing how to protect myself. But why don't you ask yourself who ordered those men to set me up last night!"

Nora screamed until her voice cracked, tears finally spilling over.

"Do you even know who orchestrated this?! Do you know who bought off the suppliers, who forced them to pour that spiked drink down my throat and push me to the edge?!"

"It was your precious sister! It was Giselle!"

Nora pointed a trembling finger directly at the investigation report, ripping away the last shreds of pretense.