The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 44

Gideon let his gaze linger on her straight spine and confident profile, the corner of his mouth slowly curling up.

After leaving him, she had transformed into this.

Gideon leaned back in his chair, a ripple of something he couldn't quite identify stirring in his dark eyes. He had always assumed that once Nora left the golden cage of the Hayes family, she would wither away like a vine cut from its water source. He thought she would find the real world impossible to navigate and come crying back in defeat.

For the first time, he realized that this woman—the wife he saw as a mere accessory under his complete control—actually had a striking presence once stripped of her pathetic submission.

Fascinating.

He didn't interrupt her, even finding himself genuinely engaged as he listened to her full seven-minute presentation.

The presentation finally concluded.

Nora offered a gracious nod to the audience, turning and stepping off the stage amidst thunderous applause.

Backstage, Janie immediately handed her an open bottle of water, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "Nora, you were incredible! The panelists kept nodding the whole time. I think our chances of winning this bid are huge!"

Nora took the bottle, tilting her head back and downing half the freezing water to soothe her painfully dry throat. She wiped a bead of condensation from her lip, exhaling a long breath as her taut nerves finally unwound.

She had seen him out there.

She walked over to the edge of the backstage area. Through a slight gap in the heavy crimson velvet curtains, she had a clear view of the stage and the VIP seating.

Nora peered through the gap, her gaze sweeping straight to the center of the front row.

Gideon.

His position was too prominent. The second she stepped up to the microphone, her eyes had unavoidably locked onto his bottomless black gaze.

The lighting in the hall was dim, casting him in deep shadows. She could only make out his sharp jawline and his elegant hands resting over his crossed knees.

What was he doing here?

The camera cut to the VIP section. Gideon maintained his lazy posture, not even bothering to hold a paddle. He simply tilted his head slightly.

Standing right behind him, Liam raised his paddle, his steady voice cutting through the entire hall. "Fifty million dollars."

The banquet hall plunged into dead silence. The businessmen who had been fiercely competing seconds ago slowly lowered their paddles, exchanging nervous glances.

In this city, absolutely no one would cross the CEO of the Hayes Group over a pink diamond.

"Fifty million going once!"

"Fifty million going twice!"

"Fifty million going three times! Sold! Congratulations, Mr. Hayes!"

The auctioneer's gavel slammed down heavily.