The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 49

A deep blue night blanketed the city, while The Pierce Grand Hotel blazed with light.

It was an elite charity gala hosted by the Pierce Group, and the guest list was a who's who of business tycoons and socialites.

Nora wore a perfectly tailored black velvet gown, holding a few freshly printed, gold-embossed business cards from the Lawrence Studio.

She took a deep breath, fixed a polite smile on her face, and walked toward a group of wealthy wives and corporate executives chatting nearby.

The success of *The Ember* at the auction a few days ago had given her a boost of courage. Perhaps she could finally use her talent to tear open a space in this circle, securing real connections and resources for both her mentor's studio and herself.

"Mrs. Wallace, Mr. Lambert, good evening."

Nora stepped forward, humbly offering her card. "I'm Nora Xavier, lead designer at Lawrence Jewelry Studio. We previously—"

Before she could finish, Mrs. Wallace paused, adjusting her haute couture gown.

She cast a half-lidded glance at the card Nora held out, making no move to take it.

"Oh my, look who it is."

Mrs. Wallace covered her mouth with her fan, letting out a dismissive giggle, her eyes filled with unconcealed disdain. "Isn't this... oh right, Mrs. Hayes. Why didn't Gideon bring you along tonight? Had to come pass out business cards yourself? Are the Hayes starving you now, forcing you to show your face and beg for sponsorships?"

Beside her, Mr. Lambert swirled his drink, his eyes raking over Nora with a patronizing look. "Ms. Xavier, our corporate sponsorships for jewelry are already locked in. Professor Lawrence has a decent reputation, but in this industry, reputation isn't everything. Excuse us."

The group exchanged knowing looks, turned on their heels with their drinks, and walked off, leaving Nora stranded.

Covert glances kept darting her way from all corners.

"Look over there. Isn't that the Xavier girl? Why is she all alone?"

"You haven't heard? At the Hayes banquet a while ago, she pissed off Giselle and Gideon slapped her right in front of everyone. It was humiliating. Word is she moved out of their villa and is throwing a tantrum."

"Tsk, she's not even wearing any jewelry. How pathetic. Gideon is here tonight, but they didn't walk the red carpet together. Looks like her days as Mrs. Hayes are officially numbered."

Three socialites in couture gowns gathered by a champagne tower barely fifteen feet away, openly gossiping at what they thought was a discreet volume. Their venomous mockery drifted through the air-conditioned hall, landing squarely in Nora's ears.

None of them cared about her design talent, nor did they care about the massive projects she had secured.