The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 50

In this superficial world driven by status and profit, everyone only recognized her by her other title.

The pathetic joke who had shamelessly married into the Hayes family, clinging to the title of Gideon's wife while completely lacking any real presence—always one step away from being tossed onto the street.

They only cared about her backing, yet that supposed "backer" of hers had never actually been there to support her.

Nora quietly retreated from the center of the crowd, avoiding the glaring lights and probing stares to slip into a secluded corner by the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Heavy velvet drapes blocked out some of the light. Here, in the dim shadows, she could finally drop her rigid, smiling mask.

She stared down at the untouched champagne in her hand. Condensation rolled down the glass, icy cold against her fingers.

It wasn't until the gala drew to a close and guests began trickling out in twos and threes that someone approached.

Steady footsteps came to a halt right in front of her.

"Ms. Xavier, why are you standing here all alone in the draft?"

Julian's smooth voice drifted down from above. Nora looked up to see him in a flawless black suit, a glass of red wine in his hand. Behind his gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes held a perfect measure of concern.

Nora instinctively straightened up, forcing a polite smile. "Mr. Pierce. It was a bit stifling inside, so I came over here for some air."

Julian didn't seem to notice her miserable state—or perhaps his impeccable breeding allowed him to hide it perfectly.

With one hand in his pocket, he followed her gaze toward the center of the hall, naturally shifting the topic.

"I had my team collect *The Ember*. The physical piece is even more breathtaking than the photos on the screen."

Julian looked at her, a gentle smile touching his lips. "I gave it to someone as a gift. They were absolutely thrilled and couldn't stop praising the designer's ingenuity. Your work is truly captivating, Ms. Xavier."

Nora.

Gideon's gaze instantly hardened.

Nora was standing with her back to the window, chatting with a man. Her expression was completely relaxed, a radiant smile lighting up her face.

Over her three years with the Hayes family, Nora had always walked on eggshells around him. She would bite her lip nervously if he so much as frowned, and she would spend hours in the kitchen, exhausting herself just to cater to his tastes.

All her joys and sorrows had been completely tethered to him. He had never seen her look so vividly alive and radiant while smiling at another man.

An inexplicable surge of irritation crept up Gideon's spine like a thorny vine, wrapping tightly around his heart. The suffocating tightness in his chest made his breathing grow heavy.

Who the hell was she talking to?