The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 55

Nora didn't know how she managed to walk out of that brilliantly lit Westwood Manor.

Returning to her luxury apartment, Nora pushed the door open. Without turning on the lights, she slid down the cold wall of the entryway until she was sitting on the floor.

The contents of her bag spilled out—lipstick, keys, and that gala invitation with its crumpled edges, lying scattered in the dark.

Nora buried her face deeply between her knees, and the sorrow and humiliation she had suppressed all night finally broke through the dam.

The disdainful and dismissive looks from the people at the gala replayed in her mind. The condescending fake smiles from the wealthy socialites, the way her peers avoided her like the plague—all of it served as a crystal-clear reminder of a cruel reality.

In this snobbish circle, the name Nora Xavier was worthless.

She had naively thought that as long as she produced excellent design work and put in double the effort, she could carve out a place in the industry and stand proudly on her own two feet.

But in their eyes, she would always just be the shameless woman who threw herself at Gideon Hayes, a discarded billionaire's wife who couldn't even hold onto her title.

Without the illusory protection of The Hayes Group, her personal talent and hard work couldn't make a single ripple against the sheer force of absolute power and prejudice.

What suffocated her even more was Gideon's attitude.

Nora bit her lip tightly, tasting the raw tang of blood in her mouth.

She couldn't figure out what Gideon really wanted.

Over the past three years, he had given all his gentleness, patience, and indulgence to Giselle, refusing to spare even a single extra glance for her.

She had seen with her own eyes how he threw millions of dollars around for Giselle, how he would risk his own life when Giselle was in danger, and she had heard with her own ears the freezing tone he used to interrogate her about why she couldn't just behave.

He clearly loathed her. He clearly viewed their marriage as an entrapment built on calculation. Now that she was willingly walking away, freeing up the position and returning his freedom, why was he acting so furious? Why wouldn't he just sign the damn paper?

Nora recalled how Gideon had instinctively defended Giselle when she mentioned her name.

"This has nothing to do with Giselle."

No matter the situation, no matter how wronged Nora was, Gideon's first reaction was always to protect Giselle. He wouldn't even listen to Nora finish her sentence before instinctively deciding she was being unreasonable and targeting his sister.

Nora's fingers tightened slightly around the phone.

"Yes. I signed the papers and left them for him. I'm living in my own apartment now," Nora answered truthfully.

Mr. Xavier took the phone, his tone filled with exasperation.

"Nora, how can you be so foolish? Do you feel wronged in the Hayes family? Marriages in our circle rarely involve much love anyway."

Mr. Xavier launched into a long lecture about reality.

"Last month, The Hayes Group just approved a project in the south side for the Xavier family. Without those project funds, our cash flow will break, the bank will come knocking tomorrow, and the family will face bankruptcy liquidation. What good does a divorce do for you right now? What good does it do for the Xavier family?"

Leaning against the cold glass window, Nora softly interrupted her father.

"Dad, I've already started working at Arthur Lawrence's studio. I can make my own money to support myself."