The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 68

Leaning back against the premium leather seat, Gideon turned his head to stare her down.

Seeing her acting so aggressively resistant only fueled the burning irritation in his chest.

She had never looked at him like this before. Her eyes used to brim with devotion and obedience; no matter how cold he acted, she would always wait patiently by his side. But now, she was kicking and screaming at him over another man.

"My patience has a limit, Mrs. Hayes. How long are you going to keep throwing this tantrum?"

Tantrum?

Nora froze. She spun around, staring directly into his eyes as a bleak, familiar wave of despair threatened to drown her.

He always used that word to define her every move. Asking for a divorce was a tantrum. Moving out was a tantrum. Starting a new job was a tantrum. In his eyes, she wasn't even a living, breathing person with independent thoughts.

"I'm not throwing a tantrum."

Her voice was hoarse. "I left the signed divorce papers at the manor. I don't want the Hayes family's money, and I don't want your charity. All I want is for this to end."

"End it?"

He let out a harsh scoff, a cruel smirk curling his lips. "So you can shed the title of Mrs. Hayes and legally parade around in another man's jacket? So you can bat your eyelashes and flirt without consequence?"

The accusation struck her like a stinging slap across the face.

She trembled with fury, her nails digging into her palms.

"Watch your mouth! Mr. Pierce is a client. He only lent me his jacket because I was freezing!"

He dismissed her talent and everything she stood for. He automatically assumed anyone showing her kindness had an ulterior motive, treating her as if she were utterly worthless and naive. He weaponized his words just to satisfy his own arrogant need for control.

The tiny shred of validation she had fought so hard to earn had just been twisted into proof of her own stupidity. He wasn't just degrading her; he was actively trashing the one person who had actually shown her a shred of decency.

Who gave him the right to lecture her like this? In this nightmare of a marriage, wasn't Gideon the one who had sold her out and trampled her dignity into the dirt?

He had continuously thrown her to the wolves for Giselle's sake, forcing her to endure endless humiliation. And now he wanted to play the protective husband?

Nora stopped fighting him. She simply let him hold her face, her eyes dimming into a hollow, empty void.

"And in what capacity are you lecturing me right now, Gideon?"