The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 72

Through the entire ordeal, she hadn't spoken a single word.

Gideon stared at her rigidly turned back before spinning on his heel and retreating into the master bathroom.

The next morning, pale sunlight sliced through the gaps in the blackout curtains.

Nora pushed her aching body up against the headboard, a pounding hangover completely short-circuiting her brain. Turning her head, she froze at the sight of the man sitting by her bed.

Gideon was already dressed in an immaculate dark suit, his tie knotted to absolute perfection. Perched in the armchair, he held a steaming glass of water in one hand and two white pills in the other.

The domestic scene looked so unbelievably wrong with Gideon at the center of it.

The untouchable, emotionally barren billionaire was sitting quietly at her bedside like an attentive husband.

Seeing her stir, he stood up and offered her the water and pills.

She had never received this kind of treatment in all three years of their marriage. Before, when she fell ill, Mrs. Gable would simply call the family doctor; Gideon wouldn't even bother with a text.

Let alone personally hand-delivering medication to her bed. In this house, such devotion was strictly reserved for the chronically delicate Giselle.

"Take these now that you're up."

His tone was perfectly flat, completely devoid of emotion. "Drinking like that last night... do you have a death wish?"

Nora ignored the water. Keeping her eyes down, her voice scraped out of her throat. "You don't need to put on a show for me, Gideon."

His grip on the glass turned white-knuckled before he slammed it down on the nightstand with a sharp clatter.

"Nora, you've pushed this tantrum far enough."

"If you want to work, fine. Stay at Arthur's atelier, I won't interfere. I'll even tell Nathan the pulled funding was just a warning. As long as you stay exactly where you belong as my wife, your family's business stays afloat."

Listening to his twisted ultimatum, a suffocating wave of grief crashed over her.

She looked up, her eyes swimming with completely shattered hope. "Are you locking me in this cage just to protect your precious reputation, Gideon?"

"I'm going to work."

Ignoring the medication, she brushed past him and headed straight for the bathroom.

Gideon remained rooted to the spot, watching her frail, fiercely stubborn silhouette.

"The driver will take you when you're ready."

He didn't stop her. In fact, he suddenly realized a distraction might be exactly what she needed, if only to stop her from looking at him as if her entire soul had shattered.

Half an hour later, Nora descended the grand staircase, fully dressed.

Gideon was still sipping espresso at the dining table. Catching her movement, he remarked dryly, "The driver will pick you up tonight. Don't make me drag you away from Julian again."

Nora paused, and without looking back, offered a barely audible hum of acknowledgment.