The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 79

It was the anniversary of Silas Hayes's death.

In a city entirely controlled by high society, even a sneeze from the Hayes family made front-page news.

Every year on this exact date, the family locked down their sprawling private cemetery for a heavily guarded memorial.

Nora slipped into a tailored, pitch-black suit in the office bathroom, pinning her dark hair back into a severe chignon without a single piece of jewelry. Staring at the pale, lifeless ghost staring back at her in the mirror, she splashed cold water on her hands and marched back to her desk.

Gideon was undoubtedly slammed today, simultaneously directing the massive family gathering while desperately attempting to manage Giselle's emotional breakdowns. All Nora had to do was show up, stand quietly in the background like a dutiful prop, and get the hell out.

Grabbing her purse, she joined Janie and the rest of the team heading toward the elevator bay.

"Hey Nora, want to hit the boutiques this weekend?" Janie asked, aggressively jabbing the down button.

"I've got some personal errands this weekend, but definitely next time."

Nora politely brushed her off. Her entire game plan was to slip out the front door, hail a cab—or page the family driver—and slip into the cemetery without being noticed.

The elevator pinged at the lobby. The heavy steel doors slid open seamlessly.

Nora flowed out with the evening rush, stepping through the revolving glass doors.

The second her foot hit the concrete steps, a wave of hysterical gasps ripped through the crowd. The women in front of her slammed on the brakes, violently clawing at each other's sleeves as they stared dead ahead at the curb.

A custom, midnight-black Maybach with a terrifyingly exclusive license plate was parked aggressively in the drop-off zone.

"There's literally nothing here but some tech startups and Arthur's studio. Do you think he's picking up a CEO? Or maybe scoping out a buyout?"

"Wait, there's that massive modeling agency on the top floor, right? Do you think he's dating one of the runway girls?"

"Shut up, Gideon is notoriously untouchable. He never dates celebrities. The tabloids swear he's completely obsessed with his adopted sister, and he literally treats every other woman like trash."

"Then what is he doing here? Slumming it with the middle class?"

"Who cares! You literally need a billion-dollar net worth just to breathe the same air as him. I'm just enjoying the view."

The chaotic theories swirled violently around Nora's head. Her coworkers were practically vibrating with excitement, entirely oblivious to the fact that the terrifying titan they were obsessing over was legally married to the quiet girl standing right next to them.