The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 93

Nora's fingers hanging by her side tightened slightly.

She couldn't see the expression on Gideon's face right now; she could only see his broad, upright back.

Just moments ago in the car, he had handed her that deep blue velvet box and told her he had no intention of replacing her. Now, in front of the entire family and Silas's grave, he had openly acknowledged her status and her existence.

What on earth was he trying to do?

Was he just giving a satisfactory report to a deceased elder, proving that he had fulfilled the dying wish that forced his hand? Or was he genuinely trying to salvage this violently fractured marriage?

The Hayes relatives who had been eagerly waiting to watch Nora make a fool of herself now exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions morphing into something utterly spectacular.

Giselle's grip on the hem of Gideon's coat tightened violently. The color drained from her face the second she heard Nora's name. She bit down hard on her lip, intense resentment and jealousy boiling furiously in her lowered eyes.

After finishing his piece, Gideon turned around, stepping back from the headstone, and guided Giselle by the shoulder to the edge of the gathering.

His gaze cut right across the crowd and landed precisely on Nora.

Their eyes met in the middle of the air.

Nora stood where she was, meeting his gaze. His deep, dark eyes were calm and completely open.

She hurriedly looked away.

After the memorial ceremony concluded, all the immediate and extended members of the Hayes family followed tradition and returned to The Hayes Manor.

In the sprawling dining hall, a massive mahogany table capable of seating dozens of people dominated the center of the room.

Following protocol, Nora took a seat slightly further down on Gideon's right. Sitting on Gideon's left was Giselle, her eyes still red from crying at the cemetery.

Gideon touching her felt like checking off a monthly obligation, and the fundamental emotional foundation between them was crumbling into dust—so where on earth would a child come from?

She was just preparing to come up with an excuse to deflect the topic.

A pair of utensils reached over from beside her.

Gideon, his expression perfectly calm, placed a delicate piece of fish directly onto Nora's plate.

He didn't ignore it like he usually did, nor did he display a single trace of impatience.

“Brenda is right. We are already preparing for it.”

Gideon's tone was smooth, his voice even carrying a faint hint of warmth. “It's just that Nora has been busy at her atelier and often stays up late, so her body needs rest. We can't rush having a child; we have to focus on nourishing her health first.”