The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 96

The older woman glared at Nora Xavier, whose face was burned and clothes ruined, her tone dripping with venom.

"Nora, look at the mess you've made."

Nora fought through the agonizing pain, slowly lowering the hands covering her face. She looked up, revealing her fiercely red, scalded cheek, her eyes swimming with disbelief.

She was the one who had just been doused in scalding soup. She was the absolute victim here. Why were they all pointing fingers at her?

"Brenda, I..."

Nora opened her mouth, her voice terribly hoarse.

"Save your breath. You did this on purpose."

Chloe Hayes cut her off with a sneer. "You relied on that little favor years ago to force your way between Gideon and Giselle, and now you're just playing dirty to bully her. You knew Giselle was upset today, yet you deliberately acted jealous at the dinner table to provoke Gideon into scolding her. You have no shame."

Beatrice Hayes chimed in right on cue.

"Exactly. Giselle lost her parents when she was young; she only has Gideon. Nora took the position of Mrs. Hayes and still isn't satisfied. She won't rest until she monopolizes Gideon completely. She needs a reality check—she can't even get pregnant, yet she's tearing this family apart."

"Gideon shouldn't have served her food earlier; it just inflated her ego. Looking at her face is a curse."

"Giselle is far too innocent. How could she possibly outsmart a woman who will do anything to climb the social ladder? Mark my words, she's going to ruin the Hayes family."

Vicious speculation and sarcastic accusations rained down on Nora without mercy.

Why?

Why was everyone turning a blind eye to her injuries, choosing instead to pin the blame entirely on her?

Giselle was the one who had thrown a tantrum and violently assaulted her in public. Yet, from their mouths, the truth was completely twisted.

She couldn't stand being in that room, suffocating under the weight of their cold indifference and harsh accusations. Stepping out of the guest bedroom, she headed downstairs to grab a glass of ice water, hoping to soothe the sour nausea churning in her stomach.

Nora walked slowly. As she passed by Giselle's bedroom, her footsteps faltered.

The door wasn't fully closed, leaving a narrow crack that spilled warm light into the hallway.

Faint, muffled noises drifted out from inside.

Standing outside the door, Nora's breathing quickened. She should have walked away; eavesdropping was beneath her. Yet her legs felt like lead, pinning her firmly to the floor, unable to move a single inch.

She leaned closer to the crack.

"Giselle... Giselle..."

Gideon's deep, incredibly gentle voice floated through the gap.