After seven years of relentless pursuit and three years of marriage, Nora had always believed that her devotion would eventually move Gideon. Yet, her hopes were shattered when Gideon slapped her violently in front of everyone—simply to protect Giselle. Time and again, Nora watched as Gideon offered all his warmth and surrendered every boundary to Giselle, leaving no room for her. At last, Nora made the painful decision to walk away. But when she presented the divorce agreement, Gideon coldly tore it apart and sneered, "Have you forgotten? You begged for this marriage. The only way out is death." Later, however, Giselle died, and Gideon spiraled into madness. In a fit of desperate rage, he grabbed Nora by the throat, his eyes bloodshot, and hoarsely choked out, "Nora, why wasn't it you who died?" In that moment, Nora finally understood the bitter truth: Gideon was never incapable of love—he simply had never loved her. Then, Nora vanished without a trace into the vast sea. To everyone's surprise, the same Gideon who had once scorned her was now seen standing outside her door night after night, his eyes red and his voice trembling as he pleaded, "Nora, please give me one more chance."

Chapter 1Late at night, at the Hayes villa.When Nora Xavier stepped inside, the blood on her knees had already dried.The housekeeper had likely been warned by Gideon Hayes in advance; even before the gala ended, she was waiting in the foyer with a first-aid kit.Clutching the medical box, she gasped at the sight of Nora's pathetic state. "Ma'am, how... how did this happen?"Nora waved her off, her voice terribly hoarse. "Just give me the kit. Go to bed.""But Mr. Hayes instructed—""I said, give it to me." Nora lifted her head. Her usually gentle face was marred by a swollen cheek, looking harsh under the dim wall sconces.Startled by the sheer resolve in her eyes, the housekeeper didn't dare say another word, simply setting down the kit and hurrying away.Nora limped into the bathroom.As she peeled away the ruined fabric of her gown, the movement tugged at her wounds, making her sharply draw in a breath.Did it hurt?It hurt like hell.Nora offered a self-deprecating smile.This pain was a gift from the man she had loved for ten years.Just then, the phone resting on the vanity vibrated. The screen flashed with an incoming call from Mrs. Xavier.Nora pressed accept and brought the phone to her ear."Hello, Mom.""Nora, I heard you got into a fight with that Hayes girl? Are you alright? Is... is Gideon still angry?"On the other end of the line, Mrs. Xavier's voice carried a hint of cautious probing.Nora's lips twitched. Her mother never asked if her face still hurt; she only ever asked about Gideon's mood.Two hours ago, at the Hayes family gala, Giselle Hayes had gotten hurt. Gideon had blindly accused Nora without a shred of evidence and slapped her.Nora closed her eyes, trying to suppress the suffocating wave of despair churning in her chest. "She was the one who tried to grab my necklace. I just—""Alright, alright, who cares who started it."Mrs. Xavier cut her off. "Don't you know her status in that house? Gideon guards her like a hawk. Why on earth would you provoke her?""You are Mrs. Hayes now. Show some grace. Tomorrow afternoon, go pick out a nice gift, head over to the Manor, and apologize to the girl. Grovel a little. Don't let Gideon think you're being unreasonable."Apologize.Disbelief flooded Nora's eyes.Just hours ago, under the watchful eyes of everyone, that man had commanded her with the exact same arrogance.Her face was still swollen, her legs were still bleeding, yet her own flesh and blood was telling her to apologize to the abuser.From start to finish, no one asked if that slap hurt, nor did they ask why the conflict happened. They only cared if this rift would impact the Xavier family's business."Mom, do you even know what happened at the gala?"Nora's voice trembled uncontrollably, a lump forming in her throat. "He didn't even ask for my side of the story. In front of the entire city's elite..."Two hours earlier, feeling overwhelmed by the socializing, Nora had stepped out onto the second-floor terrace alone with a glass of champagne to catch her breath.Before she could even take a steady breath, Giselle strolled over in her cascading custom tulle gown, looking like a proud swan.The adopted daughter of the Hayes family, despite having no blood relation, was universally coddled by everyone in the household. Her eyes always held a cruel, naive arrogance."Nora, that necklace is stunning. Let me borrow it for a few days, okay?"It was a gift Gideon had his assistant send over for their recent anniversary. Although it was likely just a careless pick by his staff, Nora cherished it too much to take it off.Nora instinctively covered it, rejecting her with polite distance. "Gideon gave this to me. I'd rather not.""Why not? Whatever is Gideon's is mine."Giselle blinked her innocent eyes and reached out to snatch it. As they exchanged a few tense words, Nora instinctively stepped back and swatted the girl's hand away.Giselle let out a cry, stumbling backward into a long table stacked with a champagne tower. Glasses shattered across the floor as she collapsed, her palms landing directly in the sharp shards. Blood instantly welled up.A flurry of hurried footsteps approached. Nora turned to see Gideon pushing through the crowd, striding right toward them.He didn't even glance at Nora. He dropped to a crouch beside the fallen Giselle, lifting her bleeding hand as a deep crease formed between his brows."Gideon... it hurts so much. Don't blame Nora, I accidentally bumped into her."Giselle's eyes were red, her large, tear-filled gaze trembling like a fragile white flower ravaged by a storm. She looked utterly pitiful."Nora, why do you always have to target her?"Target her?Giselle was the one who approached her, the one who reached out to snatch the necklace. Nora had simply dodged and brushed her arm away. How did that translate into calculated targeting in Gideon's eyes?"She tried to take it—"Nora stepped forward, trying to explain what had just happened.Before she could finish, Gideon stood up abruptly. His large hand swept through the air, delivering a merciless slap across her face.The sheer force sent her stumbling, and she crashed straight down into the mess on the floor.Shattered champagne flutes tore through the hem of her couture gown, piercing her calves, knees, and palms. A sharp, stinging pain radiated through her, yet it paled in comparison to the burning humiliation on her cheek and the suffocating ache in her chest.Fighting through the ringing in her ears, Nora slowly turned her head, her throat tight and choking.She looked directly at the man she had loved for years, her voice trembling slightly. "Gideon, you hit me for an outsider?"Gideon frowned, a flash of impatience in his eyes, clearly displeased with her phrasing."Watch your mouth, Nora. Giselle is my sister. In this house, you are the outsider."Outsider.To this man, she had always been nothing but an outsider. She had loved him for seven years and had been married to him for three. A thousand days and nights by his side couldn't compare to a single scratch on his adopted sister."Get down in the glass and apologize to Giselle."Nora's body stiffened. She stared at him in disbelief.Get down? Surrender her dignity to this manipulative, fake woman? In front of all these people?"What did you just say?""If you won't do it, I don't mind teaching you the manners expected of Mrs. Hayes."Gideon raised his hand in a subtle gesture. Two burly bodyguards in black suits instantly stepped out from the crowd, blocking Nora from behind.She caught sight of Giselle hiding behind Gideon, flashing a victorious smirk.Nora closed her eyes, forcing the tears back. She slowly lowered herself, sinking heavily into the carpet of shattered glass.Blood quickly stained the expensive silk of her dress, but she just bit her lower lip hard, refusing to make a single sound.Gideon looked down at the crimson seeping through her gown, his brow furrowing slightly. Then, he bent down and scooped Giselle up into his arms.Giselle immediately buried her face in his broad chest, her shoulders shaking, prompting Gideon to tighten his protective hold."Watch my wife. Make sure she stays down until she learns her lesson.""Hello? Nora, are you listening?" Her mother's urgent voice pulled her back to the present.Nora snapped out of the memory, offering a bitter smile. "Mom, he slapped me in public and had his bodyguards force me into broken glass to apologize to Giselle. And now, you want me to grovel?""Nora, even if it was her fault, you just have to swallow your pride and apologize. The Eastside Development Project in the second half of the year depends entirely on millions of dollars from The Hayes Group. If you piss Gideon off and he pulls the funding, what will happen to our family's business?"The Xavier and Hayes families did share some history, but the Xaviers' business had been declining for years, completely reliant on the Hayes empire for survival.After the wedding, Gideon handed the Xaviers several highly lucrative projects, barely maintaining their facade of wealth."Mom."Nora clenched her jaw, summoning every ounce of courage to drop the bombshell."What if... I want a divorce?"The line exploded instantly."Are you out of your mind? Divorce? Nora Xavier, I am telling you, divorce is absolutely out of the question!""You were the one who practically begged to marry him! Everyone in the city knows you chased him for seven years. If you hadn't pushed so hard, he never would have married at all. Are you trying to drive your father to the grave by bringing this up now?""Because I insisted on marrying him, I deserve to be humiliated now, is that it?" Nora asked."What humiliation? He's given you all the respect of being Mrs. Hayes for the past three years. You want for nothing! He takes care of our family's business, and he doesn't have any mistresses on the side.""He doesn't love me," Nora repeated."Can love pay the bills?!" Mrs. Xavier scolded, frustrated by her daughter's foolishness.She paused, her tone growing heavy with exasperation. "He's just a cold man, he doesn't care for romance. No matter how much he spoils Giselle, she's just an adopted sister who will eventually get married and leave. She's no threat to your position.""Your focus right now should be building a nest egg and giving him an heir. That's how you secure your place..."Nora slowly pulled the phone away from her ear, the call timer still ticking by the seconds. Her mother was still lecturing on the other end, but the words became muffled.She emotionlessly pressed the end button, and the world instantly went quiet.Outsider. Manners. The bigger picture.It was true; everyone in the city knew Nora Xavier was a lunatic who had chased the Hayes heir for seven years, finally forcing her way into his life.Ten years ago, during a torrential downpour, sixteen-year-old Nora took a shortcut through a deserted alley and found herself cornered by a group of drunk, unruly thugs.Just when she thought she was doomed, Gideon appeared.The teenage Gideon, dressed neatly in his school uniform, was slender but already possessed a chilling, unapproachable aura. Bizarrely, he held a pink umbrella.Seeing the situation, he casually picked up a rusted steel pipe from the ground and marched forward with a deadpan expression.The chaos ended quickly. His arm was bruised and blood dripped from his fingertips, but he paid it no mind. He tossed the pipe aside and picked up the fallen pink umbrella."W-Wait..."Nora stuttered, trying to thank him.Gideon paused and glanced back."Get out of here."He dropped the command and vanished into the rain without looking back.She found out later that he had been out looking for his runaway sister, Giselle. The pink umbrella was for her.But the sight of his retreating back that rainy night had burned itself into sixteen-year-old Nora's soul.From high school to college, her frantic pursuit of Gideon became legendary in their social circles.She bought him breakfast and saved him seats, but he remained cold, politely yet distantly rejecting all her advances.Everyone told her to give up, claiming Gideon was an unthawable iceberg, a man entirely devoid of romantic nerves."Don't waste your time on me, Nora."Nora didn't believe it."It's fine. My love is enough for both of us. Even icebergs melt eventually."Armed with reckless courage, she stubbornly believed that if she got close enough and loved him hard enough, she could melt his icy exterior and reach his heart.Until she witnessed, time and time again, that this so-called iceberg freely poured all of his warmth and absolute devotion into someone else.Chapter 2Late at night, at the Hayes villa.When Nora Xavier stepped inside, the blood on her knees had already dried.The housekeeper had likely been warned by Gideon Hayes in advance; even before the gala ended, she was waiting in the foyer with a first-aid kit.Clutching the medical box, she gasped at the sight of Nora's pathetic state. "Ma'am, how... how did this happen?"Nora waved her off, her voice terribly hoarse. "Just give me the kit. Go to bed.""But Mr. Hayes instructed—""I said, give it to me." Nora lifted her head. Her usually gentle face was marred by a swollen cheek, looking harsh under the dim wall sconces.Startled by the sheer resolve in her eyes, the housekeeper didn't dare say another word, simply setting down the kit and hurrying away.Nora limped into the bathroom.As she peeled away the ruined fabric of her gown, the movement tugged at her wounds, making her sharply draw in a breath.Did it hurt?It hurt like hell.Nora offered a self-deprecating smile.This pain was a gift from the man she had loved for ten years.Just then, the phone resting on the vanity vibrated. The screen flashed with an incoming call from Mrs. Xavier.Nora pressed accept and brought the phone to her ear."Hello, Mom.""Nora, I heard you got into a fight with that Hayes girl? Are you alright? Is... is Gideon still angry?"On the other end of the line, Mrs. Xavier's voice carried a hint of cautious probing.Nora's lips twitched. Her mother never asked if her face still hurt; she only ever asked about Gideon's mood.Two hours ago, at the Hayes family gala, Giselle Hayes had gotten hurt. Gideon had blindly accused Nora without a shred of evidence and slapped her.Nora closed her eyes, trying to suppress the suffocating wave of despair churning in her chest. "She was the one who tried to grab my necklace. I just—""Alright, alright, who cares who started it."Mrs. Xavier cut her off. "Don't you know her status in that house? Gideon guards her like a hawk. Why on earth would you provoke her?""You are Mrs. Hayes now. Show some grace. Tomorrow afternoon, go pick out a nice gift, head over to the Manor, and apologize to the girl. Grovel a little. Don't let Gideon think you're being unreasonable."Apologize.Disbelief flooded Nora's eyes.Just hours ago, under the watchful eyes of everyone, that man had commanded her with the exact same arrogance.Her face was still swollen, her legs were still bleeding, yet her own flesh and blood was telling her to apologize to the abuser.From start to finish, no one asked if that slap hurt, nor did they ask why the conflict happened. They only cared if this rift would impact the Xavier family's business."Mom, do you even know what happened at the gala?"Nora's voice trembled uncontrollably, a lump forming in her throat. "He didn't even ask for my side of the story. In front of the entire city's elite..."Two hours earlier, feeling overwhelmed by the socializing, Nora had stepped out onto the second-floor terrace alone with a glass of champagne to catch her breath.Before she could even take a steady breath, Giselle strolled over in her cascading custom tulle gown, looking like a proud swan.The adopted daughter of the Hayes family, despite having no blood relation, was universally coddled by everyone in the household. Her eyes always held a cruel, naive arrogance."Nora, that necklace is stunning. Let me borrow it for a few days, okay?"It was a gift Gideon had his assistant send over for their recent anniversary. Although it was likely just a careless pick by his staff, Nora cherished it too much to take it off.Nora instinctively covered it, rejecting her with polite distance. "Gideon gave this to me. I'd rather not.""Why not? Whatever is Gideon's is mine."Giselle blinked her innocent eyes and reached out to snatch it. As they exchanged a few tense words, Nora instinctively stepped back and swatted the girl's hand away.Giselle let out a cry, stumbling backward into a long table stacked with a champagne tower. Glasses shattered across the floor as she collapsed, her palms landing directly in the sharp shards. Blood instantly welled up.A flurry of hurried footsteps approached. Nora turned to see Gideon pushing through the crowd, striding right toward them.He didn't even glance at Nora. He dropped to a crouch beside the fallen Giselle, lifting her bleeding hand as a deep crease formed between his brows."Gideon... it hurts so much. Don't blame Nora, I accidentally bumped into her."Giselle's eyes were red, her large, tear-filled gaze trembling like a fragile white flower ravaged by a storm. She looked utterly pitiful."Nora, why do you always have to target her?"Target her?Giselle was the one who approached her, the one who reached out to snatch the necklace. Nora had simply dodged and brushed her arm away. How did that translate into calculated targeting in Gideon's eyes?"She tried to take it—"Nora stepped forward, trying to explain what had just happened.Before she could finish, Gideon stood up abruptly. His large hand swept through the air, delivering a merciless slap across her face.The sheer force sent her stumbling, and she crashed straight down into the mess on the floor.Shattered champagne flutes tore through the hem of her couture gown, piercing her calves, knees, and palms. A sharp, stinging pain radiated through her, yet it paled in comparison to the burning humiliation on her cheek and the suffocating ache in her chest.Fighting through the ringing in her ears, Nora slowly turned her head, her throat tight and choking.She looked directly at the man she had loved for years, her voice trembling slightly. "Gideon, you hit me for an outsider?"Gideon frowned, a flash of impatience in his eyes, clearly displeased with her phrasing."Watch your mouth, Nora. Giselle is my sister. In this house, you are the outsider."Outsider.To this man, she had always been nothing but an outsider. She had loved him for seven years and had been married to him for three. A thousand days and nights by his side couldn't compare to a single scratch on his adopted sister."Get down in the glass and apologize to Giselle."Nora's body stiffened. She stared at him in disbelief.Get down? Surrender her dignity to this manipulative, fake woman? In front of all these people?"What did you just say?""If you won't do it, I don't mind teaching you the manners expected of Mrs. Hayes."Gideon raised his hand in a subtle gesture. Two burly bodyguards in black suits instantly stepped out from the crowd, blocking Nora from behind.She caught sight of Giselle hiding behind Gideon, flashing a victorious smirk.Nora closed her eyes, forcing the tears back. She slowly lowered herself, sinking heavily into the carpet of shattered glass.Blood quickly stained the expensive silk of her dress, but she just bit her lower lip hard, refusing to make a single sound.Gideon looked down at the crimson seeping through her gown, his brow furrowing slightly. Then, he bent down and scooped Giselle up into his arms.Giselle immediately buried her face in his broad chest, her shoulders shaking, prompting Gideon to tighten his protective hold."Watch my wife. Make sure she stays down until she learns her lesson.""Hello? Nora, are you listening?" Her mother's urgent voice pulled her back to the present.Nora snapped out of the memory, offering a bitter smile. "Mom, he slapped me in public and had his bodyguards force me into broken glass to apologize to Giselle. And now, you want me to grovel?""Nora, even if it was her fault, you just have to swallow your pride and apologize. The Eastside Development Project in the second half of the year depends entirely on millions of dollars from The Hayes Group. If you piss Gideon off and he pulls the funding, what will happen to our family's business?"The Xavier and Hayes families did share some history, but the Xaviers' business had been declining for years, completely reliant on the Hayes empire for survival.After the wedding, Gideon handed the Xaviers several highly lucrative projects, barely maintaining their facade of wealth."Mom."Nora clenched her jaw, summoning every ounce of courage to drop the bombshell."What if... I want a divorce?"The line exploded instantly."Are you out of your mind? Divorce? Nora Xavier, I am telling you, divorce is absolutely out of the question!""You were the one who practically begged to marry him! Everyone in the city knows you chased him for seven years. If you hadn't pushed so hard, he never would have married at all. Are you trying to drive your father to the grave by bringing this up now?""Because I insisted on marrying him, I deserve to be humiliated now, is that it?" Nora asked."What humiliation? He's given you all the respect of being Mrs. Hayes for the past three years. You want for nothing! He takes care of our family's business, and he doesn't have any mistresses on the side.""He doesn't love me," Nora repeated."Can love pay the bills?!" Mrs. Xavier scolded, frustrated by her daughter's foolishness.She paused, her tone growing heavy with exasperation. "He's just a cold man, he doesn't care for romance. No matter how much he spoils Giselle, she's just an adopted sister who will eventually get married and leave. She's no threat to your position.""Your focus right now should be building a nest egg and giving him an heir. That's how you secure your place..."Nora slowly pulled the phone away from her ear, the call timer still ticking by the seconds. Her mother was still lecturing on the other end, but the words became muffled.She emotionlessly pressed the end button, and the world instantly went quiet.Outsider. Manners. The bigger picture.It was true; everyone in the city knew Nora Xavier was a lunatic who had chased the Hayes heir for seven years, finally forcing her way into his life.Ten years ago, during a torrential downpour, sixteen-year-old Nora took a shortcut through a deserted alley and found herself cornered by a group of drunk, unruly thugs.Just when she thought she was doomed, Gideon appeared.The teenage Gideon, dressed neatly in his school uniform, was slender but already possessed a chilling, unapproachable aura. Bizarrely, he held a pink umbrella.Seeing the situation, he casually picked up a rusted steel pipe from the ground and marched forward with a deadpan expression.The chaos ended quickly. His arm was bruised and blood dripped from his fingertips, but he paid it no mind. He tossed the pipe aside and picked up the fallen pink umbrella."W-Wait..."Nora stuttered, trying to thank him.Gideon paused and glanced back."Get out of here."He dropped the command and vanished into the rain without looking back.She found out later that he had been out looking for his runaway sister, Giselle. The pink umbrella was for her.But the sight of his retreating back that rainy night had burned itself into sixteen-year-old Nora's soul.From high school to college, her frantic pursuit of Gideon became legendary in their social circles.She bought him breakfast and saved him seats, but he remained cold, politely yet distantly rejecting all her advances.Everyone told her to give up, claiming Gideon was an unthawable iceberg, a man entirely devoid of romantic nerves."Don't waste your time on me, Nora."Nora didn't believe it."It's fine. My love is enough for both of us. Even icebergs melt eventually."Armed with reckless courage, she stubbornly believed that if she got close enough and loved him hard enough, she could melt his icy exterior and reach his heart.Until she witnessed, time and time again, that this so-called iceberg freely poured all of his warmth and absolute devotion into someone else.Chapter 3Late at night, at the Hayes villa.When Nora Xavier stepped inside, the blood on her knees had already dried.The housekeeper had likely been warned by Gideon Hayes in advance; even before the gala ended, she was waiting in the foyer with a first-aid kit.Clutching the medical box, she gasped at the sight of Nora's pathetic state. "Ma'am, how... how did this happen?"Nora waved her off, her voice terribly hoarse. "Just give me the kit. Go to bed.""But Mr. Hayes instructed—""I said, give it to me." Nora lifted her head. Her usually gentle face was marred by a swollen cheek, looking harsh under the dim wall sconces.Startled by the sheer resolve in her eyes, the housekeeper didn't dare say another word, simply setting down the kit and hurrying away.Nora limped into the bathroom.As she peeled away the ruined fabric of her gown, the movement tugged at her wounds, making her sharply draw in a breath.Did it hurt?It hurt like hell.Nora offered a self-deprecating smile.This pain was a gift from the man she had loved for ten years.Just then, the phone resting on the vanity vibrated. The screen flashed with an incoming call from Mrs. Xavier.Nora pressed accept and brought the phone to her ear."Hello, Mom.""Nora, I heard you got into a fight with that Hayes girl? Are you alright? Is... is Gideon still angry?"On the other end of the line, Mrs. Xavier's voice carried a hint of cautious probing.Nora's lips twitched. Her mother never asked if her face still hurt; she only ever asked about Gideon's mood.Two hours ago, at the Hayes family gala, Giselle Hayes had gotten hurt. Gideon had blindly accused Nora without a shred of evidence and slapped her.Nora closed her eyes, trying to suppress the suffocating wave of despair churning in her chest. "She was the one who tried to grab my necklace. I just—""Alright, alright, who cares who started it."Mrs. Xavier cut her off. "Don't you know her status in that house? Gideon guards her like a hawk. Why on earth would you provoke her?""You are Mrs. Hayes now. Show some grace. Tomorrow afternoon, go pick out a nice gift, head over to the Manor, and apologize to the girl. Grovel a little. Don't let Gideon think you're being unreasonable."Apologize.Disbelief flooded Nora's eyes.Just hours ago, under the watchful eyes of everyone, that man had commanded her with the exact same arrogance.Her face was still swollen, her legs were still bleeding, yet her own flesh and blood was telling her to apologize to the abuser.From start to finish, no one asked if that slap hurt, nor did they ask why the conflict happened. They only cared if this rift would impact the Xavier family's business."Mom, do you even know what happened at the gala?"Nora's voice trembled uncontrollably, a lump forming in her throat. "He didn't even ask for my side of the story. In front of the entire city's elite..."Two hours earlier, feeling overwhelmed by the socializing, Nora had stepped out onto the second-floor terrace alone with a glass of champagne to catch her breath.Before she could even take a steady breath, Giselle strolled over in her cascading custom tulle gown, looking like a proud swan.The adopted daughter of the Hayes family, despite having no blood relation, was universally coddled by everyone in the household. Her eyes always held a cruel, naive arrogance."Nora, that necklace is stunning. Let me borrow it for a few days, okay?"It was a gift Gideon had his assistant send over for their recent anniversary. Although it was likely just a careless pick by his staff, Nora cherished it too much to take it off.Nora instinctively covered it, rejecting her with polite distance. "Gideon gave this to me. I'd rather not.""Why not? Whatever is Gideon's is mine."Giselle blinked her innocent eyes and reached out to snatch it. As they exchanged a few tense words, Nora instinctively stepped back and swatted the girl's hand away.Giselle let out a cry, stumbling backward into a long table stacked with a champagne tower. Glasses shattered across the floor as she collapsed, her palms landing directly in the sharp shards. Blood instantly welled up.A flurry of hurried footsteps approached. Nora turned to see Gideon pushing through the crowd, striding right toward them.He didn't even glance at Nora. He dropped to a crouch beside the fallen Giselle, lifting her bleeding hand as a deep crease formed between his brows."Gideon... it hurts so much. Don't blame Nora, I accidentally bumped into her."Giselle's eyes were red, her large, tear-filled gaze trembling like a fragile white flower ravaged by a storm. She looked utterly pitiful."Nora, why do you always have to target her?"Target her?Giselle was the one who approached her, the one who reached out to snatch the necklace. Nora had simply dodged and brushed her arm away. How did that translate into calculated targeting in Gideon's eyes?"She tried to take it—"Nora stepped forward, trying to explain what had just happened.Before she could finish, Gideon stood up abruptly. His large hand swept through the air, delivering a merciless slap across her face.The sheer force sent her stumbling, and she crashed straight down into the mess on the floor.Shattered champagne flutes tore through the hem of her couture gown, piercing her calves, knees, and palms. A sharp, stinging pain radiated through her, yet it paled in comparison to the burning humiliation on her cheek and the suffocating ache in her chest.Fighting through the ringing in her ears, Nora slowly turned her head, her throat tight and choking.She looked directly at the man she had loved for years, her voice trembling slightly. "Gideon, you hit me for an outsider?"Gideon frowned, a flash of impatience in his eyes, clearly displeased with her phrasing."Watch your mouth, Nora. Giselle is my sister. In this house, you are the outsider."Outsider.To this man, she had always been nothing but an outsider. She had loved him for seven years and had been married to him for three. A thousand days and nights by his side couldn't compare to a single scratch on his adopted sister."Get down in the glass and apologize to Giselle."Nora's body stiffened. She stared at him in disbelief.Get down? Surrender her dignity to this manipulative, fake woman? In front of all these people?"What did you just say?""If you won't do it, I don't mind teaching you the manners expected of Mrs. Hayes."Gideon raised his hand in a subtle gesture. Two burly bodyguards in black suits instantly stepped out from the crowd, blocking Nora from behind.She caught sight of Giselle hiding behind Gideon, flashing a victorious smirk.Nora closed her eyes, forcing the tears back. She slowly lowered herself, sinking heavily into the carpet of shattered glass.Blood quickly stained the expensive silk of her dress, but she just bit her lower lip hard, refusing to make a single sound.Gideon looked down at the crimson seeping through her gown, his brow furrowing slightly. Then, he bent down and scooped Giselle up into his arms.Giselle immediately buried her face in his broad chest, her shoulders shaking, prompting Gideon to tighten his protective hold."Watch my wife. Make sure she stays down until she learns her lesson.""Hello? Nora, are you listening?" Her mother's urgent voice pulled her back to the present.Nora snapped out of the memory, offering a bitter smile. "Mom, he slapped me in public and had his bodyguards force me into broken glass to apologize to Giselle. And now, you want me to grovel?""Nora, even if it was her fault, you just have to swallow your pride and apologize. The Eastside Development Project in the second half of the year depends entirely on millions of dollars from The Hayes Group. If you piss Gideon off and he pulls the funding, what will happen to our family's business?"The Xavier and Hayes families did share some history, but the Xaviers' business had been declining for years, completely reliant on the Hayes empire for survival.After the wedding, Gideon handed the Xaviers several highly lucrative projects, barely maintaining their facade of wealth."Mom."Nora clenched her jaw, summoning every ounce of courage to drop the bombshell."What if... I want a divorce?"The line exploded instantly."Are you out of your mind? Divorce? Nora Xavier, I am telling you, divorce is absolutely out of the question!""You were the one who practically begged to marry him! Everyone in the city knows you chased him for seven years. If you hadn't pushed so hard, he never would have married at all. Are you trying to drive your father to the grave by bringing this up now?""Because I insisted on marrying him, I deserve to be humiliated now, is that it?" Nora asked."What humiliation? He's given you all the respect of being Mrs. Hayes for the past three years. You want for nothing! He takes care of our family's business, and he doesn't have any mistresses on the side.""He doesn't love me," Nora repeated."Can love pay the bills?!" Mrs. Xavier scolded, frustrated by her daughter's foolishness.She paused, her tone growing heavy with exasperation. "He's just a cold man, he doesn't care for romance. No matter how much he spoils Giselle, she's just an adopted sister who will eventually get married and leave. She's no threat to your position.""Your focus right now should be building a nest egg and giving him an heir. That's how you secure your place..."Nora slowly pulled the phone away from her ear, the call timer still ticking by the seconds. Her mother was still lecturing on the other end, but the words became muffled.She emotionlessly pressed the end button, and the world instantly went quiet.Outsider. Manners. The bigger picture.It was true; everyone in the city knew Nora Xavier was a lunatic who had chased the Hayes heir for seven years, finally forcing her way into his life.Ten years ago, during a torrential downpour, sixteen-year-old Nora took a shortcut through a deserted alley and found herself cornered by a group of drunk, unruly thugs.Just when she thought she was doomed, Gideon appeared.The teenage Gideon, dressed neatly in his school uniform, was slender but already possessed a chilling, unapproachable aura. Bizarrely, he held a pink umbrella.Seeing the situation, he casually picked up a rusted steel pipe from the ground and marched forward with a deadpan expression.The chaos ended quickly. His arm was bruised and blood dripped from his fingertips, but he paid it no mind. He tossed the pipe aside and picked up the fallen pink umbrella."W-Wait..."Nora stuttered, trying to thank him.Gideon paused and glanced back."Get out of here."He dropped the command and vanished into the rain without looking back.She found out later that he had been out looking for his runaway sister, Giselle. The pink umbrella was for her.But the sight of his retreating back that rainy night had burned itself into sixteen-year-old Nora's soul.From high school to college, her frantic pursuit of Gideon became legendary in their social circles.She bought him breakfast and saved him seats, but he remained cold, politely yet distantly rejecting all her advances.Everyone told her to give up, claiming Gideon was an unthawable iceberg, a man entirely devoid of romantic nerves."Don't waste your time on me, Nora."Nora didn't believe it."It's fine. My love is enough for both of us. Even icebergs melt eventually."Armed with reckless courage, she stubbornly believed that if she got close enough and loved him hard enough, she could melt his icy exterior and reach his heart.Until she witnessed, time and time again, that this so-called iceberg freely poured all of his warmth and absolute devotion into someone else.