The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 200

Grabbing a glass, Nora threw her head back and downed the liquor in one go without tasting it. The harsh alcohol seared its way down her throat, burning a fiery trail straight to her stomach.

The sharp sting briefly numbed her nerves, offering a temporary reprieve from the relentless shadows haunting her mind.

Drinking on an empty stomach caused a sharp cramp. Frowning slightly, she pushed the empty glass back and signaled the bartender to pour another.

Shot after shot.

The alcohol surged rapidly through her bloodstream. Her heart rate spiked, an unnatural flush crept onto her cheeks, and the chaotic memories finally began to blur. Even the music in the bar seemed to fade into the background.

She rarely drank out in public. In fact, for the entire three years she had been married to Gideon, she was essentially a teetotaler.

The reason was simple: Gideon rarely drank.

During their first year of marriage, she acutely sensed the man's borderline draconian self-discipline.

Desperate to match his pace and become the flawless Mrs. Hayes, she had buried all her youthful rebellion. She gave up late nights, quit going to parties, and entirely cut out wine and whiskey.

Following his lead, she learned to drink plain water and sip bitter tea. She suppressed her own preferences, her temper, and her personality, grinding herself down to perfectly fit the quiet, submissive mold expected of the Hayes family.

She learned to make light, soothing soups, mastering the recipe for a steaming hangover remedy just so she could offer a dutiful wife's care whenever Gideon came home from a rare business dinner.

She had naively hoped that as long as she was obedient enough, as long as she always put him first, she would eventually thaw his frozen heart.

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