Chapter 200

---- Chapter 200 After the slap, Ethan barked furiously , "I'm warning you. If you dare go against my wishes and insist on marrying this woman, then we're done. I'll cut ties with you for good. I'll take back everything I've invested in you. You'll be on your own, and I won't care what happens to you after that." It was the first time Gideon had ever been slapped by the man who raised him. Now he was being threatened with total abandonment. His eyes burned with suppressed rage as he glared at Ethan.

"Are you serious?" Sensing the tension spiraling out of control, Giselle could no longer sit still. She got up and quickly walked over, bowing slightly as she apologized to Ethan. "Mr. Kane, I'm sorry. The idea of getting married was mine. Gideon just got carried away. He didn't think it through. Please don't blame him. I'll leave right now. I'm sorry." Without waiting for a response, she grabbed her bag and rushed out of the living room. Since she hadn't driven herself there, she ran out of the villa and down to the road, pulling out her phone to call a rideshare.

As she sat in the back of the car, watching the scenery blur ---- past, the echoes of the explosive confrontation between Ethan and Gideon kept replaying in her ears. Her thoughts were a chaotic mess. She had expected Ethan to strongly object. But seeing him strike his beloved adopted son and shout those unforgiving words made her finally give up on the ridiculous idea. She didn't even know what she was doing anymore.

All she knew was that there was a deep void inside her, and she needed someone or anyone to help her rebuild her life from scratch, to pull her out of the mire she was drowning in. When she got back home, she had just finished feeding the dog and barely sat down when Gideon showed up at her door. "Sorry," he said breathlessly as he stepped inside. "Uncle Ethan really overreacted today. He was being irrational. Don't let what he said get to you. I'll work on him and slowly change his mind." "It's fine."' Giselle turned away, sounding indifferent. "I saw how he reacted.

I honestly don't blame him. I respect where he's coming from. "You're like a son to him. He's done a lot for you in this life. I can't be selfish enough to make you cut ties with him just for my sake. I don't want a marriage that comes at that cost. You should go back and apologize . I don't want to be a burden." "Don't talk like that. I can change his mind." Gideon sounded ---- confident in his place in Ethan's heart. "I've done things way worse in the past that made him furious. He always came around eventually . But maybe we should slow things down.

Let's keep dating for now while I work on getting his approval. "I've thought it over. It's better to just stop here." Giselle closed her eyes. She knew Gideon was entangled with the Kane family too. Even if they did get married, she would never truly escape Donovan's world. It was better to let it go now. Seeing her waver again, Gideon couldn't hold it anymore. "T know what you're worried about," he said, looking at her with conviction. "But I swear, I won't touch you before we're married-not unless you want me to. You have my word." She shook her head.

"You don't understand the things I've done. Every single member of the Kane family wants me dead. Treally don't want to ruin your relationship with your uncle. He's the only family you've got." She thought of how she had once manipulated Zachary. If she ended up dragging Gideon away too, Ethan might actually kill her. "The Kane family has nothing to do with me!" He grabbed her arms tightly. "You know what kind of messed -up life I've had. My marriage has nothing to do with them. The real issue is ---- you.