Chapter 282

--- Chapter 282 Giselle felt exasperated hearing Gideon say the almost exact same thing as Donovan had earlier. "Don't overreact," she said with a sigh. "| escaped from that hell of aplace all on my own. Do you really think I'd let myself be outsmarted on my own turf? Relax. I'm perfectly safe now. | just want some time alone in peace." At that, Gideon grew silent for a moment, and his expression started growing darker. "Then, can you give me a clear answer?" he asked in a low voice.

"Do you still want to marry me?" Giselle took a deep breath and vaguely replied, "I just feel that after everything I've been through, maybe I'm not worthy of you." "How could you say such nonsense ?" Gideon barked, his voice rising with emotion. "If | ever so much as hinted at looking down on you, may I never have a good day again in my life! The fact that you came back alive on your own already amazes me, so what right do | have to be picky? All | want is to make you my rightful wife and give you everything | can to make it up to you.

His intense declaration left her even more unsettled "Alright. | understand how you feel," she said after calming herself. "Once I've rested, let's go get the paperwork done next week." ---- "That's good," Gideon replied. He let out a breath of relief and pulled her into his arms. "Now that you're back, | feel alive again. Can you promise me that there won't be any more mishaps in our marriage?" Giselle gave a small nod. "Yes." "And... can you cut ties with that man?" he asked. Once Donovan came into his mind, unease crept into his chest.

During Giselle's disappearance, he had witnessed firsthand just how deeply Donovan cared for her, and it was far more than he imagined. "No," Giselle said, trying to sound calm despite the turmoil inside her. "Our grudges are long buried. Now he's nothing more than a familiar stranger. From here on out, we'll live our own lives and stay away from the Kanes for good. "Why don't you go back for now?" she added. "Bring the dog with you tomorrow when you have time.

Thanks for taking care of it all this time." Realizing she was tired and had no intention of letting him stay the night, all Gideon could do was give her one last hug. "Get a good night's sleep. I'll come by tomorrow morning. Oh, and call me anytime you need anything." At that, Giselle hummed in response. Once he had left, she collapsed onto the couch, utterly drained Yes, despite the overwhelming affection and concern that had ---- greeted her since her return, she felt nothing but exhaustion and numbness. All she wanted was to be left alone, in silence and in solitude.

She locked the door and sank into her bathtub filled with warm water. Then, she let her injured leg rest on the rim and soaked up the comfort for over an hour. Only when the fatigue fully melted away did Giselle climb into bed, ready to sleep. But the moment she closed her eyes, Donovan's face kept flashing in her mind The image refused to fade away, no matter how hard she tried to push it away. She didn't want to think too deeply about her feelings toward him, as doing so only brought an inexplicable heaviness to her chest. Eventually, Giselle drifted into a hazy sleep.

She was plagued by nightmares through the night, but she still managed to sleep straight through the night until nine the next morning. It was then that a loud, insistent knocking at her door startled her awake.