Breaking Mr. Cold (Giselle and Donovan) novel Chapter 432

At Elowen's words, Giselle's chest tightened. "Let him in."

Before Elowen could step out to announce it, the office door swung open. A familiar figure appeared in the doorway.

Giselle froze for an instant at the sight of Gideon's long-absent face. He looked gaunt, his hair unkempt, stubble shadowing his jaw. There was a hollowness about him, a weary gloom that clung to his every movement.

When Elowen left them alone, Giselle steadied herself and forced a calm tone. "You're back in the country?"

Gideon didn't answer right away. Hands buried in his pockets, he walked slowly toward her, his sharp gaze fixed unrelentingly on her.

"If I hadn't reached out first," he rasped, "would you have gone the rest of your life without ever looking for me?"

That look—intense and unyielding—made Giselle turn her head away. "You can see for yourself. I'm running a division of Kane Group now. I barely have time to breathe, let alone chase after other matters."

He gave a better laugh. "If I had died quietly somewhere, you wouldn't even know. And even if you did, you wouldn't feel a thing, would you?"

"Don't start off with talk like that," Giselle said after drawing a steadying breath. "Tell me, what did you come here for?"

"I missed you. Does that count as a reason?" His eyes clung to her, unwavering.

Inwardly, Giselle crushed him for being a fool. She thought of his time in Astrakhan, no doubt surrounded by women, indulging himself at luxury hotels. Now here he was, posturing as a wounded romantic. How pathetic.

"Things that don't matter?" Giselle frowned. "You mean to say your parentage—the fact that Ethan is your real father—doesn't affect you at all? The Kane family is in chaos over it, and you feel nothing?"

At that, Gideon's brow furrowed. He looked back at her sharply. "What are you talking about?"

"Uncle Ethan—Mr. Ethan—he hasn't contacted you this past week? Told you nothing? You really don't know?"

Gideon went rigid. "I have no idea what you're saying."

And there was the truth. He had spent over half a month in Astrakhan, cut off from everything—no phone, no messages, no calls. He had shut out the world, which meant no contact with Ethan either.