Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 169

Chapter 169

Christian’s POV

The second day after Zoey woke was completely different from th

for the first time in a week, they were clear and focused on me.

“Hey,” I said softly, leaning closer.

first. She opened her eyes around eight in the morning, and

She tried to respond. Her lips moved, her throat working with effort. He

“Hey.”

voice came out raspy and weak, but it was there.

Tears stung my eyes instantly. It was the first actual word she’d spoken since

“How are you feeling?” I asked, taking her hand carefully.

nt, and hearing it almost broke me.

Zoey frowned a little, her expression distant, like her mind was piecing things together through fog.

“Confused,” she murmured after a few seconds. “Where… where am I?”

“In the hospital,” I explained gently. “You had an accident. But you’re safe now.”

She tried to shift slightly and winced, her body tensing.

“It hurts,” she whispered.

“I know, baby. The doctors said that’s normal. You’re going to get better.”

For the next couple of hours, we talked in short, careful bursts. Zoey asked simple questions, mostly one or two words, and I answered each one patiently, making sure not to overload her with too much information.

“How long?” she asked around ten.

“A week,” I said quietly. “You were asleep for a week.”

Her eyes widened.

“A whole week?”

“Yeah. But you’re back now. You’re stronger every hour.”

When Dr. Porter came by for his morning check, he looked genuinely pleased.

“Zoey, can you tell me your full name?” he asked.

“Zoey…” She paused, her brow furrowing. “Zoey Bennett… no. Kensington. Zoey Bennett Kensington.”

“Excellent. And do you know where you are?”

“Hospital,” she said, glancing around the room as if really seeing for the first time.

“Very good. Your recovery is going beautifully. Your memory will keep coming back in pieces over the next few hours.”

When we were alone again, she turned her gaze back to me.

“You… you haven’t slept,” she said, studying my face.

“I didn’t want to leave,” I admitted. “I wanted to be here when you woke up.”

She gave a tired, crooked smile. “Silly,” she whispered. But there was warmth in her voice.

By noon, Zoey was talking more, forming full sentences, even managing small smiles. She still looked pale and exhausted, but there was light in her again.

Then, out of nowhere, she asked the question I’d been dreading.

“What happened to me? You said… accident?”

I took a deep breath, trying to decide how much to tell her.

“You fell down a staircase,” I said carefully. “At the Verdania Wine Expo event. You hit your head.”

Zoey blinked slowly, pressing her fingers to the bandage at her temple.

“Verdania Wine Expo,” she repeated faintly. “Right. Vintara. How did it go? Was it good?”

“It was perfect,” I said with a soft smile. “A complete success. You made it happen, Zoey.”

“The doctors are optimistic,” I said. “Babies born at seven months do really well, especially stubborn ones like ours.”

Zoey smiled faintly through her tears. “I want to meet him.”

“And you will,” I promised. “Soon. The two of you will finally meet the way you were meant to.”

As the day went on, more of her memories returned. She remembered moments from the pregnancy, the names we’d debated, the plans we’d made for the nursery. By seven that evening, she was noticeably stronger-more alert, more herself.

“How’s Kensington?” she asked. “And Vintara?”

“Better than ever,” I said. “Your PR team’s done an incredible job eeping the focus on the business. Lisa’s been running things flawlessly.”

“Lisa’s good,” Zoey said with a soft, proud smile. “She’ll go far.”

“She learned from the best,” I told her.

We were talking about the international contracts we’d finalized when she suddenly went quiet, her expression shifting.

“There was someone there,” she said slowly, like she was piecing something together.

“Where?” I asked, instantly alert.

“On the stairs. When I fell. There was someone with me.”

My pulse spiked. She was remembering. Finally. I tried to keep my one calm even though my heart was pounding in my chest.

“Can you remember anything else?” I asked gently.

Zoey’s eyes closed as she tried to summon the memory, her brow furrowed in concentration.

“A man… no. A woman,” she said, her voice trembling. “She was angry. She was saying something about… about not being able to tell what I’d seen…” Her breathing quickened. “What had I seen

“You’re doing great,” I said softly, gripping her hand. “Just take your time.”

“I was trying to leave,” she whispered, her voice growing stronger as the memory sharpened. “I was walking down the stairs and…”

Her eyes flew open, locking on mine, the realization crashing into her all at once.

“Christian,” she said, her voice shaking but clear. “I didn’t fall. I was pushed.”