Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 317

Chapter 317

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Chapter 317

Before either of us could move toward the door, Tori sprinted through the kitchen, calling out cheerfully, “I’ve got it! Family backup!”

Nate and I exchanged confused looks, but the sound of familiar voices and laughter drifting in from the entryway quickly cleared things up. A few minutes later, Oliver and Sarah appeared in the kitchen, beaming and carrying a pizza box that had very clearly survived a long journey.

“Surprise!” Oliver announced, setting the boxes down on the counter. “We brought cold artichoke and Sicilian lemon pizza. Courtesy of a three-hour drive from Bath.”

Sarah laughed, tucking a loose strand of hair back into her ponytail.

“Sorry about the state of it. We thought bringing Nate’s favorite was a great idea. We did not factor in London traffic.”

“How did you-?” I started, but Tori popped up behind them, looking a little guilty.

“I called them,” she admitted, fidgeting with her hands. “I figured you two could use a good distraction. And family always helps, right?”

My heart softened at the gesture. Despite everything Tori had unintentionally caused the night before, she was genuinely trying to make things right.

Oliver stepped forward and wrapped me in a warm hug.

“How are you feeling, sis?” he asked quietly. I could tell from his eyes that Tori had shared at least part of what had happened.

“Better,” I said honestly. “Much better.”

What touched me most was that neither Oliver nor Sarah asked for details. There was a gentleness to the way they handled things. It was a clear understanding that I wasn’t ready to relive everything, but that they still wanted to show up for me.

Sarah came over next and hugged me just as tightly.

“We also brought board games,” she said with a conspiratorial smile. “I thought a little friendly competition might be exactly what you all need.”

And that’s exactly what it turned into.

We spent the entire afternoon in Nate’s living room playing Monopoly, Scrabble, and Uno, laughing and eating slices of cold pizza that were somehow still delicious after the drive. Nate opened a couple of bottles of wine, and the atmosphere slowly grew lighter, easier.

It was amazing how Oliver and Sarah’s presence completely shifted the mood. Oliver had that natural gift for making everyone laugh with ridiculous stories from his veterinary practice, while Sarah shared classroom anecdotes that had us crying with laughter.

Around four in the afternoon, right in the middle of a particularly cutthroat Scrabble round, the doorbell rang again. This time, it was louder-more insistent, almost frantic.

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Chapter 317

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Nate frowned.

“I’m not expecting anyone,” he murmured, standing up to answer.

Seconds later, raised voices echoed from the entryway, and my heart jumped when I recognized one of them instantly.

“Where is my sister?” Zoey’s voice rang through the house as she practically stormed into the living room, Christian right behind her, looking slightly out of breath.

“Zoey!” I exclaimed, jumping to my feet. “What are you doing here?”

She wrapped me in such a tight hug I could barely breathe, her familiar perfume instantly grounding me, bringing with it a powerful sense of safety and home.

“Are you seriously asking me that?” she said, pulling back just enough to scan me from head to toe. “I made Christian get on the first plane we could find!”

Christian stepped in next, giving me a warm hug before turning to Nate and shaking his hand. It was an exchange that carried far more weight than a simple hello.

“How are you?” Christian asked gently.

“I’m okay,” I replied. This time, I truly meant it.

We were still adjusting to their sudden arrival when the doorbell rang again. I looked at Nate with a you’ve got to be kidding me expression before he went to answer it once more.

Gwen and Matthew walked in, Gwen holding an elegant box of what looked like fine Valentian chocolates, while my brother rushed straight toward me for a hug.

“Welcome to the party,” I said, laughing at the sheer absurdity of it all. “Make yourselves at home.”

Nate immediately shifted into host mode, grabbing more wine and calling to order additional pizzas while everyone spread out around the room. The house, which had been quiet and reflective that morning, now buzzed with animated conversations and laughter.

“What a funny coincidence,” Zoey remarked, watching Gwen and Matthew sit a little closer than strictly necessary. “You two arrived together.”

Gwen and Matthew exchanged a conspiratorial glance that didn’t go unnoticed by anyone.

“We ran into each other at the airport,” Gwen said, taking a long sip of wine as if buying time for someone to change the subject.

Zoey did not.

“That’s interesting,” she said, her grin turning mischievous. “Because we saw a flight arriving from Valentia around the same time as ours. But nothing from Ascia…”

She exaggeratedly winked at me, making me laugh out loud while Gwen visibly blushed.

“Let’s keep playing,” I cut in, still smiling. “I want Zoey on my team. She’s competitive and always looks like she’s about to claw someone’s eye out when she’s losing.”

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Chapter 317

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Everyone laughed, and gradually people rearranged themselves across the couch and the living room floor to make space for the new players. I felt Nate slip an arm around my shoulders as I leaned into him, and a sudden wave of emotion washed over me.

It was impossible not to think about how alone and vulnerable I had felt the night before-drugged, terrified, completely at the mercy of someone who wanted to hurt me. And now, less than twenty-four hours later, I was here, surrounded by the people I loved most in the world. My family had crossed oceans to be with me. Nate’s siblings had driven for hours to support us. Gwen had cut short her vacation in Valentia.

I looked around the room-Zoey dealing cards with the fierce focus I knew so well, Christian talking quietly with Oliver about something that had them both laughing, Matthew trying to explain the rules of a Chinese game he’d brought to Sarah, Tori and Gwen whispering about something that almost certainly involved gossip, and Nate watching me with that soft, love-filled look that still made my cheeks warm.

This was what family meant. Not just people connected by blood or marriage, but the ones who showed up when you needed them most. The ones who understood without being asked. The ones who turned your worst moments into something survivable simply by being there.

I snuggled closer into Nate, feeling his hand gently stroke my arm, and smiled. Surrounded by so much love, it was impossible not to feel like the luckiest person in the world.

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