Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 325

Chapter 325

“And what did you do?” Gwen asked, leaning slightly over the small pub table, her dark eyes full of curiosity and

concern.

We were sitting at The George Inn, a traditional pub in Southwark that Gwen had chosen because it was ” authentically British,” as she’d put it. The atmosphere was exactly what you’d expect from a classic London pub with dark wooden beams overhead, timeworn tables, and the constant hum of overlapping conversations mixed with clinking glasses and bursts of laughter. Our plates of fish and chips were still steaming in front of us, alongside two pints of strong beer I’d ordered, desperately needing something to dull the anxiety that had settled in my chest ever since the conversation at the house in Notting Hill.

“I lied!” I shot back, louder than I meant to, slamming my beer down on the wooden table hard enough to make a few people nearby glance in our direction. “What else was I supposed to do?”

Foam spilled over the rim of the glass, spreading across the tabletop in small golden puddles that reflected the pub’s warm yellow lights. The bitter taste of the beer lingered on my tongue, mixing with the guilt that had been eating at me ever since we left the house.

“Annie…” Gwen started, her voice full of understanding and something that sounded like compassion.

“No,” I cut in immediately, lifting my hand to stop her before she could say anything comforting. “Don’t give me the ‘Annie’ speech. Nate is literally the most perfect man I’ve ever met. He’s handsome, kind, protective… I want to marry him. I want a family with him. I want dogs and kids running around the garden of that house.”

I paused to take another sip of beer, the cold liquid sliding down my throat as I tried to organize the chaotic thoughts tormenting me.

“And I want those kids to come from me,” I admitted, my voice dropping, softer and more exposed. “That’s incredibly selfish, isn’t it?”

Gwen shook her head immediately, her expression softening with genuine understanding.

“That’s not selfish, Annie,” she said firmly, reaching across the table to lightly touch my hand. “It’s human. It’s natural to want to experience bringing a life into the world.”

“I never really thought about adoption before,” I admitted, nervously poking at a fry on my plate, unable to feel hungry even though I’d barely eaten all day. “I mean, I’ve always known it’s a beautiful and important option, and if it’s something that matters to Nate, then of course I’d do it. Of course it’s a wonderful thing to give a child who needs it a family.”

I felt tears start to gather in my eyes-a mix of frustration, guilt, and sadness that had been building ever since Nate’s confession on the terrace.

“But ever since I went through Zoey’s pregnancy with her…” I continued, my voice starting to waver. “Since I saw how she glowed, how she touched her belly and talked to Matt before he was even born, how Christian looked at her like he was completely mesmerized… I always hoped that at least once, I’d get to experience all of that. Feeling a life growing inside me. Feeling the first kicks. Seeing Nate touch my belly and talk to our baby.”

Gwen nodded slowly, clearly understanding the depth of what I was sharing. She’d been around for parts of Zoey’s pregnancy too. She’d seen the magic of those moments I’d been quietly dreaming of for myself.

1/3

Chapter 325

+25 Bonus

“There’s nothing wrong with wanting that,” she said gently. “Adoption is beautiful, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up the desire to experience pregnancy. They’re different experiences, and both are valid. Both are about love.”

“But the thing is…” I started, struggling to find the right words for the knot that had formed in my heart. “When he told me about the infertility, the first thing that went through my mind wasn’t ‘that’s so sad’ or ‘we’ll find other ways.’ It was panic. Pure panic that I might never have the experience I’d always dreamed of.”

I took another swallow of beer, the familiar bitterness of the hops blending with the emotional bitterness of the situation.

“And then I lied to him,” I confessed, the words coming out like a painful admission. “When he asked if I was okay with adoption, I said yes without even hesitating. Because in that moment, all I could think about was that I didn’t want to lose him. That I’d rather have Nate and adopted kids than not have Nate at all.”

“And is that true?” Gwen asked softly.

“Yes, it’s true,” I said immediately. “But it’s also true that a part of me is devastated by the idea of never carrying a child. And that makes me feel like a terrible person.”

Gwen stayed quiet for a few moments, clearly choosing her next words carefully. Around us, the pub buzzed on with overlapping conversations and the occasional burst of laughter creating a strangely comforting backdrop for such a heavy conversation.

ر

“You’re not a terrible person,” she said finally. “You’re someone who’s in love and just found out that a very specific dream might not happen the way you always imagined. It’s normal to grieve that.’

11

“Grieve,” I repeated, turning the word over in my mind. “That’s exactly what it feels like. Like I’m mourning the loss of something I was never even sure I’d have.”

“And what are you going to do now?” Gwen asked, her expression a mix of genuine curiosity and concern.

I shrugged, trying to make the gesture seem casual, even though it carried the weight of a decision I’d already made on the walk to the pub.

“Accept it, I guess,” I said, forcing more confidence into my voice than I felt. “It’s not like I have much of a choice here.”

Gwen looked at me for a long moment, her dark eyes studying my face carefully.

“Nate isn’t the only man in the world, Annie,” she said gently, her words deliberately soft. “I mean, I know he’s amazing, but if you really aren’t on the same page about something this fundamental…’

“No,” I cut in firmly, a sudden, absolute conviction settling in my chest. “If we’re not on the same page, then we’ll get there. Because yes, he is the only man in the world for me.”

2/3

Chapter 926

+25 Bonus