Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 400

Chapter 400

Marcus’ POV

“Mom? Dad?” Madeline’s voice came out small and confused, layered with emotions I couldn’t fully read. There was happiness at seeing them, but also something that looked a lot like fear.

I watched her for a moment, trying to understand her reaction. It was as if even she didn’t quite know what she felt about her own family. Her parents moved toward her quickly, her mother practically running, arms wide.

open.

“My daughter!” the woman cried, wrapping Madeline in a hug so tight it was almost uncomfortable to watch. ” We were so worried! You disappeared without a word, got married without telling us-”

Madeline allowed herself to be held, but the discomfort in her body language was unmistakable. Her shoulders were rigid, and she looked over her mother’s shoulder straight at me, as if silently asking for help-or at least an explanation for this surreal situation.

Her father joined the embrace, though more restrained, his eyes roaming over the property with an expression that mixed awe with something darker. Envy, maybe. Or resentment.

“Daughter… what have you done?” he murmured into her hair.

That’s when I noticed movement behind the cars. Men in suits were approaching, folders in hand, their professional expressions promising nothing good. At the same time, footsteps rushed up behind us. Christian, Zoey, and Olivia were coming from the mansion, clearly realizing something was very wrong.

“Excuse me,” said the oldest lawyer, a bald man with glasses who radiated authority. “We are the legal representatives of the Sullivan family. We need to address an urgent matter.”

Joseph, who had been silently observing until then, stepped forward.

“This is private property,” he said firmly. “What is the meaning of this intrusion?”

“This is not an intrusion, Mr. Kensington,” the lawyer replied with forced politeness. “We are here to resolve a legal matter involving Miss Madeline Sullivan.”

“Mrs. Madeline Kensington,” I corrected automatically, my voice coming out colder than I intended.

“Oh, yes,” the lawyer said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “About that… Her parents have filed a request to annul this… marriage.”

The word marriage left his mouth like something distasteful.

“What do you mean?” Christian asked, stepping closer to my side. Zoey stayed near Madeline, who was still being held by her mother in an almost possessive way.

“The Sullivan family only learned of this marriage through social media,” the lawyer explained, opening his folder. “Their daughter disappeared from home without explanation and has now married a complete stranger.”

“That’s not true,” Madeline finally managed to pull free from her mother’s arms, her voice gaining strength. “I didn’t disappear. I ran because-”

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“Madeline is mentally unstable,” her mother interrupted softly, but firmly. “She’s been having episodes ever since… since the incident at her previous wedding.’

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“That’s a lie!” Madeline and Olivia shouted at the same time, their voices echoing together across the courtyard.

“We have medical reports,” the lawyer continued calmly, ignoring the denial. “Including documentation that she was hospitalized for psychiatric treatment after fleeing her first wedding.”

I felt my jaw tighten. It was a dirty, calculated move-using the very narrative they’d created to bury the truth and turn it against her.

“Therefore,” the lawyer went on, “we argue that Madeline did not have the mental capacity to validly consent to this marriage. On the grounds of mental incapacity, we have already initiated guardianship proceedings. We have an independent psychiatric evaluation, and her parents have been appointed temporary legal guardians.”

“Guardians?” I repeated, stunned.

Madeline’s mother stepped closer to her daughter.

“My dear,” she said in a sweet voice that made my stomach turn, “I don’t know who this man is or what he’s doing to you, but we’re here to take you home. You need help. You need treatment.”

“I don’t need any treatment!” Madeline snapped, finally finding her voice. “I’m pregnant, I’m married by my own choice, and I’m not going anywhere!”

“The police are here to enforce the law,” the second lawyer said, gesturing toward the officers standing near the cars. “Miss Sullivan will come with us-whether she wants to or not.”.

Christian stepped forward, extending his hand.

“May I see the court order?”

The lawyers exchanged a quick glance.

“Well…” the first one hesitated. “We were hoping for everyone’s goodwill to resolve this amicably.”

“Goodwill?” Christian laughed, but there was no humor in it. “You invade our property with police cars, threaten to take my cousin’s wife by force, and expect goodwill?”

“We don’t have a warrant,” the second lawyer admitted, clearly uncomfortable.

“Then I suggest you leave the Kensington family’s property immediately,” Christian said, his voice taking on the commanding tone I knew well from business dealings.

Madeline’s father who had remained silent until now, stepped forward.

“We’re not leaving without our daughter,” he said firmly. “She’s sick. She needs help. And this…” he gestured vaguely toward us, “…this stranger took advantage of a vulnerable woman.”

Something dark and primal flared in my chest. Absolutely no one was taking Madeline against her will. Not while I was still breathing.

“You will only take her from here over my dead body,” I said, my voice low, steady, and heavy with a promise I fully intended to keep.

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