Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 403

Chapter 403

Madeline’s POV

The car glided through the streets of Belmonte in a tense silence that pressed against my chest like an invisible har I stared out the window, watching the city pass by like a movie where I was nothing more than a spectator.

Olivia sat beside me, her fists clenched tightly in her lap, clearly making a heroic effort to keep herself under control. I could feel the anger radiating off her like heat. In the passenger seat, my mother obsessively checked her purse, pulling out the same documents and putting them back again and again, while my father drove with his jaw locked, refusing to look at me in the rearview mirror.

“Where are we going?” I asked, finally breaking the suffocating silence.

My mother didn’t even turn to look at me.

“To a place where you can receive proper treatment,” she replied, her voice trying to sound maternal but carrying a coldness that made my skin prickle.

“What treatment?” I pressed, panic climbing up my throat. “I don’t need any treatment. I’m pregnant, not crazy.”

“Madeline, sweetheart,” my mother sighed, finally turning to face me, “you ran away from your own wedding, disappeared for a week, and married a complete stranger in a matter of days. That’s not the behavior of someone who’s stable.”

“I ran away because I found out Dominic is a criminal!” I snapped, losing the patience I’d been fighting to keep. “Because I found out he wanted to use the parks to launder money from illegal casinos!”

My father hit the brakes a little harder than necessary at the next red light.

“These are your fantasies, Madeline,” he said, his voice heavy with the kind of parental authority that used to make me obey when I was a child. “Dominic is a respected businessman.”

“Respected?” Olivia finally exploded. “You’re so blind you can’t even see that Madeline married a Kensington! He could genuinely help the parks out of love for Madeline and this baby, but no. You’d rather do everything the dirty way!”

My mother let slip something that sounded like, “It’s not just about that…”

But she was immediately silenced by a sharp look from my father. The silence that followed was even heavier

than before.

Olivia and I exchanged a knowing glance. There was more. Something they weren’t telling us. My suspicion about how deeply my parents were really involved with Dominic was being confirmed with every unspoken word.

“Mom,” I tried again, softer this time, “you know I love you, right? All I want is for our family to be honest with each other.”

She looked at me with an expression that mixed guilt and resolve.

“That’s exactly why we’re doing this, honey. To protect our family.”

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“Protect it from who?” I asked, but she had already turned back to face forward.

The car slowed and came to a

1 looked around, trying to figure out where we were, but I didn’t recognize

the area. Just anonymous commercial buildings and a few neatly trimmed trees.

“W

re here,” my mother announced with forced cheerfulness.

Olivia frowned as she looked out the window.

“This isn’t our house.”

“Madeline won’t be staying with you anymore,” my mother replied, avoiding our eyes. “She needs specialized treatment.”

That was when I looked out the window and saw the discreet but unmistakable sign: Moore Mental Health Institute – Integrated Treatment in Psychiatry and Psychology.

My stomach dropped.

“You’re taking me to a psychiatric hospital?” I asked, stunned.

“It’s a rest clinic,” my father corrected, finally meeting my eyes through the rearview mirror. “For people who need time to emotionally reorganize.”

I looked at my mother, then at my father, searching for any trace of the people I thought I knew.

“The only crazy ones here are you,” I said, my voice coming out calmer than I felt.

Even so, I didn’t resist when my father got ou

of the car and opened my door. I remembered Marcus’ words. He would fight for me, and I would fight too. But fighting didn’t necessarily mean making a scene that would only ” prove” I was unstable. The less trouble I caused, the better.

Olivia was visibly furious, her eyes burning with outrage.

“Madeline, this is insane! You can’t let them-”

“It’s going to be okay,” I interrupted gently, squeezing her hand. “Marcus will get me out of here. I just have to hold on a little longer.”

“But-”

“Take care of yourself, Olivia. And if anything happens to me, tell the Kensingtons everything.”

The admission process felt surreal. Papers were signed. Questions were asked. Answers were given as if I weren’t even there. My mother provided a medical history I had never heard before, full of supposed “episodes” and “erratic behavior” that allegedly went back years.

When it was time to say goodbye, Olivia hugged me like it might be the last time.

“I won’t give up on you,” she whispered in my ear.

“I know,” I said.

When I turned to my parents, they stood a few steps away, as if they didn’t know how to approach me. My

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mother took a step forward, but I simply turned my back on them and followed the nurse who was taking me to my room.

There was nothing left to say.

The allway was long and brightly lit, with soft artwork on the walls and the unmistakable smell of hospital disinfectant. My footsteps echoed against the linoleum floor, each sound marking how far I was being pulled from the life I had just started to build.

“This is your room,” the nurse said, opening a door that revealed a small but clean space. A bed, a small table, a

chair.

“Thank you,” I murmured, stepping inside.

“Someone wants to talk to you,” she added before leaving. “He’s already waiting.”

I frowned, confused. Who could possibly be waiting for me?

The door closed behind the nurse, and that’s when I realized I wasn’t alone. Someone was sitting in the chair in the corner, their back to me. When the figure turned around, my blood went cold.

“Hi, sweetheart,” said the voice I had learned to fear. “I’m so glad you came back to me.’

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