Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 453

Chapter 453

Chapter 453

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Madeline’s POV

The dining hall was quieter at lunch. Marcus’s absence was palpable. An empty chair that seemed to scream his name at the table. I absentmindedly stirred my soup, far more worried about his condition than the meal in front of me. My plate was practically untouched, slowly going cold while my thoughts stayed fixed on the medical wing.

“I just want these activities to be over so we can go home,” I murmured, glancing out the window toward the medical building. “This retreat could’ve been really great if it weren’t for Montgomery’s sabotage.”

“It really could’ve,” Zoey agreed fervently, adjusting her orthopedic boot under the table. “Now I’ve got an injured foot and Marcus’s in the medical wing with hypothermia.”

“And let’s not forget we lost crucial points in the competition,” Luke added, methodically cutting his piece of meat. “We were disqualified in rafting while we were in first place overall.”

Christian let out a heavy sigh, clearly blaming himself for the whole situation. He’d been pushing food around his plate the entire meal, barely eating.

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” he said, running his hands through his hair in clear frustration. “I planned all of this to improve things within the team. To create unity and trust. To strengthen professional bonds through shared experiences.”

“And in that sense, you absolutely succeeded,” Luke cut in, his voice full of genuine conviction. “Everyone followed Marcus’s orders to the letter during the activities. He led us to victory twice in a row before today’s mess.”

“That’s true,” Olivia added, leaning slightly toward Luke, the movement subtle but noticeable to me. “And everyone jumping off the bridge to support Zoey? That was epic. I’ll never forget the organizer’s face when he realized our entire team had willingly jumped into the safety net.”

Christian laughed, clearly amused by the memory.

“I’ll admit, it was the most unexpected thing I’ve ever seen at a corporate competition,” he said. “You turned a near disaster into a team celebration.”

“Even Mia jumped…” Luke commented with a mischievous grin, looking straight at his sister.

“I did not jump!” Mia protested immediately, rolling her eyes dramatically. “I was pulled. Dragged against my will by this orangutan right here,” she said, accusing Luke with a pointed finger. “Not that I don’t support you, Zoey,” she added quickly. “I support you fully. Just not enough to voluntarily jump off a bridge. I do have limits to my insanity.”

Everyone laughed, and for a moment, the tension hanging over the table eased noticeably. It was comforting to revisit the lighter moments, even in the middle of so much chaos and worry.

“You really did become a family,” Dante observed thoughtfully, having joined our table after finishing lunch with some of the other employees. “It’s genuinely impressive to see that kind of unconditional loyalty in what’s technically supposed to be a corporate environment.’

“It stops being corporate when it’s real family,” Christian replied, his expression softening. “That’s exactly

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what I wanted everyone to understand.”

“Mission accomplished, then,” Zoey said, gently touching Christian’s arm. “Even with all the problems, the accidents, the sabotage… look at us. We’re here. United. Worried about each other.”

The conversation flowed naturally after that, stories being shared, occasional laughter breaking through the constant concern we were all carrying. Dante managed to get some genuine laughs by telling stories about his questionable adventures in Ascia, and even Mia seemed more relaxed, joining in on the jokes at her cousin’s

expense.

“In Siamara,” Dante was saying, “I tried to impress a local girl by joining a traditional spicy food competition. I ended up in the hospital with my tongue so swollen I could barely speak for three days.”

“And was she impressed?” Olivia asked, genuinely curious.

“She was,” Dante replied with a self-deprecating smile, “so impressed by my stupidity that she ran off and I never saw her again.”

Even I couldn’t help laughing at that, despite the constant worry about Marcus occupying most of my thoughts.

Christian was the first to stand, checking his phone, which had buzzed discreetly a few times during dessert.

“I need to take this call,” he said apologetically. “It’s about the Milan expansion contract. Sounds urgent.”

We stayed at the table a few more minutes, talking about the remaining activities and speculating about when Marcus would be cleared to leave the medical wing.

Once dessert was finished and the plates were taken away, an overwhelming need to see Marcus in person took hold of me. I needed to be absolutely sure he was really okay.

“I think I’m going to try to visit Marcus now,” I said finally, standing carefully.

“Do you want me to come with you?” Zoey offered right away, already starting to get up.

“You don’t need to,” I said gently. “Stay here and rest. Your foot needs it just as much as anything.”

I left the dining hall and headed toward the medical building. The complex really was impressively well designed. Even the hospital wing felt more like a luxury spa than a camp infirmary, with elegant décor and a warm, calming atmosphere.

At reception, a friendly nurse told me Marcus was recovering well but still needed complete rest.

“He’s in bay three,” she said kindly, pointing me down the hallway. “But only ten minutes, please. He needs to save his energy to fully recover.”

I walked down the quiet, spotless corridor, passing several bays closed off by discreet curtains. As I neared bay three, I heard low voices coming from inside. I immediately recognized Christian’s voice.

“Are you sure?” Christian was asking, his tone heavy with concern.

I stopped instinctively, not wanting to interrupt what sounded like an important conversation. But then I heard Marcus’s reply.

“No,” Marcus’s voice sounded exhausted. “I don’t know how much longer I can handle this… I don’t even know

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if this child is really mine…”

The world tilted around me. My legs went weak, and I had to brace myself against the wall to keep from collapsing. Marcus couldn’t take it anymore. Our marriage. Our situation. Everything had become too much for him.

All my insecurities, all the fears I’d been trying to bury for months, surged to the surface at once. He was tired of pretending. Tired of carrying the weight of a marriage he hadn’t truly chosen. Of a pregnancy that might not even be his responsibility.

I turned and ran.

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