Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 457

Chapter 457

Madeline’s POV

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The adrenaline from the competition was still buzzing through my veins as I walked back to our cabin. We’d finished the escape room in one hour and eight minutes-a solid time, considering how complex the challenges had been. No matter the final result, we were about to leave this camp and go home, and that thought filled me with a deep, bone-deep sense of relief.

I would finally be able to get away from this cold, stressful environment. Away from Vivian’s constant sabotage. Away from the tension of always feeling like I had to look over my shoulder. I could return to the safety of our apartment, where the biggest danger I faced was fighting with a stubborn jar that refused to open-like it was a vault guarding the secrets of the universe instead of just olives.

But even as I let myself feel happy about our impending escape, a darker worry weighed heavily at the back of my mind. How was I supposed to keep living in the same house as Marcus after what I’d overheard? How could I pretend everything was normal when I knew he couldn’t take our situation anymore?

The thought of having to play the role of the happy wife while he secretly wished he were free of me was almost unbearable. I would need to find a way to create emotional distance, to protect myself psychologically, until we could figure out a solution that worked for both of us.

Maybe I should suggest separate bedrooms. I could blame it on pregnancy discomfort, say I needed more space to rest properly. It would give him the distance he clearly wanted-without forcing us into painful conversations about the true state of our marriage.

I reached the cabin and dropped onto the bed, letting the physical and emotional exhaustion of the day finally crash over me. For a few minutes, I allowed the happiness of the competition being over to mask the ache in my chest. Soon we’d be far from here, and I could start processing all of this more clearly.

I heard footsteps approaching the door and quickly stood up, gathering the clothes I’d need for the final announcement. When Marcus walked into the cabin, I managed to keep my expression neutral, but my heart immediately started racing.

“I’m going to take a quick shower,” I announced at once, heading for the bathroom before he had a chance to start any conversation.

“Madeline…” he began, but I was already closing the door behind me.

Even in that brief moment, I could see that he looked genuinely worried about something. There was tension in his posture, urgency in his voice-like he wanted to talk about something important. But I couldn’t. I just couldn’t face a serious conversation with him right now.

I was too sensitive. Too vulnerable. I knew that if he started talking about our relationship, I would end up crying. And I didn’t want to give Marcus the satisfaction of knowing I had truly fallen for him, that realizing he wasn’t on the same page had hurt me so deeply.

It would be too humiliating. He already carried the weight of a marriage he hadn’t truly chosen. He didn’t need to carry the guilt of accidentally breaking my heart, too.

I turned on the shower and let myself stay there longer than necessary, allowing the hot water to ease the tension in my muscles. It was a temporary relief-a pause from reality that I knew couldn’t last forever, but for

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Chapter 457

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now, it was all I had.

I heard the phone ring in the bedroom and Marcus answering it. I couldn’t make out the words clearly over the sound of the water, but his tone was serious, professional. Probably work as there was always some corporate crisis demanding his immediate attention.

I took a few extra minutes applying light makeup to hide any signs I’d been crying and fixing my hair. Anything to delay the moment I’d have to leave that temporary sanctuary and face the real world again.

When I finally stepped out of the bathroom, almost time for us to head to the main hall, Marcus was still on the phone. I caught fragments of the conversation as I finished getting ready.

“…it’s safer for now to leave everything the way it is,” he was saying, his voice low but tense.

Despite myself, curiosity stirred. What was he talking about? What situation needed to stay “the way it was” for safety reasons?

“I know it’s important to her,” Marcus continued, “but safety comes first.”

That was when he noticed me leaving the bathroom. Our eyes met for a brief moment before he quickly ended the call.

“I need to hang up,” he said to whoever was on the other end. “We’ll talk later.”

He put his phone away and looked straight at me with an intensity that made me want to step back.

“Madeline, we need to talk,” he said, his voice carrying a seriousness that told me this wouldn’t be a casual conversation.

“Not now,” I replied automatically, checking the watch on my wrist. “We’re running out of time.”

“It’s important,” he insisted, taking a step toward me.

“So is this,” I shot back, heading for the door. “The COO of Kensington Valentia should be with the team when they get the results. Good or bad.”

I opened the door and walked out of the cabin, feeling Marcus’s frustrated sigh behind me, but also hearing his footsteps following close after.

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