Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 490

Chapter 490

Marcus’ POV

“Mr. Kensington, we need you to get ready immediately,” the nurse said the moment I stepped off the elevator on the third floor. She’s already guiding me toward a small room next to the obstetrics unit. ” She’s fully dilated. We’re moving to the delivery room.”

My heart slammed against my ribs. It was time. Finally. After hours of waiting, after going back and forth to the labor room where Madeline spent the last several hours in labor, this was it.

I stepped inside and followed instructions quickly-washing my hands with antiseptic soap up to my elbows, pulling on the green surgical gown the nurse hands me, placing the disposable cap over my hair, adjusting the mask over my nose and mouth, slipping protective covers over my shoes. My hands were shaking as I tied the gown behind my back.

“First time?” the nurse asked, her gentle smile visible in her eyes above the mask.

“First,” I confirmed, my voice muffled. “But hopefully not the last.”

She chuckled softly.

“Come on. She’s waiting for you.”

The double doors to the delivery room opened, and I was guided inside. The room was bright and sterile, harsh lights overhead, medical equipment everywhere. A heated bassinet stood ready in one corner, a tray of instruments nearby, monitors blinking with numbers and lines.

And at the center of it all, lying on the delivery table with her legs supported in stirrups, was Madeline.

She was wearing a hospital gown, her hair tucked into a cap just like mine, sweat streaking down her flushed face. A monitor was strapped around her belly with elastic bands, wires connecting her to machines that tracked the baby’s heartbeat-a steady, reassuring rhythm filling the room. An IV line ran into her left arm, attached to a clear bag of fluids.

“Apollo,” she said as soon as she saw me, and there was so much relief in her voice that my chest tightened.

I moved to her immediately, positioning myself beside her head and taking her free hand. Dr. Carlisle was already in place, gloved and wearing an extra protective gown. Two nurses stood nearby, fully scrubbed in, while a technician checked the monitors.

“I’m here, Aphrodite,” I said, leaning close so she could see my eyes even with the mask on. So she could feel me there. “I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

“You promise?” she asked, her eyes searching mine, vulnerability cracking my heart open. Another contraction was starting-I saw it on the monitor, the line climbing fast.

“I promise,” I said firmly, threading my fingers through hers. “You and me, Madeline. All the way.”

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She squeezed my hand hard as the contraction peaked, her face tightening with pain despite the

epidural she’d gotten hours earlier. The anesthesia took the edge off, but it was still intense-there was pressure, effort, the deep, raw work her body was doing.

“It’s going to be okay, my love. You’re the strongest woman I know. You survived everything they tried to do to you. This?” I leaned closer. “This, you can do. I know you can.”

“Easy… for you… to say,” she panted between breaths, but there was a spark of humor in her eyes even through the pain, and it made me smile. “You’re… not the one… being split in half.”

“All right, Madeline,” Dr. Carlisle said, looking up with a smile in her eyes. “You’re fully dilated, baby is well positioned. On the next contraction, you’re going to push. Grab your legs, push like you’re having a bowel movement, and count to ten. You can scream, make noise-do whatever you need. Got it?”

Madeline nodded, her gaze locking onto mine. I saw fear there, yes-but also determination. This incredible woman who had carried our daughter for nine months. Who had endured nausea, back pain, swollen feet. Who had planned a nursery while running from a psychopath.

“I love you,” I whispered, kissing her knuckles.

“I love you too,” she said, gripping my hand tighter. “Now… help me bring… our girl… into the world.”

Time stretched and compressed all at once. Madeline crushed my hand with a strength I hadn’t known she had, her cries of effort filling the room. I whispered encouragement nonstop, wiped her face with a cool cloth one of the nurses handed me, kissed her forehead, told her how incredible she was, how strong, how perfect.

And through it all, I never let go of her hand.

“Very good, Madeline!” Dr. Carlisle encouraged. “One more time, nice and strong. That’s it-yes, yes! Keep

going, keep going!”

Every scream Madeline let out felt like a knife to my chest, but I didn’t let it show. She needed my strength now. She needed me to be her anchor, her safe harbor. So I kept whispering encouraging and loving words.

“Is… everyone… out there?” she asked suddenly between contractions, her voice hoarse and exhausted. Sweat ran down her face, her eyes red from the effort.

I smiled, thinking of the packed waiting room I’d left just minutes earlier. The scene had been almost

comical.

“Yes,” I answered, wiping her forehead once more with the cool cloth. “The Kensingtons and the Sullivans. All of them. Zoey is trying to calm Olivia down-she hasn’t stopped pacing. My mother is praying the rosary. Joseph is telling stories about the day I was born. And Gwen… well, Gwen is organizing everyone, as usual.”

She let out a weak laugh.

“Olivia… is out there?”

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“She is,” I said gently, watching her eyes fill with tears. “And your mom too.”

For a brief moment, in the middle of all the pain and effort, a genuine smile lit up Madeline’s face. It was beautiful. Radiant. Full of hope and forgiveness and love. Then another contraction hit, and she pushed again, squeezing my hand so hard I was sure something cracked.

I didn’t care. She could break every bone in my hand if it helped.

“You’re doing great, Madeline!” the doctor announced, excitement now clear in her voice. “One more-one big one. I can see the head! There’s hair-lots of hair!”

“You can do this, love,” I whispered urgently, my face close to hers. “Just a little more. Just a little more. Our girl is almost here.”

Madeline screamed, giving one final push that seemed to come from the deepest part of her soul, her entire body tightening in a superhuman effort, and then-

There was a sharp cry.

I

It was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard in my life.

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