Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 516

Chapter 516

I didn’t think. I just moved closer on the couch and pulled her into my arms.

She resisted for half a second before completely breaking down, crying against my shoulder like her

heart was shattering.

And maybe it was.

I held her while she cried, my own throat tight with emotion. I didn’t say anything. Sometimes there are no words. Sometimes all you can do is be there.

It took several minutes before she calmed enough to speak again. When she finally pulled away, wiping her face with the back of her hand, her eyes were red and swollen.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured.

“Don’t apologize,” I said firmly. “Never apologize for feeling.”

She looked at me then, and there was something vulnerable and grateful in her gaze.

I took a deep breath, bracing myself for what I needed to say.

“Vivian made choices,” I began carefully. “Questionable choices. Choices that hurt innocent people. She knows that. She takes responsibility for it. And she’s going to pay for it. But do you know what I finally

realized?”

Cecilia shook her head, waiting.

“Vivian was also his victim,” I said, letting the words settle between us. “Dominic’s. Maybe not in the same way you were. Not in the same way I was. But he turned her into something she never should have become.”

I saw Cecilia open her mouth to argue, but I kept going.

“He stole seven years of her life,” I said. “Seven years where she didn’t live. She just existed. Just waited. Just planned revenge. He took her peace. Her innocence. Her chance to have a normal life, to fall in love, to be happy. He turned her into a weapon. And when you become a weapon, sometimes you cause damage even when you don’t mean to.”

I wiped at my own tears as they started to fall.

“All three of us,” I continued, my voice cracking slightly, “you, me, and Vivian-we were all destroyed by him in different ways. You lost your sense of safety, your peace, parts of yourself you’ll never fully get back. I lost my freedom, my father, almost lost my life, almost lost everything. And Vivian… Vivian lost years of herself to hatred and revenge until there was almost nothing left of who she used to be.”

I looked straight into Cecilia’s eyes.

“But you know what else?” I said softly. “We’re all still here. We survived. And now we’re trying to rebuild

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our lives the best way we can. And I think… I think we have to have compassion for each other. Because if we don’t, who will?”

Cecilia was quiet for a long moment, processing everything I’d said. Then, slowly, she nodded.

“You’re right,” she whispered. “You’re right. I just… I just wish things were different. That none of this had ever happened. That we could’ve just been… just normal sisters living normal lives.”

“I know,” I said gently. “Believe me. I know.”

We sat together in silence for a few more moments before I finally reached for the folder.

“Vivian made me promise her something,” I said, opening it and pulling out the documents. “She made me promise I’d make sure this was honored. That I’d come to you and explain everything.”

I held the papers out to her.

“What… what is this?” Cecilia asked, taking them with visibly trembling hands.

I watched as she began to read. Saw her eyes widen. Saw the color drain from her face.

“Dominic signed those documents shortly before he died,” I explained while she read. “Vivian orchestrated everything perfectly. She got him to sign without realizing what it really was. He thought he was signing a marriage certificate. In reality, he was signing a recognition of Sarah’s paternity. And a donation agreement transferring half of everything he owned to her.”

“No,” Cecilia said immediately, before she’d even finished reading. She shoved the papers back toward me like they burned. “No, no, no. I don’t want anything from him. I don’t want his money. I don’t want anything that came from him or carries his name.”

“Cecilia-”

“No!” she shouted, jumping to her feet. “You don’t understand! You don’t understand what that money represents! That money is filthy! It’s built on lies and manipulation and cruelty! It’s built on people he destroyed, families he ruined, lives he took!”

Her voice kept rising, tipping into hysteria.

“I won’t touch it! I won’t let Sarah touch it!” she cried. “I’d rather work three jobs for the rest of my life, I’d rather we live with almost nothing, than use a single cent that came from that monster!”

I stood too, keeping my voice deliberately calm and steady.

“I understand,” I said. “But that money isn’t his anymore. He’s dead. He doesn’t exist anymore. And as horrible as its origin is, Sarah is his daughter. Biologically. And now legally too. She has a right to it.”

“She doesn’t need-”

“This isn’t about needing it,” I interrupted gently. “It’s about justice. It’s about making at least one good thing come out of so much horror.”

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Cecilia shook her head, more tears spilling down her cheeks.

I picked up the documents she’d thrown aside and held them between us.

“Sarah could have an education,” I said. “The best education possible. She could have opportunities. A future without the financial worries you’ve had. Without having to work from a young age. Without sacrificing dreams just to survive.”

I saw something shift in her expression. A crack in her resistance.

“And you,” I continued, pressing softly but firmly, “you could finally breathe. You could go back to school if you want. You could work less. Be more present with her. Give her a mother who isn’t exhausted all the time.”

“I don’t know,” Cecilia whispered. “I don’t know if I can.”

“You don’t have to use the money now,” I said quickly. “Look-do this. Put it in the bank. Open an account in Sarah’s name. Transfer everything there. And leave it. Just… leave it. Forget it exists if that makes it

easier.”

I held her gaze.

“And when Sarah turns eighteen-when she’s old enough to understand the whole story, the full truth- let her decide. If she wants to use it to study, to build a life, she can. If she wants to donate it all to

charities, to organizations that help victims of violence, she can. If she wants to burn it all to the ground…

gave a small, sad smile. “Then she can do that too.”

ו”

My voice softened.

“But at least she’ll have the choice. At least she’ll have control over something that came from him. And that… that’s power, Cecilia. That’s taking power away from him and giving it to her.”

She took a shaky breath.

“Okay,” she said finally, her voice trembling but resolute. “Okay. I’ll… I’ll put it in the bank. I’ll put everything in her name. And I’ll leave it there until she’s old enough to decide for herself.”

I placed the documents back in her hands, relief washing over me.

“Thank you,” I said quietly. “Vivian… Vivian will be at peace knowing this.”

Cecilia clutched the papers to her chest, still shaking.

“There’s one more thing,” I said, pulling a card from my pocket. “My number. My email. My address is on

the back.”

I held it out to her.

“If you or Sarah ever need anything,” I said. “Anything at all. No matter how small or how big. Call me. Text me. Show up at my door. Marcus and I-we want to help. Whether it’s legal support with all this paperwork, financial support if you need something before accessing Sarah’s account, or just someone

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to talk to who understands at least a little of what you’ve been through.”

Cecilia took the card, holding it like it was something fragile and precious.

“Why?” she asked, genuine confusion in her voice. “Why do you care? You don’t even know me. You don’t owe me anything.”

I looked at her. At this woman who had survived the unthinkable. Who had been broken and still chose

love. Who carried a pregnancy born of trauma and decided to love that child with her whole heart. Who was raising her daughter alone, with so much courage, so much strength.

“Because Dominic connected us,” I said simply, honestly. “In horrible ways. In ways none of us would ever choose. In ways that left scars we’ll carry forever.”

My eyes burned with fresh tears.

“But we’re connected anyway.”

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