Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 518

Chapter 518

My heart was already racing as the music began.

This was it.

I took a deep breath, adjusted the bouquet in my hands, and took my first step down the aisle.

The church was beautiful. Simple, but beautiful. A small chapel with dark wooden pews and stained- glass windows that spilled colored light over everything. Candles glowing softly at the altar. White flowers lining the sides, understated and elegant.

And the people.

Not many-but only the ones who truly mattered in our lives.

My mother sat in the first pew, already crying, clutching a tissue in her hand. Beside her were Marcus’s parents-Beatrice with that proud, glowing smile on her face, Giovanni holding her hand. Christian and Zoey just behind them, Matt on Christian’s lap, grabbing at anything within reach. Annie and Nate with Josh and Avery. Olivia and Luke, her hand resting protectively over her still-flat belly. Joseph, Gwen, Mia,

Matthew, Dante… and so many other faces I loved.

The children were scattered among the pews-Aurora in Beatrice’s arms, wide-eyed and curious even at such a young age. The other kids restless but well-behaved, unaware of the solemnity but making everything feel more alive, more real.

And then my eyes found Marcus’.

Standing at the altar beneath the warm glow of candles and stained glass. Impeccable dark suit. Hair perfectly styled. Hands clasped in front of him, trying to look calm-but I could see the emotion written across every line of his face.

Our eyes met, and it felt like the world stopped.

Like it was the first time.

Like that moment when our eyes met through his motorcycle helmet, when I just knew my life had changed forever.

But this was different now. Better.

Because this time, I knew him. Every part of him. I knew his flaws and his strengths. I knew how he snored softly when he was exhausted. I knew how he got up at three in the morning with Aurora without complaining. I knew his scars-visible and invisible. His strength. His vulnerability.

And he knew me the same way.

I kept walking, step by step, smiling through the tears already spilling down my cheeks.

When I finally reached the altar, Marcus reached for my hand, and I took it-feeling the familiarity of his

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touch, the warmth, the certainty.

“Hi,” he whispered, just for me.

“Hi,” I whispered back, letting out a quiet laugh.

The officiant began to speak. Beautiful words about love, commitment, journeys. I barely heard them. I was completely focused on Marcus. His eyes. His smile. The way he held my hand like he was afraid I might disappear.

“Marcus and Madeline,” the officiant said eventually, “have written their own vows for this special

moment. Marcus?”

Marcus took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Madeline,” he began, his voice rough with emotion. “When we got married the first time, it was under… complicated circumstances. It was beautiful, but it was confusing. It was real, but it was terrifying. I gave you everything I had-but I was also afraid. Afraid of not being enough. Afraid of losing you. Afraid of what the future might bring.”

He paused, swallowing hard.

“But after everything we’ve been through. After almost losing you for real. After bringing our daughter into the world. After facing real monsters and coming out the other side together… I’m not afraid

anymore.”

Tears were streaming freely down my face now.

“So today,” he continued, squeezing my hand tighter, “I’m not renewing vows out of obligation or tradition. I’m choosing you. Actively. Consciously. With every part of who I am. I’m choosing you in joy and in sorrow. In health and in sickness. On the easy days and the impossible ones. I’m choosing to build a life with you. To raise our daughter with you. To grow old with you.”

His voice broke.

“I’m choosing you, Madeline. Always. Forever. Because I love you.”

It took me a few seconds to speak, to force the words past the knot in my throat.

“Marcus,” I began, my voice shaking, “when I met you, I was running. Running from my past and my future, from my choices, from my fear. And you… you became my refuge. My safe harbor. My home when

I didn’t have one.”

I wiped my tears quickly, needing to see his face clearly.

“But today I’m not running from anything,” I said, steadier now. “Today I’m running toward you. Choosing you not because I need saving, but because I love you. Not because I’m afraid of being alone, but because I want to share every moment of my life with you.”

I smiled through the tears.

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could’ve let it all collapse. When most people would have walked away.

Christian studied me for a long moment, and I saw something soften in his expression. Maybe acceptance. Maybe just a quiet acknowledgment of what we were about to face.

“A lot of that was because of you too, Marcus,” he said sincerely. “You were there when I needed you. Working alongside me, holding things together, keeping everything running when it felt like the whole world was on fire around us. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Maybe,” I said, my throat tightening with emotion. “But Christian, you know it’s time for me to follow my own path, don’t you? You knew it even before I asked you to come in here.”

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Now we could simply… live.

And what a precious gift that was.

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