Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 536

Chapter 536

Nicholas’ POV

I went upstairs slowly, my steps heavy after the long day. The house was quiet now, broken only by the occasional sound of guests moving around in their rooms or the familiar creak of the old wood settling.

I stopped at Bella’s door and opened it gently.

I expected to find her asleep, curled up under the blankets with her stuffed bear hugged to her chest like she always did. But instead, she was sitting up in bed, the bedside lamp on, casting a soft golden glow around the room. She was staring into nothing, her brown eyes distant and thoughtful.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” I asked, stepping inside and closing the door behind me.

Bella blinked, like she was coming out of a trance, and looked at me.

“I can’t sleep,” she said in that small voice she used when something was bothering her.

I sat on the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping slightly under my weight.

“Do you want a story?”

Her face lit up instantly.

“Yes!”

I stood and walked over to the small white-painted bookshelf against the wall. It was full of children’s books. Some had been mine when I was a kid. Others we’d bought together over the years. I ran my finger along the spines until I found one of Bella’s favorites, a story about a clever fox and his adventures in the forest.

I went back to the bed and settled beside her, leaning against the headboard. Bella immediately snuggled into my side, her warm little head resting against my arm.

I opened the book and started reading, using different voices for each character like she loved. The fox had a high, mischievous voice. The bear was deep and grumbly. The bunny spoke fast and nervously.

Bella giggled, her eyes shining every time I made a particularly silly voice.

I was halfway through a scene where the fox was trying to steal honey from the bees when I looked down at Bella, checking to see if she was still listening or already drifting off.

That’s when I saw it.

Around her neck, softly gleaming under the lamp light, was a necklace. A delicate chain with a small star- shaped pendant.

I stopped reading mid-sentence.

“Where did you get that?” I asked, pointing to the necklace.

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Bella touched the star with her tiny fingers, a huge smile spreading across her face.

“Gwen gave it to me! It’s our friendship necklace. I gave mine to her and she gave hers to me.”

I leaned closer and reached out to touch it. The metal was cool and smooth under my fingers, and even with my limited knowledge of jewelry, I recognized the quality immediately.

This wasn’t cheap costume jewelry. It wasn’t gold-plated or an imitation.

It was real gold. Solid gold. And probably high-karat, with details that were far too delicate to be mass- produced.

It was very expensive.

Not the kind of thing I could afford to buy for a woman, for example. Not with the tight budget it took just to keep the property running.

“Bella,” I said carefully, “you’re going to have to give this back.”

“No!” she shot back instantly, clutching the necklace with both hands to protect it. “It’s a friendship necklace!”

“I know, sweetheart, but it’s a grown-up necklace. Gwen can give you another one later, a kid’s one, okay?”

Bella’s eyes filled with tears, her lower lip starting to tremble.

“But I like the little star!” she protested, her voice turning whiny. “It shines so much in the light. It’s pretty!”

My heart clenched. I hated seeing my daughter cry. Hated having to take away something that so clearly meant a lot to her.

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” I said quickly, stroking her hair gently. “You can keep it for now.”

Mentally, I made a note. I’d take the necklace back when Bella took it off to shower and discreetly return. it to Gwen. Kids forgot things easily. By tomorrow, she’d be distracted by something else.

Bella wiped her tears with the back of her hand and snuggled back against me, satisfied.

I went back to the story, finding my place again. The fox was now running from an angry swarm of bees, and I used my best “furious bees” voice to make Bella laugh again.

But this time, she interrupted me.

“Daddy?”

“Hm?”

“Do you think Gwen is happy?”

The question caught me completely off guard. I lowered the book and looked at her.

“I think so. Why?”

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Bella fiddled with her fingers, not looking directly at me.

“I don’t want to lose another mommy because she isn’t happy with me.”

My heart shattered.

I closed the book completely and turned toward her, gently cupping her small face in my hands.

“Bella, listen to me. You are a beautiful, smart, funny little girl, and you make everyone around you happy. Do you understand? Everyone. Grandma, Aunt Paula, me… you light up our lives every single day.”

“But Mommy-”

“Your mom had problems that had nothing to do with you,” I said firmly. “She’s the one who couldn’t see the treasure she had. But that’s about her. Not you. Never you.”

Bella nodded, but she still looked unsure.

“But Gwen,” I went on, choosing my words carefully, “isn’t going to be your new mommy, sweetheart.”

Bella frowned, confused.

“But I saw you kissing. And you’re going to get married. So she’s going to be my new mommy.”

“Remember when I said she’s hurt?” I tried to explain. “That she hit her head and she’s confused? I’m just helping her get better, and-”

A scream cut through the air.

High-pitched. Female. Clearly coming from a nearby room.

From Gwen’s room.

Bella and I froze, staring at each other with wide eyes.

“Go, Daddy!” Bella pushed me, urgency in her voice. “The hurt must be hurting!”

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