Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 562

Chapter 562

Gwen’s POV

“I’ll come back to visit you,” I said, wiping the tears from my face and trying to smile at Bella in a

reassuring way.

That was when I heard someone clear their throat behind us.

I turned and saw Nick standing in the doorway. I had no idea how long he’d been there, how much of our conversation he’d overheard. He looked exhausted, dark circles under his eyes, his hair messy, like he’d run his hands through it over and over again.

“Bella,” he said gently, walking closer to the bed, “thank you for keeping an eye on Gwen while she slept. You were a great helper.”

Bella lit up at the praise, smiling proudly.

“But now I need to talk to her alone for a minute, okay?” Nick went on, holding out his hand to his daughter. “Why don’t you go see if Nonna needs help in the kitchen?”

“Okay, Daddy,” Bella said, hopping off the bed. But before leaving, she turned back to me one last time. ” You really will come back?”

“I will,” I promised. And this time, my voice sounded steadier. More convincing.

Bella skipped out of the room, her teddy bear swinging in her hand, and Nick closed the door behind her. The click of the latch felt louder than it should have in the silence that followed.

He turned to face me, hands in his pockets, his posture tense.

“Don’t lie to her,” he said, and there was a sharpness in his voice that hadn’t been there before. “Please. Bella’s already been through enough broken promises. She doesn’t need another one added to the list.”

The accusation hit me like a slap, but I understood where it was coming from. He was protecting his daughter. That was his job. His responsibility.

“It’s not a lie,” I replied, sitting up straighter in bed. “I really did get attached to her. And Montelira isn’t that far from Florentia on a normal day, without apocalyptic snowstorms. What, an hour and a half by car? I can come visit when I have time.”

I paused, then couldn’t help smiling a little.

“Besides,” I added lightly, lifting an eyebrow, “are you kicking me out? Because if I remember correctly… and now I remember everything… I booked a full week. I still have a few paid days left.”

I saw the corner of Nick’s mouth twitch upward, almost a smile.

“I’m not kicking you out,” he said, his voice softening a bit. “But your cousins… Mia and Dante… they think it’s best to take you back to Florentia. Find a specialized hospital, run some tests, make sure everything’s

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okay with you neurologically.”

He hesitated, then added more quietly:

“And… well, you must be missing your daughter too, right? I imagine you’d want to see her as soon as possible.”

I shook my head.

“I made that up too,” I admitted. “I don’t have a daughter. I think when I saw Bella… I just got attached too fast. My confused brain decided that if I felt that kind of love for a child, then I must have a daughter of

my own somewhere. It made sense at the time.”

Nick nodded slowly, taking that in.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured.

“It’s okay,” I said quickly. “It’s not like I’m actually losing someone. She never existed to begin with.”

Even so, the memory of the positive pregnancy test tightened painfully in my throat.

A heavy silence settled over the room. I could hear the wind outside, gentler now, and distant voices

downstairs.

Nick shifted his weight from one foot to the other, clearly uncomfortable. Then he cleared his throat.

“And… and the fiancé?” he asked, and there was something vulnerable in his voice now. “You made that up because… because there’s someone waiting for you in Florentia and you just got confused? Like, do you have a boyfriend or something, and your brain just…. swapped his face for mine?”

I shook my head immediately, denying it without hesitation.

“No. There’s no one waiting for me,” I said, feeling my cheeks warm. “I just… you were carrying me in your arms and-”

I stopped, realizing I was actually about to admit this out loud. But I’d already started, and there was no backing out now.

“I think I was attracted to you,” I finished quickly, the words tumbling out. “Physically. And my confused brain took that attraction and turned it into something more… meaningful. It built an entire story around it.

I covered my face with my hands, laughing but clearly trying to hide behind them.

“God, this is so embarrassing,” I groaned, my voice muffled by my palms. “I really went all in, didn’t I? Practically threw myself at you multiple times. Called you my fiancé to anyone who would listen. Accepted your mother’s ring with tears in my eyes. Jesus, I must’ve looked completely unhinged.”

I saw Nick turn his face toward the window, visibly awkward too.

“It’s okay,” he said, his voice a little rough. “You were confused. None of that was your fault.”

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“Not all of it,” I murmured, more to myself than to him.

Because the truth was, I still found him incredibly attractive. My entire body still reacted to his presence in the room. I still remembered exactly what it had felt like to have his lips on mine, his hands gripping my waist, the weight of him over me in the cabin waking every nerve ending in my body.

But I wasn’t that kind of woman.

Not anymore. Not for six years.

Not since I’d decided that relationships were too complicated, too painful, not worth the risk.

I was going back to Florentia. Back to work. Back to the safe, predictable normalcy of a life where no one could hurt me because I never let anyone get close enough.

Nick cleared his throat again, pulling me back to the present.

“Anyway, Miss Parker-”

“After everything, you’re still calling me that?” I cut in, unable to keep the faint amusement out of my

voice.

He smiled. A small but genuine smile that lit up his tired face.

“Sorry,” he said. “Anyway, Gwen. I’m truly sorry about what happened here. About the accident. We’re aware of our responsibility, and we’re prepared to cover any medical costs you might have. Appointments, tests, treatments, whatever you need. And if there’s any other compensation you feel is fair-”

“Nick,” I interrupted again, firmer this time. “That won’t be necessary. And I’m not going to sue the inn.

You can relax.”

I watched his shoulders visibly drop, a tension I hadn’t even realized he was carrying leaving his body.

“Accidents happen,” I continued. “I was careless. I should’ve paid more attention to the stairs. And honestly, I couldn’t have asked for better care here. You and your family were… incredible. You took care of me when you had absolutely no obligation to do so.”

“Thank you,” Nick said, real relief in his voice. “That means a lot. To me and to my family.”

He turned and walked toward the door, his hand already on the handle.

Then he stopped.

He stood there for a long moment with his back to me, as if debating whether he should say something

else.

“And… I really hope you come back someday,” he said finally, without turning around. “Not just for Bella, but-”

He didn’t finish.

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