Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 59

Chapter 59

I woke with the first rays of sunlight slipping through the half-drawn curtains, my head still heavy from the wine the night before. It took me a few seconds to register where I was-and more importantly, with whom. Christian was still asleep beside me, one arm draped loosely over my waist. His face, relaxed in slumber, looked so different from the carefully controlled expression he wore while awake.

Carefully, I slipped out of his embrace and stood. We had a flight to catch to Valentia. The thought still felt surreal, almost laughable. Me, who had never even left Verdania, about to board a plane for a honeymoon in Montelira.

Thankfully, I had a valid passport. Edward had once insisted that everyone in Sunvale’s PR team keep their documents up-to-date, claiming it was for possible international wine fairs. One of the few useful things he’d ever done for me, in the end.

As I dressed, Christian stirred awake, his eyes locking on mine with that same intensity that always unsettled me.

“Good morning, wife,” he murmured, his voice rough with sleep.

“Good morning, husband,” I answered, surprised at how natural the word felt on my lips.

“Ready for Valentia?” he asked, sitting up in bed.

“As ready as someone who’s never left the country can be,” I said with a nervous smile. “I just hope my soap- opera-style Maravinese-Valentian accent will be enough.”

Christian laughed, rising to his feet.

“Don’t worry. Between my Valentian and the staff who speak Maravinese, you’ll be fine. Besides, there’s something about the language of wine that transcends barriers.”

Over breakfast, my family and Joseph joined us. Annabelle was especially animated, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she poked at her croissant.

“So, Valentia, huh?” She leaned closer, lowering her voice. “The fashion capital of the world! You should definitely go shopping-especially for lingerie.”

“Annie!” I hissed, my cheeks burning.

“What? You sold all the ones Christian gave you, remember?” She shrugged innocently. “It is a honeymoon, after all. And you do have a husband who’s…” Her eyes drifted appreciatively toward Christian, who was deep in conversation with my father. “Let’s just say-a very good reason to invest in some high-quality Valentian pieces.”

“I’m not going there to shop,” I retorted, though the idea wasn’t entirely unappealing. After selling nearly all the expensive clothes Christian had given me, my wardrobe was considerably more modest.

“If not for shopping, then for romance!” Annabelle insisted, her tone dripping with innuendo. “An Valentian honeymoon, wine, Castoria… even I would get romantic in a setting like that.”

Joseph appeared then, effectively rescuing me from my sister’s inappropriate commentary.

“My dear, you’re going to love Montelira,” he said, clasping my hands warmly between his. “The estate has been in the family for generations. It’s where I met my Sophie.”

His eyes softened with that familiar nostalgic glow he always carried when speaking of his late wife.

“There’s a terrace overlooking the vineyards…” He sighed. “On warm summer nights, we would sit there for hours, just talking and sipping the harvest wine. I hope the two of you find the same kind of peace we found there.

His eyes shone with emotion.

“You’ve brought light back into this family, Zoey. You are the gift here.”

The goodbyes were more emotional than I’d expected. My mother hugged me as if I were leaving forever instead of just two weeks.

“Enjoy every minute,” she whispered, smoothing my hair the way she used to when I was a child. “And take lots of pictures – I want to see everything!”

My father clasped my hand firmly, that meaningful expression I knew so well-he trusted me, but wanted me to remember I’d always have a place to come back to.

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