Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 611

Chapter 611

Renee’s POV

I took Bella to a pizzeria after we left the toy store.

It wasn’t the fanciest place in town, but it was nice enough. Family-friendly. The kind of place where kids could eat without being expected to sit perfectly still and silent.

Bella ordered a small margherita pizza and orange juice.

I watched her eat slowly, using a fork and knife with that serious concentration children have when they’re trying to do things properly. It wasn’t perfect. A few pieces slipped. The melted cheese stretched stubbornly, but she tried.

She was well-mannered. Nick had done at least that right.

“So,” I began casually, taking a sip of my juice, “tell me something. This Gwen who gave you the necklace. How did you meet her?”

Bella looked up, a string of melted cheese still clinging to her slice.

“She got sick,” she said simply.

“Got sick?” I repeated, frowning.

“Yeah,” Bella confirmed, wiping her mouth with a napkin. “She fell on the stairs at our house and hit her head really hard. Then Daddy took care of her.”

Interesting.

“And she stayed with you for a long time?” I asked, keeping my tone light. Curious. Maternal.

“Just until she got better,” Bella said. “Because she didn’t even know where her house was.Grandma said it was because of her head.”

So. Amnesia. Or something close to it.

“Wow, that must have been scary,” I commented. “And your dad took care of her the whole time?”

“Mhm.” Bella grabbed another slice. “She stayed in the guest room. Grandma Martina made special food for her. And Daddy took her to the doctor.”

How convenient. A beautiful woman. Vulnerable. Completely dependent on him.

Of course Nick fell in love.

“Does she live far away?” I asked. “Where did she come from?”

“Florentia,” Bella replied. “But now she comes every week to see us.”

Florentia.

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Chapter 611

Noted.

“She must be really nice,” I said with a smile. “For you to like her so much.”

Bella smiled too. It was a real smile that I had never seen directed at me.

“Gwen is the best,” she declared with absolute childlike certainty. “She plays with me. And teaches me things. And takes me to get gelato.”

Something tightened in my chest. It wasn’t exactly jealousy. More like… frustration.

“You two seem very close,” I said.

“We are,” Bella agreed. “She’s going to be my new mommy.”

I nearly choked on my juice.

“What?”

“When she and Daddy get married,” Bella explained, as if it were obvious. “Then she’ll live with us all the time and I’ll have a real mommy who doesn’t leave.”

The words hit with surgical precision.

“So…” I said slowly, processing, “they’re dating?”

“They’re getting married,” Bella corrected. “And I’m going to be the flower girl. Gwen promised.”

“Married?” I repeated, trying not to sound as shocked as I felt. “That serious already?”

“Mhm.” Bella nodded enthusiastically. “And Gwen’s whole family is coming to dinner on Saturday. Grandma Martina is making fresh pasta. And ragù. And panna cotta. And rocket salad that I don’t really like, but I have to eat a little because it’s polite.”

The whole family. Formal dinner. Saturday.

This was much more serious than I’d thought.

“That’s nice,” I managed, forcing enthusiasm into my voice. “I’m sure it’s going to be a beautiful dinner.”

“It is,” Bella agreed. “Daddy said we’re using the big table. And there will be candles. And flowers. And everything really pretty.”

We finished eating. I asked a few more casual questions. Bella opened up a little more. Not completely. But enough that I felt like I’d made at least some progress.

When we finally stepped outside the pizzeria, I saw Nick’s car pulling up to the curb.

He got out and looked straight at me before shifting his attention to Bella.

“So, princess?” he asked, crouching down to her level. “Did you have fun?”

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Bella thought about it for a moment.

“It wasn’t bad,” she said honestly.

Then, unexpectedly, she gave me a small smile.

I realized I was supposed to smile back. I did. Maybe a second too late. Maybe not as naturally as I

would’ve liked.

“Come on,” Nick said, taking her backpack and the shopping bags. “Let’s go home. You’ve still got homework.”

I followed them to the car. Nick opened the back door, helped Bella in, and buckled her seat belt.

When he straightened up, I lightly touched his arm.

“Listen,” I began, lowering my voice so Bella couldn’t hear, “I’m just worried. As her mother. That Bella might be getting too attached to your… girlfriend.”

I paused deliberately.

“What if you two break up? What if she pulls away and leaves? I don’t know if it’s healthy for Bella to get this close so fast.”

I was probing. Trying to confirm whether what Bella had said was true. Whether Nick really intended to marry this so-called Gwen.

He looked at me for a long moment. Those green eyes that once held love for me now reflected something between irritation and pity.

“That’s not going to happen,” he said simply.

“And if it does?” I pressed.

He smiled. Not warmly. It was sharp. Bitter.

“It won’t,” he repeated with absolute certainty. “But if it did, unfortunately, it wouldn’t be the first time Bella has had to deal with abandonment, would it?”

Before I could respond, he walked around the car, got in the driver’s seat, and started the engine.

He drove off without looking back.

I stood there on the sidewalk, watching the car disappear at the corner.

If Nick didn’t want to talk, I would have to investigate another way.

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