Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 646

Chapter 646

Nicholas’ POV

Signing the documents was shockingly easy.

Because the decision behind them was simple and clear. I needed help at the estate. Not surface-level help. Not temporary solutions. Real help. Structured. Professional. Competent.

The kind of help Kensington Group could provide.

Christian didn’t waste a second. The moment I signed the last page, he was already on the phone, making sharp, efficient calls to the right people.

Insurance? Handled. He personally knew the regional director.

Police investigation? The Kensington corporate attorney was assigned immediately to deal with the bureaucracy and monitor everything closely.

Reconstruction of the house? A trusted architect and contractor were already on their way to Montelira to assess the structural damage and begin restoration planning.

All of that while I was still staring at the pixelated photos Paula had sent me.

Photos that made me physically sick.

The east wing of the main house completely burned. Blackened walls. Shattered windows. Part of the roof collapsed.

My house.

The house where Bella was growing up. The house where I had grown up. My family’s home.

Destroyed.

And Christian just… handled it. With almost frightening efficiency.

He did more.

That same day, he sent a private driver to Montelira. A sleek black Mercedes picked up Martina and Bella from Paula’s house and brought them to Florentia.

By the time they arrived at Gwen’s apartment, it was late afternoon.

I opened the door and Bella practically launched herself into my arms.

“Daddy!” she shouted, wrapping her arms around my neck. “The house caught on fire! It was scary! But Aunt Paula said you’re going to fix everything.”

“I will, sweetheart,” I promised, kissing the top of her head over and over. “I’ll fix everything. Don’t worry.”

Martina stepped in more slowly, carrying two large suitcases. Her eyes widened as she took in the

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apartment.

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I saw the same shock I’d felt the first time I walked in. The high ceilings. The marble floors. The flawless decor. The insane panoramic view of Florentia through the wall of glass.

“Oh my goodness,” she muttered under her breath. “Nick… this is…”

“I know,” I said gently, taking the suitcases from her. “I know, Mom. It’s a lot. But it’s Gwen’s apartment. And Christian insisted you stay here as long as you need. He said Gwen would want that.”

And she would. I knew she would. Gwen would be relieved knowing Bella was safe here. That my mother

was comfortable.

Bella had already wriggled out of my arms and was running around exploring.

“Daddy! Daddy! There’s a pool on the roof!” she shouted from the terrace, practically bouncing with

excitement. “Can I swim? Please? Please?”

Despite everything, I smiled.

“Later, Bella. After Grandma gives you a bath and dinner.”

“But I really want to!”

Martina rolled her eyes fondly and took her granddaughter’s hand.

“Come on, little one. Let’s see your room first.”

Bella didn’t understand any of it beyond the obvious fact that Gwen had a very, very cool apartment and that at some point she’d get to swim in that incredible rooftop pool.

To her, it was an adventure.

To Martina and me, it was an overwhelming new reality we were still trying to process.

Every other minute of my time, I spent at the hospital.

I arrived early. I left late. Sometimes I didn’t leave at all.

Gwen had started showing encouraging signs of gradual return.

The fingers on her left hand had twitched slightly when the nurse checked her blood pressure.

Her eyelids fluttered a few times when a bright light was directed at her during a neurological exam.

Her breathing was becoming progressively less dependent on the ventilator

Small signs.

But meaningful

It was Thursday night when I found myself alone in her room again.

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Christian had finally gone home to rest after practically living at the hospital for days. Zoey had dragged him out, promising to return first thing in the morning..

So it was just me.

And Gwen.

And the steady beeping of the machines.

I sat beside her bed and took her cool hand in mine.

“Hey,” I started, the way I always did when we were alone. “I had an interesting day.”

I brushed my thumb gently over her fingers.

“I signed the papers. The partnership with your brother. Valemont is officially ‘by the Kensington Group’ now.” The words still felt strange. “You’re probably going to want to weigh in on every single detail when you wake up. And I’ll let you. Because… well, you’ll probably have better ideas than I do anyway.”

I smiled at her, even though I knew she couldn’t see me.

“Christian’s handling everything at the estate. The fire, the investigation, the rebuild. He’s been incredi honestly. I’ve never seen someone solve problems that fast.”

I squeezed her hand gently.

“And Bella’s here. At your apartment. Martina too. Christian insisted. Said you’d want that.” I let out a soft laugh. “Bella is completely obsessed with the rooftop pool. She hasn’t stopped talking about swimming

in it.”

I studied her face. The bruises were starting to fade to yellow, a sign they were healing. The cuts were closing cleanly.

“Our Bella,” I murmured softly. “She asks about you every day. ‘When is Gwen going to wake up?’ I tell her soon. And she says, ‘But I want to show her my butterfly stroke now!” I mimicked my daughter’s dramatic little voice and smiled.

And then I saw it.

The faintest movement at the corner of Gwen’s mouth.

It was a small but weak smile.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

“Gwen?” I leaned closer, pulse racing. “Can you hear me?”

Her eyes didn’t open yet.

But her lips moved.

“Nick…” It came out hoarse. Barely a whisper.

3/4

Chipie 4

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