Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 648

Chapter 648

Nicholas POV

Seeing the destruction in person was nothing like seeing it in photos on my phone.

I drove the familiar road to Montelira with a growing knot of dread in my stomach. But nothing prepared me for turning into the property and seeing my house like that.

The east wing was unrecognizable.

The exterior walls were blackened with thick soot. The windows were completely blown out, jagged holes where glass used to be. A large section of the roof had collapsed, charred wooden beams exposed to the open sky like broken ribs.

The smell still hung in the air. Old smoke. Bumed wood. Something chemical and suffocating that clung to the back of my throat.

I parked in front of the house and sat there for a few minutes, just staring.

My home.

The house where I grew up. Where Bella was growing up. Where generations of my family had lived.

Destroyed.

Eventually, I stepped out of the car and walked slowly toward the yellow caution tape surrounding the worst of the damage.

People were still working. Firefighters finishing structural inspections. Forensic technicians in white jackets examining specific spots with specialized equipment.

And, unexpectedly, Dante Kensington was there too.

He spotted me and walked over with steady steps.

“Nick” he greeted, shaking my hand “Christian asked me to oversee the progress Make sure everything’s being handled properly”

I looked at him with a gratitude I didn’t quite have the words for

“Thank you.” I said finally “For being here. For everything’

Dante shrugged like it was nothing

“We’re family now,” he said simply “And family takes care of family”

That word again

Family

I

Coming from a Kensington, it carried weight I was still learning to understand

chaps Bas

+25 Bonus

We stood in silence for a few seconds, both staring at the damage.

“When does reconstruction start?” I asked.

“It technically already has,” Dante replied. “The architect finalized the revised plans yesterday. The contractor begins controlled demolition of what can’t be salvaged tomorrow morning. After that, full reconstruction. Estimated three to four months before it’s fully habitable again.”

Three to four months.

The weight of it hit hard.

“Three to four months without hosting guests,” I repeated, doing the math automatically. “Three to four months with no revenue coming in.”

The estate depended on guest stays. It was our main source of income. High season was coming, when we were usually booked solid weekend after weekend.

Now we’d have to cancel everything. Refund deposits. Lose reservations.

“How am I supposed to-” I started, but the sentence died.

How was I going to pay the staff? Keep the property running? Cover basic expenses for months without

income?

Even with the Kensington partnership. Even with everything.

Dante must have seen the panic rising in my face.

“The reconstruction is covered,” he said firmly. “Insurance and group investment. And we can discuss compensation for lost revenue. You’re not going to be left stranded, Nick.”

I nodded, but the worry didn’t fully fade.

“And the investigation?” I asked, gesturing toward the forensic team.

“The police are finishing evidence collection,” Dante said carefully. “Unofficially, it’s confirmed arson. Traces of accelerant in three separate points. It was set deliberately.”

Cold anger slid up my spine.

“Someone did this on purpose,” I said. Not a question.

“Yes,” Dante confirmed grimly. “Someone did.”

“Do they know who?”

“Not officially,” he admitted. “But they’re pursuing several loads.”

I wanted to ask if Renee was one of those leads. If anyone had connected her threats to a fire days later.

But before I could, Dante reached into the inside pocket of his blazer and pulled out a large envelope.

215

Chapar 143

+25 Bonus

“By the way,” he said, handing it to me. “This arrived for you today.”

I took it, confusion tightening in my chest.

It was formally addressed to me. The letterhead belonged to a law firm I didn’t recognize.

I tore it open carefully and unfolded the documents inside.

I started reading.

And the world stopped.

[PETITION FOR MODIFICATION OF CUSTODY.]

Renee. Of course.

It was about Bella.

The words began to blur as I kept reading, my eyes moving faster and faster across the page.

Arguments about financial instability. About an unsafe environment for a child. About the father’s relationship with “an individual of substantial financial means who holds control over debts tied to the property where the minor resides, creating a conflict of interest and an emotionally unstable environment.”

And of course, the recent fire. Citing it as proof that Bella had been placed in real danger.

Renee was using everything. Absolutely everything against me.

The debt Gwen had bought. The fire. Our financial situation. She was painting me as irresponsible. Unstable. Incapable of providing a safe home.

And she was requesting full custody of Bella.

The edges of my vision started to darken.

“Nick?” Dante said, his tone shifting with concern. “What happened? What is that?”

I couldn’t answer right away. I just handed him the papers, my hand visibly shaking.

He read quickly, his expression hardening with every line.

“That bitch,” he muttered under his breath. “She can’t be serious.”

“She is,” I managed, my voice hoarse. “Completely serious.”

I looked up at the burned house. The extensive damage. The undeniable proof of arson

Had it been her?

Had Renee actually sent someone to set fire to my house?

3/5

CHONERE DAS

+25 Bonus

The house where our daughter slept?

All to build a case against me? To prove Bella wasn’t safe with me?

It sounded insane. Too extreme. Too dangerous, even for her.

But then I heard her voice again in my head.

“You’re going to pay for your stupid choices.”

She had warned me.

And days later, my house was on fire.

“I need to talk to a lawyer,” I said mechanically, my brain scrambling for the next step. “I need to respond

to this. I need to-”

“Calm down,” Dante cut in firmly. “Our legal department will handle it. The best family lawyer money can buy. She’s not going to take Bella from you.”

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to feel steady.

But fear was swallowing everything.

What if she could?

What if a judge looked at the debt, the fire, the financial restructuring, and decided Bella would be safer with her mother?

What if I lost my daughter?

No.

She wouldn’t win.

“She can try,” I muttered, more to myself than to Dante. “Renee can try to take everything from me.”

I looked at the charred remains of my house. At the life I was rebuilding with the Kensingtons’ help. At the uncertain future I was already fighting to hold together.

Renee might have burned my home. She might be using every weapon she had against me.

But there was one thing she would not take.

I clenched my fists, feeling cold determination replace the fear.

“But she’s not taking my daughter,” I said with absolute conviction. “She’s not.”

4/5

Chapte

+25 Bonus