Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 658

Chapter 658

Gwen’s POV

The Kensington legal department’s conference room was intimidating by design.

A long table of polished dark mahogany. Black leather chairs that were just rigid enough to discourage emotional outbursts. An entire wall of glass overlooking Florentia, as if the city itself were a quiet

reminder that inside this room, the world ran on rules.

The opposite wall was lined with shelves of Italian legal codes, bound and aligned with almost aggressive precision.

Three attorneys sat across from me.

Julia March, family law, sharp-eyed in a way that suggested she’d seen every kind of domestic war imaginable. Marcus Ross, asset protection, carrying the clinical calm of someone who could turn panic into clauses. Leonardo Cross, coordinating everything, thin-framed glasses and a voice that sounded like it had been built to say, “This is incontestable.”

Christian sat at my side. Relaxed posture. Absolute attention. As always, even when he pretended not to be invested.

I sat straight, hands folded on the table, my engagement ring catching the cool overhead light. I hadn’t planned to display it. But I wasn’t hiding it either.

Leonardo opened a folder.

“So,” he began with the serenity of someone announcing a verdict, “you intend to marry Mr. Nicholas Valemont in the near future.”

It wasn’t phrased as a question, but I confirmed anyway.

“‘Yes.’

Julia slid her finger across her tablet.

“And the primary concern is shielding your personal assets so that your fiancé’s ex-wife cannot, under any circumstance, attempt to claim child support based on your resources.”

‘Exactly,” I said. “And we also need to ensure this doesn’t complicate the custody case I don’t want to hand her ammunition”

The three of them exchanged a brief look The silent code of people who had worked together for years,

Julia spoke first, and her expression was almost pleased.

“In fact, the marriage is likely to help Significantly

I blinked

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“Help how?”

She folded her hands on the table, shifting into lecture mode.

“In custody proceedings, stability matters. A great deal. Marriage is a formal demonstration of family stability. It’s not dating. It’s not temporary. It’s a legal commitment. Judges tend to view that very positively.”

Marcus nodded, flipping through documents.

“Clear household structure. Two consistent adult figures. Predictability. Continuity. Courts value that.”

Leonardo added, pragmatic as ever.

“Especially when the opposing party presents a history of instability. From what we’ve gathered, the mother lives alone, has a questionable professional background, and volatile personal relationships. The comparison will be unavoidable.”

I barely absorbed the flattering part.

I went straight to what had been clawing at me.

“And the argument that Nick is financially dependent on me?” I pressed. “That he can’t support his daughter on his own and that I would effectively be the source of support?”

Leonardo leaned forward, fingers interlaced.

“We are preparing a comprehensive dossier on Mr. Valemont’s financial independence,” he said “His partnership with the Kensington Group has been formalized through contract, clearly defining his role, responsibilities, and compensation structure. It is an early-stage project without distributed profits yet, which actually works in our favor. It demonstrates that he is not your dependent, but a business partner with documented autonomy and projected independent income.”

Marcus added smoothly, “He is not your employee. He does not live off your assets. He is a contractual partner in a legitimate enterprise. That distinction is crucial.”

Relief began to loosen something in my chest.

“So the marriage won’t harm Bella’s custody case?’ I asked, needing to hear it again it doesn’t create an opening?”

“No,” all three of them answered almost in unison

And for the first time in weeks, I felt like the ground beneath us was solid again

Leonardo continued, calm and precise

“Our recommendation, however, is a quick wedding Ideally before the preliminary hearing. And under full separation of assets regime.”

I repeated it slowly, like I was testing the shape of the decision.

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“Full separation of assets.”

Marcus took over, slipping into professor mode.

“Separation of assets. Separate estates. What’s yours remains yours. What’s his remains his. No automatic commingling. No shared ownership by default. Any estate planning can be handled through a will, clearly and strategically.”

Julia added bluntly, “From the ex-wife’s perspective, that eliminates the ‘household financial capacity’ narrative. She can argue, dramatize, imply whatever she wants. But legally, she can’t pierce the marital regime. Especially once we present the dossier proving Nick’s financial independence.”

Leonardo tapped his pen lightly against the table, as if sealing the conclusion.

“In summary, it’s a very solid shield.”

The smile that spread across my face was unavoidable.

Relief rushed through me, almost childish in its intensity.

Finally, something that didn’t depend on luck. Or on hoping Renee wouldn’t try something new.

I turned to Christian, glowing.

“You heard that?” I said, unable to contain the excitement in my voice. “Quick wedding, before the hearing. Full separation. Financial independence dossier. Renee’s entire argument collapses.”

I expected him to smile.

He didn’t.

In fact, something about his expression was… wrong.

Jaw tight. Eyes not quite meeting mine. Shoulders too still.

It was the posture I’d known since childhood. The one he wore when he hated being the messenger

“No,” he said quietly. Heavy. “It’s not that simple.”

My smile faltered, like someone had flipped off a switch.

“What do you mean?”

Christian inhaled slowly and straightened in his chair, like he was bracing himself to step into impact

My stomach tightened.

“Christian,” I said carefully, “you’re scaring me.”

He ran a hand through his hair, restless. That confirmed it. This wasn’t just legal.

“We have a bigger issue than we anticipated,” he said, choosing each word like it had edges.

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“What issue?” My voice came out sharper than I meant. “They just said the protection is solid. That the marriage helps. That everything is aligned.”

The three attorneys were completely silent now, their eyes fixed on me.

Panic rose like a wave.

“Christian,” I pressed, my heart racing, “what issue?”

He opened his mouth, closed it, took a breath.

“Gwen… I don’t know how to say this the right way.”

“Rip off the bandage,” I said. “Quick and direct. Like you always do.”

He looked at me.

And for a split second, I saw something in his eyes I hadn’t seen in years.

Fear.

“The doctors told me when you were in the coma,” he said quickly. “But they asked that we keep it confidential for a few weeks, until… until…”

I didn’t let him finish.

“I’m sick?” My voice shook. “Am I still at risk? Is there something wrong they didn’t tell me?”

“No,” he said immediately, lifting his hands. “No. You’re recovering well. You’re fine.”

“Then what is it?” I demanded.

Christian swallowed and held my gaze.

“Gwen,” he said softly, his voice suddenly gentle in a way that made my pulse spike even harder. “You’re pregnant.”

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