Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 75 944 +25 Bonus After Francesca left, I remained on the veranda for a long time, her words swirling in my mind like leaves in a storm. I needed to find out more, to understand what had really happened years ago. Lucy appeared with my coffee, and as she set the table, I decided this was my chance. "Lucy?" I began hesitantly, trying to piece together my limited Valentian vocabulary. "Posso... ask... qualcosa?" She smiled kindly and nodded. "Francesca e Christian..." I hesitated, searching for words. "Molto tempo...

insieme?" Lucy frowned, trying to make sense of my broken question. "Francesca e Mr. Christian?" She made a vague gesture with her hands. "Sì, sì. Da bambini. Cresciuti insieme." Grew up together. That much I already knew. I tried to ask something more specific. "Francesca... bambino?" I asked, miming cradling a baby. "Con Christian?" Lucy's face shut down immediately. She shook her head vigorously, crossing herself. "Non parliamo di questo. Tragedia. Tragedia!" She seemed genuinely distressed. "Isabelle non vuole che si parli di questo." Isabelle didn't want it spoken of. Interesting.

I tried another angle. "Christian... triste? Quando... bambino... non più?" Lucy gave me a look that was equal parts pity and caution. I was clearly touching on forbidden ground. "Mrs. Kensington..." she began, then changed her mind and shrugged. "Christian molto triste, sì. Settimane nella sua stanza. Non parlava con nessuno." From what I understood, Christian had stayed shut in his room for weeks, speaking to no one. The loss had affected him deeply. "Francesca... tornare? Dopo?" I asked, trying to understand when Francesca had returned to his life.

Lucy opened her mouth to answer, but a familiar voice interrupted. "I think I'm witnessing the massacre of the beautiful Valentian language." Gwen was leaning against the doorway, a mischievous smile on her lips, though her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "My apologies to your linguistic sensibilities," I replied, relieved to speak normally again. "I'm just trying to broaden my horizons." "Asking about Francesca and Christian?" Her eyes were sharp. "Interesting choice of topic to practice Valentian with." Lucy seized the chance to retreat quickly, muttering something about bed linens.

least I was proud I understood that. 1/3 Chapter 75 +25 Bonus Gwen sat in the chair Francesca had occupied earlier, helping herself to the coffee. "So, you ran into Francesca this morning?" she asked casually. "How did you guess?" "Because only after one of her poison doses would

favorite tactics." I looked at her, startled by the accuracy. "You've seen this tactic before." Gwen sighed. "Francesca has a limited repertoire. She uses the same tricks on every woman who gets close to Christian." "So I shouldn't

by stealing from the winery? That seems... extreme." Gwen stared out at the vineyards for a moment, as if weighing how much to share. "Francesca never forgave Christian for not 'rescuing' her from that convent," she said finally. "Even though he didn't know the full truth. Even though he was only seventeen, powerless against

way close again, won back his trust, and then... betrayed him in the worst way. Professionally and personally." "That doesn't make sense," I argued. "If she wanted to be with him..." "Who says it has to

asked. "That she still... cares, in her own twisted way?" "He knows." Gwen's expression turned serious. "That's why he keeps his distance. Not out of anger out of self- preservation. Being close to Francesca is like dancing with a poisonous snake." 2/3 Chapter 75 +25 Bonus We finished our coffee in silence, each lost in thought. When Gwen finally stood to