Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 683 Renee's POV That Monday, | parked two blocks from Bella's school and stayed in the car for a moment, studying my reflection in the window. The cut on my forehead was hidden under a discreet bandage. The bruises were covered by carefully chosen clothes. The rest was makeup and good lighting. The school secretary recognized me before | even said my name. Not warmly. Professionally. The look of someone who has seen wealthy fathers, angry mothers, and children stuck in between.

| showed my ID, signed the form, and offered a simple explanation about a "medical appointment" and needing to pick her up two classes early. Mother. That word opens doors. No one asked if her father knew. No one wanted to step into that territory. Schools prefer not to buy into family wars. And | knew exactly how to use that cowardice in my favor. Bella appeared at the classroom door with her backpack on, surprise written all over her face. "Mom?" she said, and for a second that was all it was.

A little girl ---- seeing her mother outside the routine, her heart jumping with a flicker of hope. | crouched to her level and opened my arms. "Hi, sweetheart. I'm stealing you today." She let out a short, slightly guilty laugh and came into my arms. On the way to the car, she glanced at me sideways, her eyes too observant fora child who supposedly didn't understand anything. "Why are you hurt, Mom?" | smiled like it was all mildly ridiculous. "It's nothing, honey. | fell." | waved it off. "A silly little fall.

But nothing gelato and skipping class can't fix, right?" Her eyes lit up immediately. "We're getting gelato?" "Yes. Your favorite place." She smiled fully, and | felt that quiet satisfaction that comes from measuring sweetness just right. We sat outside the gelato shop. | ordered a small cup for myself to look normal and a large one for her with two scoops. ---- She stared at her spoon for a moment, and the smile faded halfway through. "So... why are you so sad?" | asked gently, in that tone mothers use when they want to sound comforting but are really gathering information.

like the injustice was too big for her mouth. "He had to go get Gwen. And then he spent the whole weekend doing adult stuff." Adult stuff | almost laughed "Oh," | said softly, as if something obvious had just clicked.

take vitamins, can't drink certain things, needs more rest... and then the dad has to handle everything." Ilisted it slowly. Real enough to feel inevitable. Bella looked at me with a small, fragile kind of shock "My dad?" "Your dad," | confirmed gently. 'Who's also the baby's dad." She swallowed. The gelato was

about homework "It is. And the baby isn't even here yet." Bella pressed her lips together. Her chin trembled just slightly. "But Dad promised he wouldn't forget me." ---- I et the silence stretch for one heartbeat. Long enough for a

"|... [didn't know you played." "| can learn," | said simply, as if it were nothing. "You can teach me. We can play all the time." ----

new baby. No pushy stepmother. Just us. Her eyes filled with tears. "| want Dad too," she whispered. I et out a soft sigh, like that

at the version of events | had carefully arranged. "He promised. And he didn't come back. He had adult things to do. He ran out because of Gwen. He got busy." | didn't say he chose them. | let her arrive at that conclusion herself. Bella's breathing grew uneven. Her eyes shone. "So... $0 itll just be us?" | asked softly. "Would you want that?" She gripped her spoon like it was