Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 669 Gwen's POV | thought that after the civil ceremony, I'd want silence. A dark room. A hot shower. Nick completely to myself, no noise, No questions, no world trying to turn our life into a caption. But Zoey had other plans. And when Christian and Martina showed up with us at the entrance of the club, | understood why. The place was closed for family and friends only. No strangers. No cameras. No press. At the door, a security guard | didn't recognize somehow recognized me anyway and gave us a subtle nod to let us in.

Inside, it felt like someone had built a capsule of joy in the middle of chaos. Low lights. Good music. Food moving around on trays. A fully open bar. | still wasn't used to the words that now clung to me. Pregnant. Wife. Future. ---- Bella wasn't there. At that hour she was at school, and honestly, we thought it was better that way. The word "marriage" still had thorns in her mind. | didn't want her first real experience with it to be a packed room, loud music, and people shouting congratulations. | wanted it to come gently. With honesty. With safety.

But in that moment, | needed something else too. Proof that | wasn't alone on the exposed side of this life. And | wasn't. Annie and Nate were leaning near the bar, carrying that effortless London elegance that doesn't wrinkle, not even after a long flight. Matthew stood with them, shirt unbuttoned at the collar. Marcus and Madeline arrived with full energy, hugging everyone like affection was their national language. Mia was already there with Dante and Paula. Paula wore the permanent smile of someone who knew things.

Dante had that posture of "I'm going to pretend this is all completely normal because I'm the responsible adult here," but his eyes gave away how emotional he actually was. On Nick's side, a few friends from Montelira had claimed a small table. Easy laughter. Heavy hands clapping shoulders. People ---- calling my husband by nicknames | was still learning to hear without feeling surprised. And then something happened that | couldn't explain. | felt loved. Not ina dramatic way. Not like in a movie. Ina physical way.

grabbed my shoulders with both hands. "lam not accepting any 'I'm about to cry' face tonight," she warned. "I'm not crying," | lied. She arched one eyebrow and gave me a small shove "Go. Enjoy it. And remember, no speeches." | laughed. A real laugh. At some point the music got a

| was in the middle of a conversation with Maite about "how do you people survive without beans" when Zoey suddenly appeared holding a bunch of flowers. Loose stems tied together with ribbon. An improvised bouquet. "Okay," she announced. "Yes, | ordered it.

threw it without counting. No "one, two, three." Just sudden. My way. | heard a collective gasp. A scramble of hands. The bouquet vanished for a second. When | turned around, Mia was the one holding the flowers.

back dryly, eaming another round of laughter. | suddenly felt like | could hug the entire world. Nick appeared beside me and slipped his arm around my waist. Simple. Solid. "You okay?" he asked softly near my ear. | nodded, and the truth moved straight through me. "I'm..." | paused, because | couldn't find a better word. "Happy." He kissed my hair quickly, like he didn't want to draw attention to something intimate. "That's what matters," he said. | wanted to

name. | reached the counter at the exact same time as Matthew. The timing was so perfect | almost laughed. ---- He ordered something over ice. | rested my hands on the edge of the bar and studied the menu like | was still the woman | used tobe. "So it's juice for you now, huh?" he teased with that crooked smile. A sound came out of me that was half laugh, half sigh. "| don't know how I'm going