Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 649 Nicholas' POV The drive back to Florentia was a blur of chaotic thoughts and endless road | barely registered. Custody petition. Renee trying to take Bella from me Claims of instability. Of debt. Of Gwen having financial control over our home. Of the fire putting my daughter in danger. Every line of that legal document replayed in my head on a cruel, endless loop. | drove on autopilot. Entered Florentia. Parked at the hospital Took the elevator up to Gwen's floor. All mechanical. My mind somewhere else. But the moment | opened the door and saw her- Sitting up in bed.

Propped up by pillows. Fully awake. Looking at me with those eyes | knew so well- Everything stopped. ---- She was still pale. Yellowing bruises fading across her face. Her arm immobilized. But she was conscious. Present. Alive. "Nick," she said my name with relief and something stronger. Determination. | crossed the room in three long strides and leaned down carefully, wrapping my arms around her without hurting her. She slipped her good arm around my neck and pulled me closer. "You came back," she murmured against my shoulder. "Of course," | said automatically, my voice thick.

"Where else would | want to be but here with you?" We stayed like that for a long moment. Just holding each other. Just breathing. Eventually | pulled back enough to really look at her. | brushed my fingers gently along the unbruised side of her cheek. "Ican't believe | almost lost you," | confessed, emotion tightening painfully in my throat. "When | got that call saying you were in surgery, I-" | couldn't finish. Gwen cupped my face with her good hand, forcing me to look at ---- her. "I'm here," she said firmly. "I'm alive. I'm coming back.

black... | only thought about one thing." "What?" "You," she said simply. "Seeing you again. Not letting our last conversation be a rushed voice message. Having more time. More days. More everything." My eyes burned, but | held it together.

to get to you before" ---- She stopped. Took a breath. Tried again "Before..." The words died again. "Nothing is important enough for you to risk your life like that," | said firmly. "Nothing, Gwen. Nothing is worth

debt." My stomach tightened instantly. So this was it. She was going to confess. Finally tell me the truth. ---- |..." she continued, choosing her words with painful care. "I did something | should have told you from the beginning Something that-" "| already know

She couldn't finish. She just stared at me, shock and something dangerously close to panic in her eyes. "IL