Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 627 Gwen's POV | took a deep breath and wiped my tears with the back of my hand. "lm the same person you met at the estate,"| said, my voice steadier now. "The fact that | have money doesn't change the essence of who | am. And that... that part of me, you know very well." Nick stayed quiet for a moment, studying me with that torn expression. Then he stepped forward. And pulled me into his arms. "Im sorry," he murmured against my hair. "It was just... a huge shock." | nodded against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. But there was still something in his tone.

Something that sounded like distance. Like he'd already half-convinced himself this wouldn't work. And maybe it wouldn't. ---- Maybe he was right. Maybe we were too different. Maybe it was easy for me to say it didn't matter... because for him, it did But | had to at least make him understand. "Can we go back to my apartment?" | asked softly. "Can we talk calmly? | need to... | need to explain some things." He hesitated for only a second before nodding. "Okay." The drive back was almost silent. Nick stared out the window, lost in thoughts | couldn't read.

| kept my eyes on the road, my hands gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary. We rode up in the elevator without speaking. The silence felt thick. Suffocating. Inside the apartment, | locked the door behind us. | walked straight to the bar, grabbed a bottle of red wine and two glasses. Set them on the coffee table and poured generously. | handed one to Nick. ---- "I think we might need this," | said, attempting a weak joke. He didn't smile. He just took the glass and drank. | sat beside him on the couch, my own glass trembling slightly in my hand. "| think | need to start...

at the beginning," | said at last Nick took another sip. "That would probably help," he replied, his tone neutral | inhaled slowly. "When | went to the estate the first time," | began carefully, "my goal was to evaluate the property. Analyze it. So |... created the persona of Gwen Parker. A digital marketing consultant specialized in rural tourism, looking for new clients." | saw confusion deepen on his face as he processed that. "And when | hit my head," | continued, "I just... held onto that version. | truly believed | was that person.

pieces of truth | believed were solid." ---- | paused, remembering those foggy days. "| believed | was that Gwen," | said honestly. "Really. And when my memory came back, | was already involved. Already in love with you. With everything you did for me. The way you took care of me. Your family. The simple, authentic life you had." | looked straight at him now. "And you had told me... you told

the woman you got to know. That's me. Not defined by a job or by material things." Nick was quiet for a long moment. "So you're not a consultant?" he asked finally. "And the work you've been doing at the estate..." "I do have experience in marketing," | admitted. "Just... in

could've paid off your debt easily, but when | tried to offer help in that way..." "| would've never accepted it," Nick cut in immediately, his voice firm. ---- "Exactly," I said. "So | tried to help you get back on your feet

my memory came back," | continued, my voice softer now, "I just didn't know how to tell you who | really was. Time kept passing. We got more and more involved. And | found myself... tapped. Because even though that Gwen was completely real, there was this other part of me that | knew you

just wanted to believe... | deserved to be loved." ---- | tried to stand up, to escape before he saw more tears fall. But Nick pulled me back. Onto the couch. Into his arms. "You do deserve it," he said with absolute certainty. "And | love you." | froze. It was the first time he'd said that. "You... love me?" | asked, like | wasn't sure I'd heard him right. "I love you," he repeated. And he kissed me. Smiled against my