Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 610 Renee's POV | sat in my car, watching the school doors through the slightly fogged windshield. It was Wednesday. Early afternoon. Kids were starting to pour out in loud clusters, backpacks bouncing against their shoulders, shouting over each other. Nick had finally agreed to let me take Bella out alone. Not without making it painfully clear, in that annoyingly protective tone of his, that she'd have her phone with her and that if she called Martina even once, he'd come get her immediately. I'd rolled my eyes and agreed.

And just to make sure | understood the rules, he'd added, "Two hours. It's a school day. She has homework." | spotted Bella walking out the main doors. Alone. She looked around with that slightly lost expression kids get when they're searching for their parent in a crowd. | stepped out of the car and walked toward her. "Hi, sweetheart," | said, forcing warmth into my voice. ---- She saw me and stopped short. She didn't run to me or smile. She just stood there, her backpack slipping off one shoulder, looking at me with that cautious expression.

| felt irritation start to simmer, but | kept my smile firmly in place. | understood. Technically. We didn't have a real connection. Not after all that time apart. Not after | left when she was still so little she could barely remember me. But understanding it didn't make it less frustrating. | needed to win Nick back. And | knew perfectly well that Bella was the only real way in. He would never give me a real chance unless | proved | was present. That I had truly come back. | crouched down to her eye level, resting my hands on my knees. "You don't have to be scared of me," | said gently.

want to do?" Bella didn't answer. She just kept looking at me with those big, curious eyes. My irritation flared again. | took a slow breath and kept smiling. "I'll take you to get a late birthday present," | said, deciding for both of us. "Something really cool. What do you think?" ---- Bella shrugged lightly. It was better than nothing. | took her backpack and guided her toward the car.

keep surviving the way I had been for much longer. | had already sold almost all my real jewelry. The authentic handbags. The designer clothes. Every gift my ex had ever given me. In their place, I'd bought

But Nick didn't need to know that. "You can pick whatever you want," | told Bella, watching her look around with wide eyes. ---- She moved slowly at first. Touching things. Picking up dolls. Putting them back "This one's nice," | said, grabbing an elaborate toy kitchen set. " Do you like playing house?" "Sometimes,"

head. "| don't really like dolls." "Oh?" | asked, genuinely surprised. "What do you like, then?" "Books," she said. "And games. Gwen taught me a really fun board game." Gwen again.

when we passed the clothing section. "I think it would look beautiful on you. Want to try it on?" It was light blue with delicate detailing. Expensive. Exactly the kind of thing a thoughtful mother would buy for her daughter. Bella hesitated,