Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 591 Gwen's POV | was alone at the back of the porch, sitting on one of the worn wooden benches beneath the shade of an old climbing vine. | held a mug of coffee between my hands, watching the steam rise in lazy spirals into the cool morning air. | had woken up early, unable to sleep properly after everything that had happened the night before. The party. Renee. The way Nick had completely shut down. | heard footsteps behind me and didn't need to turn around to know who it was. | recognized the sound of his walk now.

Nick sat down beside me without a word, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands clasped together. | looked at him. He looked exhausted. Dark circles shadowed his green eyes. His hair was messy. His jaw was still tight. Without thinking, | held out my mug. "You look like you need this more than | do," | said softly. He glanced at the cup, then at me. Then he took it and drank ---- deeply. "Thank you," he murmured We sat in silence for a moment. Just the sound of birds and wind moving through the leaves around us. "You went to see her," | said finally. It wasn't a question.

"I did," he admitted, staring into the coffee. "I shouldn't have." "Why?" He let out a breath heavy with frustration and exhaustion. "She said she's back for good. That she's looking for a house in the area. That she wants to rebuild her relationship with Bella." He paused, then turned to look at me directly. "And with me." Something tightened in my chest. A wave of jealousy hit me so hard it almost took my breath away. But | didn't say anything. | just looked at him and waited for him to continue. Because Renee was Bella's mother. He was her father.

of relationship he meant? A co-parenting relationship? Or... "And what did you say?" | asked, keeping my

a fortune." He stood abruptly and began pacing across the small porch. "On top of that, I'm scared of what she might find out about my finances," he continued, his voice growing more tense. "How she could use it against me. What if she somehow proves that I'm not in a good position to take care of Bella? That the

she can offer things | can't. Expensive clothes. Toys. Trips. Everything money can buy." | took a deep breath,

It was a lie, of course. | didn't need a loan. | already had the money. | spent that much ---- on handbags | used twice or dinners | forgot the next day. | could solve Nick's financial problems with a simple bank transfer. But | couldn't say that. Not without revealing

not accepting charity, Gwen." "It's not charity," | protested. "It's a loan. You can pay me back when the inn improves. When things stabilize. We'll figure it out." "A loan in