Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 587 The party was in full swing. Bella ran back and forth with her school friends, a small crowd of six- and seven-year-olds who seemed to have unlimited energy. They played tag between the trees, laughed too loudly, and screamed for no apparent reason in that way only children can. Bella was radiant. She wore a pink tulle dress that flared out whenever she spun, which she did constantly just to watch it twirl. She'd insisted on wearing the necklace I'd given her too, the little star shining against the rosy fabric. "Gwen!

Gwen!" she shouted at one point, racing over to where I was sitting. "Come play hide-and-seek with us!" "In a minute, sweetheart," I promised, tucking a loose strand of hair back into place. "Let your aunt rest for just a second first." She accepted that easily, in the way only kids can, and ran right back to the group, already yelling something about who was going to count next. Nick was everywhere at once, like any dad at his kid's birthday party. Keeping an eye on the games. Breaking up the occasional argument over who got somewhere first. Cleaning scraped knees. Pouring juice.

Making sure no one climbed too high into the trees. But even in the middle of all that organized chaos, he still found time for me. He appeared at my side with a plate of snacks. 'Martina made the ones you liked," he said, setting the plate in front of me. "Eat them before the kids discover them and attack." Or he'd bring me a fresh glass of juice. "It's hot today," he'd explain, even when it really wasn't. "You need to stay hydrated." Or sometimes he'd just sit beside me for a few minutes when he caught a break, his shoulder brushing mine, his presence warm and grounding.

pure it is. No complications.

his fingers through mine and held on as he led me a few steps away from the party, to a quieter spot beneath a tree. "I just wanted a moment," he explained, his voice lower now that we were relatively alone. "Away

stayed close even when he didn't need to... It said everything without saying a thing. Something was growing there. Something neither of us was fully ready to

little hands clasped beneath her chin. "Let's sing!" Martina announced, and everyone joined in. "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Bella, happy birthday to you!" Bella smiled so wide it looked like her face might split in two. Her eyes sparkled in the candlelight, her cheeks flushed from all the running and laughing. When the song ended, everyone

make her silent wish, just like tradition dictated. But then Bella opened her eyes. And instead of blowing out the candles quietly, she spoke. Loud. Clear. For everyone to hear. "I want Gwen to be my new mommy." 2/3 The world stopped. It stopped completely. The words hit me