Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 539 Nicholas' POV I couldn't sleep. I lay there staring at the dark ceiling of my bedroom, listening to the clock on the wall mark every passing second with its steady, irritating tick-tock. My mind wouldn't shut off. It kept spinning in vicious circles, always coming back to the same problems. The winery needed maintenance I couldn't afford. The inn's reservations were low for the season. Bills were piling up. And Bella... Bella needed so many things I could barely keep up. And now, on top of all that, there was Gwen. A woman I barely knew.

A woman who didn't even really know who she was. But who believed, with her whole heart, that we were going to get married. And I couldn't contradict her. The doctor had been clear. No stress. No conflict. Let her memory return naturally. And I'd agreed. I'd signed the papers, taking responsibility for her. But no one had warned me it would be this hard. No one had warned me about her blue eyes looking at me with absolute trust. About the smile that lit up her whole face when she talked about our "future together." About the way my body reacted when she got close. When she touched me.

When- I rolled over in bed, punching my pillow in frustration. I wasn't going to sleep. No point pretending otherwise. When the first rays of sunlight started creeping through the window, I gave up completely. I got up, pulled on sweatpants and a T-shirt, and went downstairs to the kitchen. Martina was already there, as always. My mother liked to say she woke up with the chickens, and there was no changing that even if you tried. Two of the inn's assistants were there too, slicing fruit and preparing bread for the guests' breakfast.

The smell of fresh coffee and baking bread usually calmed me. Today, it didn't help at all. "Morning," I said, my voice rougher than usual. Martina turned from the counter where she was whisking eggs and looked me up and down. Her expression shifted immediately from neutral to concerned. 1/4 "You look terrible," she declared bluntly. "Good morning to you too, Mom," I replied dryly, without real annoyance. "Seriously, Nick. Did you sleep?" "Barely," I admitted, grabbing a mug and pouring myself some coffee. The dark, strong liquid was exactly what I needed.

replied. My mother nodded toward the back door. I followed her out to the porch, where the cold morning

than you thought, isn't it?" she asked gently. "Dealing with Gwen?" "Apparently," I replied, taking a long sip of coffee. "Considering you never leave her side," my mother went on, her tone lightly teasing now. I tried to play it off, staring at the horizon instead of at her. "I have to be careful. Play the role of the concerned fiancé, like the doctor instructed."

suing us when she gets her memory back. But... about her." Martina didn't say anything. She just waited, giving me space. "It's not about me," I added quickly, before she could ask the question I saw forming in her eyes. "It's about Bella." "Bella?" "She got attached to Gwen way too fast," I explained, running a hand through

even more, that familiar ache surfacing in her eyes. She'd seen Bella suffer when her mother left. She'd helped pick up the broken pieces that remained. "You need to be honest with Bella," she said gently. "I was," I replied, frustration creeping into my voice.

understand, because for the first time she has something she wants so badly..." I took a deep breath, the weight of it all tightening in my chest. "And now..." I started, then stopped. Shook my head. "Now there's also this whole ring situation." Martina frowned. "What situation?" "Gwen questioned me last night," I explained, staring into my coffee cup like it might have answers. "She asked why, if we're engaged, she doesn't have a ring. And I... I didn't know

something I didn't expect. I looked up to see my mother laughing, her hand covering her mouth as she tried to muffle it. "It's not funny," I said, though there wasn't much real

plan is for Gwen to wake up with her memory back so I don't have to deal with this anymore." "And if she doesn't wake up with her memory back?" "Otherwise..." I paused, feeling the weight of the words. "I'll have to go into town and buy something from a jewelry store. Spend money I don't have on a ring for a fiancée who isn't real." Martina watched me for a long