Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 533 Gwen's POV I went down the stairs carefully, one hand on the railing, the other lightly touching the bead necklace Bella had given me. It was comforting, in a strange way, that light, colorful weight against my skin. The guest dining area was on the ground floor. A wide room with rustic wooden tables and high-backed chairs. The smell coming from inside was incredible. Something roasted, mixed with fresh herbs and warm bread. Several guests were already seated, chatting animatedly as generous plates were served. Classic inn food. Hearty, fragrant, homemade.

The kind of food that warms you from the inside out. I was about to look for a place to sit when I heard my name. "Gwen!" I turned and saw Paula waving from the doorway that led to the kitchen. She was wearing an apron over her clothes, her hair pulled into an even tighter ponytail than before. "Come have dinner with us," she called, jerking her head toward the back. "In the kitchen." I hesitated for only a second before following her. I crossed the guest dining room and stepped through a wooden door toward the back. The kitchen was enormous. Copper pots hanging from the walls.

A central island of worn but well-cared- for marble. A stone fireplace where logs crackled softly. And the table. A long, solid wooden table that looked like it had centuries of history carved into it. It was set for five people. When I walked in, every pair of eyes turned to me. Nick saw me first, and his gaze immediately dropped to my neck. To the colorful bead necklace. Something flickered in his eyes. Surprise, maybe. Tenderness. But he didn't say anything. He just held my gaze a second too long before looking away. "Martina, this is Gwen.

Gwen, this is Martina, your..." Paula tilted her head. "Mother-in-law? Yeah, I'd say mother-in-law." There was something in the way Paula said it. A subtle irony. A quiet amusement. But I couldn't quite place it. It sounded perfectly normal to me. Martina dried her hands on a dish towel and stepped closer. She was of average height, with gray hair pulled into a loose bun and warm brown eyes that were kind but observant. She wore a simple dress covered by a floral apron. "Gwen," she said, her voice soft and maternal. "I've been looking forward to meeting you." She hugged me. A real hug.

1/4 "Come, sit," Martina said, gesturing to the table. "You must be starving after everything that happened today." I took a seat, and Bella immediately dragged her chair over to sit beside me. Nick took the seat across from me, while Paula and Martina filled the

anything else in my room. Paula commented on the afternoon tour, joking about how I'd impressed everyone with my wine knowledge. "She's a bit confused because of the fall," Nick explained at one point, when Martina asked something about my family. "The doctor said it's normal. It should pass in a

smaller, easier bites. "Thank you," Bella said with a wide smile. "I like having a new mommy." The silence that followed was instant. Heavy. Bella kept going, completely unaware of the discomfort she'd caused. "I asked for a new mommy a long time ago. Since the other one left." My heart

around his fork a little too hard. "It's not like that, sweetheart," he said, and I could hear the effort it took to keep his voice gentle. "We've talked

announced. "I made Bella's favorite today." "ME!" Bella shot her hand up,

were already drooping. "I know, I know," Martina said with infinite patience. "But it's late, and you need your rest." Bella made her rounds, handing out kisses and hugs. When she reached me, she leaned in and

at Nick, then at me, and that amused little smile returned. "You two can do the dishes." Before either of us could respond, she was gone. And then it was just the two of us, alone in the quiet kitchen. Nick started gathering plates, stacking them carefully, and I stood to