Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 532 Gwen's POV The knock on the door was soft. It was three quick taps, followed by a pause. "Come in," I called, expecting to see Nick. Instead, Bella opened the door, holding a stack of white towels that was almost as big as she was. Her little face peeked out over the pile, brown curls slipping free from a messy braid, and that wide smile that showed the baby tooth starting to wobble. I couldn't help smiling back. "Towels?" I asked, genuinely surprised. Bella stepped into the room carefully, clearly focused on not dropping her precious cargo.

"I like helping Grandma," she explained with the seriousness of someone on an important mission. "She said you needed extra towels, and I asked to bring them because I wanted to see your room." I took the towels from her hands and set them on the bed, feeling the soft fabric and breathing in the fresh lavender scent. "Thank you so much, Bella. You're very helpful." I left the door slightly open. Not fully closed, but enough to give a sense of privacy while still keeping things appropriate. After all, she was just a child. Bella wasted no time.

Her curious eyes wandered around the room, taking in every detail with the intense focus only kids have. She drifted over to the desk where I'd left a few things scattered, lightly touched the cover of my notebook, and looked at my bag hanging from the chair. "You're very pretty," she said suddenly, turning to face me. "Like a princess." I laughed, feeling an unexpected rush of affection for this tiny human. "Thank you, sweetheart. You're very pretty too." "And you have princess clothes," Bella went on, pointing at my open suitcase where some of my clothes were still visible.

"Your clothes are shiny and soft. Grandma has clothes like that too, but she only wears them to church on important days." I glanced at the suitcase, seeing it through her eyes. Cashmere. Silk. Fabrics that were clearly far too expensive. Another inconsistency my scrambled brain couldn't explain. "I like dressing nicely," I said, because it was the only answer I had. Bella moved closer, climbing onto the edge of the bed and sitting there with her legs swinging in the air. She watched me with those big, honest brown eyes, completely unfiltered.

"You do," she insisted. "I saw you guys outside." Her legs swung faster. "He was laughing. Like, really laughing. Not that tiny laugh he does when he's being polite with guests. A real laugh." Something warm expanded in my chest. "You like it when your dad

the mattress dip slightly under our combined weight. "I'm glad to hear that," I said finally. "Are you going to live here when you marry Daddy?" Bella asked, jumping to the next topic with the speed only kids have. "Are you going to be my new mommy?" My heart clenched. The question was so innocent. So

seemed satisfied with that, nodding enthusiastically. "You have pretty hair," she announced, changing the subject again. "It's long and dark. And your eyes are blue like the summer sky. Grandma said you look like a movie star." I laughed again, touched by her genuine sweetness.

told me about her favorite cartoons, about the orange kitten I'd seen in the courtyard, about how she helped Grandma make bread every Sunday morning. Talking to her was easy. Natural. There was no judgment. No complicated

you!" "For me?" "Uh-huh." Her tongue peeked out between her teeth as she searched. She pulled out something colorful and delicate. When she held it out to me, I saw it was a necklace made of beads. Plastic beads in bright colors. Pink, blue, yellow, green, purple. All threaded onto a thin cord and tied in a careful little knot. "You made this?" I asked, taking it gently, like it was the most precious thing in the world. "I did!" Bella bounced with excitement. "Grandma only helped with the knot because it's hard, but I picked