Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 521 Marcus' POV I held the envelope out to him, that simple gesture carrying the weight of years of history, of choices made and unmade, of a future being redefined in that exact moment. Christian stared at the envelope for a long beat, as if he were processing not just what it represented, but everything that had led us here. Then he let out a deep breath and took it slowly, almost reverently. I watched in silence as he opened it with care, unfolded the letter I had written and rewritten more times than I could count, until the words finally felt right, and read my resignation.

Short. Direct. Respectful. But final in a way my previous attempts to step away had never been. When he finished, he folded the letter neatly, slid it back into the envelope, and rested it in his lap. His eyes met mine with an intensity that made me hold my breath. "I think this time," he said, his voice heavy with an emotion I rarely saw in him-always so controlled, so composed, "I'm going to have to accept it. Aren't I?" My chest tightened at his words. I had tried to leave Kensington before, tried to carve out my own path, my own identity separate from the family company.

But there was always something that pulled me back in. There was always a reason to stay. A reason to postpone my own dreams. But this time was different. Fundamentally different. And we both knew it. "I've been watching you these past few months," Christian continued, a small smile appearing despite the sadness in his eyes. "I've seen how you've changed. You're... different. Lighter. Happier. Especially when you're leading the Sullivan Parks projects with Madeline.

true," I admitted, feeling a smile form as I thought about Sullivan Parks, about the work Madeline and I were building together. "I always knew I'd find my own path someday. My own thing. And I'm genuinely happy

together? You're unstoppable. It's honestly beautiful to watch." "Thank you," I said, my voice coming out more emotional than I intended, revealing more than I usually allowed. Christian stood from the armchair and took a few steps toward me. Before I could react,

You deserve to have your own thing, to build your own legacy. And I'll be right here, rooting for you. Always. No matter what happens, we're family. That doesn't change." When we pulled apart, both of us were blinking a little too hard, raw

I tell Gwen, or are you going to tell her that now it's her hide you'll be working to the bone?" Christian laughed-loud and genuine-the sound echoing through the small office, breaking the tension and bringing the lightness back. "Oh, it's the least she owes me," he said, shaking his head with a mix of amusement and resignation. "As my little sister, she owes me at least ten years of hard work to make up

picturing Gwen's reaction once Christian started demanding more from her. "She'll probably try," Christian agreed, his eyes bright with humor. "But she's going to do an absolutely phenomenal job." We sat in a comfortable silence for a moment, simply enjoying each other's presence, letting the weight of what had just happened settle in.