Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 499 Madeline's POV "Where do you think you're going?" Marcus. Of course it was Marcus. I let out a slow breath, closing my eyes for a brief second before turning fully to face him. He was standing there in a wrinkled shirt, his hair still mussed from sleep-but his eyes were wide awake. And furious. "I have to do this," I said, keeping my voice steady despite my racing heart. "I have to save our daughter." "What did you get on that phone?" he asked, taking a step closer.

His hand was still wrapped around my arm-not tight enough to hurt, but firm enough to keep me from getting into the car. "That message you said was spam. What was it, Madeline?" There was no point in lying now. He already knew. He always had. "A message from Vivian," I admitted, lifting my chin defiantly. "She wants me to go to a specific place. Alone. And I'm going." "No," Marcus said immediately, his voice hard as steel. "No, you're not. We're turning this over to-" "To the police?" I exploded, yanking my arm free. "To the police you yourself admitted we can't blindly trust?

Seriously, Marcus? After everything you said about Dominic having connections, about not being able to trust anyone, now you want me to hand over the only lead I have to find my daughter to the police?" "I've already taken care of that, Madeline," he said, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Aurora is a Valentian citizen as well as Verdanian. The consulate is involved. Interpol is issuing a red notice. This is an international kidnapping now. They're investigating and-" "And wasting time!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the empty parking lot.

"Wasting time while I know where my daughter is! Or at least where I can get information about where she is. I'm going there, Marcus." "Don't be stupid!" he shot back, and I saw the fear behind the anger in his eyes. "You're giving them exactly what they want. You're handing yourself over to Dominic on a silver platter. That's what he wants, Madeline. You." Something inside me snapped. "1 "Stupid?" I repeated, my voice low and dangerous. I stepped closer, staring him straight in the eyes. Stupid? I'm not stupid, Marcus. I'm a desperate mother.

whatever they want. Do you understand? I will." I tried to turn away. Tried to open the car door again. But Marcus grabbed my arm more firmly this time. 1/3 "I'm not going to let you get yourself killed in the process," he said, his voice breaking. "I

because of things that happened in your past." I felt him tense beneath my hands. you. 1

want them not to." I saw the pain flash through his eyes, but I kept going. He needed to hear this. "Aria wouldn't want you to become this person," I said, and I saw him flinch at her name. "She wouldn't want you living so afraid of losing the people you love that you end up suffocating them. And I don't want you to be that person either-because I see how heavy that weight is on you. I see

from everything. You don't have to carry the weight of the world alone." I let go of his face and took a step back. "I'm not the one who needs protection right now," I said, my voice cracking slightly. "It's

daughter back, I have to do exactly what she wants." Marcus fell silent, processing my words. I could see the battle raging inside him-the instinct to protect me versus the understanding that I was right. That I had to do this. That there was no other option. That there was no time. I took advantage of his hesitation, turned, and finally opened the car door. I slid into the driver's seat and