Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 473 Marcus' POV I was arranging the food on the kitchen counter when I heard Madeline's footsteps coming down the stairs. I turned to greet her, but the words died in my throat the moment I saw her. She was white as a sheet. Completely pale, her expression caught somewhere between shock and fear-enough to make me abandon what I was doing immediately. "What happened?" She looked at me, then at the envelope she was holding so carefully it was like she was afraid it might explode. "My father left me a note." She paused, swallowing hard before continuing, her voice fragile.

"I can't open it. I can't read it." I frowned, trying to understand what was stopping her. It was just an envelope. A letter. "Why?" Madeline glanced back at it, as if it contained something dangerous. "What if it's something bad?" she asked, her voice cracking slightly. "What if his last words are something horrible? It could trigger an anxiety attack, and that wouldn't be good for the baby." Her fear made sense. After everything she'd been through in the last few hours, another emotional trigger really could be dangerous. The doctor's warning about the placental abruption echoed in my mind.

I thought for a moment before answering, choosing my words carefully. "Do you want to tear it up, then?" I saw immediate panic flash across her face as she shook her head. "I don't want that either," she said quickly. "Those are my father's last words to me." It was an impossible dilemma. She couldn't open it for fear of what it might contain, but she couldn't destroy it either, because it was her last connection to her father. Trapped between two equally painful choices. "You can keep it," I suggested gently. "Put it somewhere safe until you're ready. There's no deadline.

doors forever. She stood there for a few seconds, staring at the envelope, before clearly trying to change the subject. "So... what are we having for dinner?" I recognized the deflection tactic, but I decided to follow her lead. If what she

potatoes. Nothing too heavy, but good." A small smile appeared on her face for the first time since she'd come downstairs. "You really did try to please me. She sat at the table while I finished setting everything up, and we started eating in a comfortable silence that slowly gave way to lighter conversation. We

as a natural part of life-fall in love, get married, have kids. But it was never this burning desire for me like it is for

child was just part of growing up. It's not about following the script of life. It's about loving unconditionally." I smiled, feeling

through the house, laughing that way kids laugh when they're completely happy. Someone I could teach to be strong and independent, but who would also know she always had