Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 457 Madeline's POV 25 Bonus The adrenaline from the competition was still buzzing through my veins as I walked back to our cabin. We'd finished the escape room in one hour and eight minutes-a solid time, considering how complex the challenges had been. No matter the final result, we were about to leave this camp and go home, and that thought filled me with a deep, bone-deep sense of relief. I would finally be able to get away from this cold, stressful environment. Away from Vivian's constant sabotage. Away from the tension of always feeling like I had to look over my shoulder.

I could return to the safety of our apartment, where the biggest danger I faced was fighting with a stubborn jar that refused to open-like it was a vault guarding the secrets of the universe instead of just olives. But even as I let myself feel happy about our impending escape, a darker worry weighed heavily at the back of my mind. How was I supposed to keep living in the same house as Marcus after what I'd overheard? How could I pretend everything was normal when I knew he couldn't take our situation anymore?

The thought of having to play the role of the happy wife while he secretly wished he were free of me was almost unbearable. I would need to find a way to create emotional distance, to protect myself psychologically, until we could figure out a solution that worked for both of us. Maybe I should suggest separate bedrooms. I could blame it on pregnancy discomfort, say I needed more space to rest properly. It would give him the distance he clearly wanted-without forcing us into painful conversations about the true state of our marriage.

For a few minutes, I allowed the happiness of the competition being over to mask the ache in my chest. Soon we'd be far from here, and I could start processing all of this more clearly. I heard footsteps approaching the door and quickly stood up, gathering the clothes

worried about something. There was tension in

realizing he wasn't on the same page had hurt me so deeply. It would be too humiliating. He already carried the weight of a marriage he hadn't truly chosen. He didn't need to carry the guilt of accidentally breaking my heart, too. I turned on the shower and let myself stay there longer than necessary, allowing the hot water to ease the tension in my muscles. It was a temporary

took a few extra minutes applying light makeup to hide any signs I'd been crying and fixing my hair. Anything to delay the moment I'd have to leave that temporary sanctuary and