Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 454 Marcus' POV I was lying on the hospital gurney, completely bored out of my mind and desperate to get out of there. The hypothermia had passed hours ago, my body temperature was back to normal, and I felt perfectly fine. But the medical team insisted on "preventive observation" and a few more hours of absolute rest. It was torture being stuck like that. I was used to always doing something. Meetings, calls, decisions, constant movement. Lying there, staring at a white, sterile ceiling, felt like a complete waste of time. And a Kensington learns early on that time is money.

My fingers tapped impatiently against the side of the gurney as I watched the subtle movement in the hallway through the half-open curtain. Nurses passing by, other patients being attended to, the hum of medical equipment. All of it reminded me that the world was still moving while I was trapped in that bay. That was when I heard Christian's familiar voice speaking politely to someone in the corridor. "I promise I won't excite the patient," he was saying, presumably to a nurse. "Just a few minutes to see how he's feeling." "All right," a female voice replied. "But really just a few minutes.

He needs rest to recover fully." Seconds later, Christian pushed the curtain aside and stepped inside. The moment I saw him, I knew something was wrong. I'd known my cousin long enough to recognize the look of someone carrying bad news. "What happened?" I asked straight away, propping myself up on my elbows. Christian hesitated for a moment, clearly choosing his words. "I got a call while we were at the dinner table," he began, pulling a chair closer to the gurney. "I pretended it was work so I could step away, but... it wasn't work.

heart immediately kicked into overdrive. "Is she okay? Did something happen?" "She's fine," Christian reassured me quickly. "But the call... you know we're monitoring Dominic and her parents closely, and-" "I still don't understand the game Dominic is playing," I cut in, the familiar frustration rising. "I don't get why he just backed off, at least for now. He had

bigger plan underneath. Either way, it's a good thing you're not barred from returning to Verdania, because... you might

news about Madeline's father. He's been hospitalized. Heart attack." My stomach dropped. I knew the complicated history between Madeline and her parents, but still... 1/3 "Since it's not the first one," Christian continued, "his condition is... delicate." I nodded, understanding exactly where he was going. Recurring heart problems were always serious, especially in middle-aged men

me like a punch to the gut. I took a few moments, weighing every implication. Going back to Verdania would be incredibly dangerous for Madeline. Dominic would be waiting for an opportunity

the chance to say goodbye, to resolve unfinished business, to find some kind of closure... "Yes," I said at last. "I think she has the right to know and make her own decision. For herself. And for our child. "1 "Are