Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 447 Madeline's POV Zoey's discovery had caused a serious uproar. As we got closer, I could see exactly what had triggered her explosion of outrage. Several of the ropes assigned to our team were visibly damaged, their fibers frayed, with weak points obvious even to someone like me, who had zero construction experience. "This is clearly sabotage," Christian was arguing with the organizer, his voice controlled but heavy with frustration.

"And on top of that," Marcus added, gesturing toward the materials pile, "we have significantly fewer backup ropes than the other teams." The organizer kept a professional, neutral expression. He examined the ropes carefully, then shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I can't accept this complaint," he said firmly. "It could have been improper handling by your team that caused the deterioration. There's no way to prove sabotage, and changing the competition conditions at this point would be unfair to the other teams." "Improper handling?" Zoey snapped.

"We haven't even started using these ropes yet!" "The rules are clear," the organizer insisted. "Each team works with the materials provided. Technical issues are part of the challenge." That was when I heard a low, unmistakably malicious laugh. Vivian had joined the group, clearly enjoying the spectacle. "It's best to be careful so no one gets hurt," she said, her voice dripping with fake concern. Then her eyes locked directly onto mine. "Especially when you have a pregnant woman on your team." My blood boiled. The veiled threat. The barely hidden satisfaction on her face.

Marcus, who was clearly fighting to rein in his own fury at the obvious provocation. "We're going to win," I declared, my voice louder and more resolute than I'd meant it to be. "Madeline..." Marcus started, his concern obvious. "No," I cut him off firmly. "We're going to win, and I'm going to help build that bridge." Without waiting for more objections, I walked over to the materials pile and started helping select the ropes that

redo our structural calculations three times to compensate for the reduced amount of reliable material. What should have been a smooth process turned into a series of constant checks and last-minute

we watched the last Ross member reach the far side of the stream. My heart sank. We were clearly behind, still making final adjustments to our structure while the Montgomery team was already sending their first members across their bridge.

move carefully, fully aware that we were working with compromised materials. When it was finally my turn, one of the last to cross, the bridge had already held the weight of almost our entire team. I placed my foot carefully on the first plank, testing its stability before shifting my weight onto it. The first few steps were fine.

me from behind, yanking me backward and stabilizing me just before I fell. Zoey had been right behind me and reacted with lightning speed. But in saving me, she lost her own balance. I saw her eyes widen in surprise as her foot slipped off the edge of the bridge. "Zoey!!!" Christian's shout echoed across