Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 435 Madeline's POV The relief I felt when I finally heard the elevator start moving was so intense it almost made me cry. Marcus held me tightly as we descended slowly to the ground floor, his hand still laced through mine, like he was afraid I might panic again. "Are you okay?" he asked when the doors finally opened. "I am now," I said, smiling at him. The technician was waiting outside with a visibly relieved expression, clearly happy he wouldn't have to explain to his superiors how two patients had been trapped in a hospital elevator for over two hours.

"Apologies for the inconvenience," he said nervously, gesturing as he spoke. "Completely unexpected electrical issue." Marcus replied in Valentian, saying something that made the man visibly relax before he hurried off. I imagined it had something to do with not suing the hospital. "The appointment," I murmured suddenly, remembering the original time. "We missed the appointment." "We didn't," Marcus said, gently guiding me away from the elevators. "I called the doctor before I got into the elevator with you.

She was able to move our slot." I was impressed by his ability to think about practical details even in the middle of chaos. It was a quality I was learning to appreciate more and more in him, that steady ability to stay functional when everything else seemed to be falling apart. The doctor's office was on the fifth floor, and this time we chose the stairs. Marcus didn't comment on my obvious desire to avoid elevators. He just followed me quietly, giving me space to regroup. When we arrived, the doctor greeted us with a warm smile.

She spoke Maravian with a slight accent that somehow made her voice even more comforting. "How are you two?" Dr. Helena asked as soon as she saw us, with the familiarity of someone who had been following us for a few visits now. "I heard about the little elevator incident." I felt my face heat up with embarrassment, but she kept talking, a playful smile on her lips. "Actually, I heard about the dad who jumped into the elevator so his wife wouldn't be alone and scared," she said, looking at Marcus with clear approval.

slightly embarrassed but also quietly pleased by the comment. It had been romantic, I realized all at once. As much as

into the exam room, "let's see how this baby is doing, shall we?" 1/3 The room was cozy, with soft-colored walls and equipment that looked modern without being intimidating. She motioned for me to lie down on the exam table, which was covered with fresh paper. "Today we're finally going to hear the heartbeat," she said as she adjusted the equipment, smiling at both of us. "I know you've been looking forward to this moment." "Very much," I replied,

right by her side," she added naturally, already familiar with our dynamic. Marcus moved to stand next to me, and when I looked at him, I saw he was just as nervous as I was. There was something deeply touching about the vulnerability he tried to hide beneath his usual composure. The doctor spread warm gel across my belly and

so we could hear it more clearly. "Normal heart rate, development right on track for gestational age. You've got a very healthy baby in there." I looked at Marcus and saw that he was deeply moved. His

mind around it. "It's our baby," I repeated, and the words came out filled with a certainty that surprised me. The doctor let us listen for several minutes, occasionally pointing things out on the screen or adjusting the angle. I barely registered the technical explanations. I was completely absorbed in