Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 430 Marcus' POV I arrived at the hospital with my heart still racing from my conversation with Mia and the box of fudge balls I'd bought earlier for breakfast. The chocolate was only part of my apology plan. The speech I'd rehearsed the entire way there was the most important part. I needed Madeline to understand that, despite my limits and my fear of opening up completely, I was committed to her and to our family. The hospital lobby was busy, as always, but something in the atmosphere immediately caught my attention.

A small group of staff members stood near the elevators, speaking in hushed voices with worried expressions. A maintenance technician was kneeling in front of one of the elevator doors, working on an open panel. I headed toward reception to ask about the appointment when a voice came over the intercom near the elevators. Someone was speaking in Valentian, gentle and calm, clearly trying to soothe whoever was on the other end. "Non ti preoccupare, va tutto bene. Respira con me, sì? Uno, due, tre..." the voice said patiently.

On the other side of the intercom, I heard broken, uneven breathing, almost gasping. It was clearly someone in panic, but I couldn't make out the words coming back. "I don't understand... I can't..." a female voice murmured weakly, and my blood ran cold. "Madeline?" I whispered her name, still trying to process what I was hearing. The man speaking into the elevator intercom heard me and turned in my direction. "Do you know the patient who's stuck in the elevator?" he asked, caught between relief and concern.

"She's having a severe anxiety attack and doesn't understand Valentian very well." I tightened my grip on the box of brigadeiros and stepped closer to the intercom, gently moving the maintenance technician aside. line?" I called, forcing my voice to stay as calm as possible. "It's me. Marcus. Can you hear me?" as..." Her voice came through, filled with both relief and desperation. "I... the elevator stopped and it's In here... I can't..." Her breathing was far too fast. I could hear she was on the edge of a full-blown panic attack. "It's okay," I said firmly. "You're not alone, alright?

on the panel and switched back to Valentian. "How long will it take to

she answered, her voice shaking. "Marcus, I have... I don't like closed spaces... especially in the dark..." Something in the way she said it made me realize this wasn't just ordinary claustrophobia. There

her out that way. Especially a pregnant woman. The elevator is

the panel," she said, and I could hear her forcing herself to focus on my voice. "And... and it smells like a hospital, you know?" "I know," I said, keeping my tone casual. "That disinfectant smell that sticks to everything." "Yeah," she breathed. "Talking to you helps. Your voice calms me down. It calms the baby too." The technician kept working, but I could tell by his expression

talking to her through the intercom until we can reset the system." Madeline, how are you feeling right now?" I asked, turning back to the intercom. "Better, but..." she hesitated. "Marcus, I need to tell you something. About why I'm so afraid of closed spaces." I knew we were stepping into something sensitive, but I also knew she needed