Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 415 Marcus' POV I woke up to Madeline shifting restlessly beside me. The digital clock on the nightstand read 2:45 a.m., and she was clearly struggling to find a comfortable position. She turned to one side, then the other, sighed, adjusted her pillow, and started the whole cycle again. "Are you okay?" I asked quietly, turning to face her in the dim light of the room. "Yes," she replied quickly, but kept tossing around, unable to stay still. I watched her for a few more minutes as she changed positions over and over, clearly unsettled by something.

It was obvious she wasn't sleeping, and that worried me. After everything she'd been through over the past few weeks, rest was essential. "Madeline," I said gently, placing a hand on her arm to calm her. "You don't need to worry so much. We're taking care of everything. No one can hurt you here. You're safe. The baby is safe..." "That's not it," she interrupted, her voice edged with frustration that caught me off guard. "Then what is it?" I asked, propping myself up on one elbow so I could look at her better. "Talk to me.

What's bothering you?" There was a long pause, and even in the darkness I could tell she was embarrassed. "It's just that..." she began hesitantly. "I have this uncontrollable urge to eat something completely bizarre and probably very hard to find in Castoria. And I can't sleep because of it. It's like my brain refuses to think about anything else." I couldn't hold back a quiet laugh. Pregnancy cravings. Of course. I got out of bed and started feeling around in the dark for my clothes. "What are you doing?" she asked, sitting up and watching me grab a pair of jeans.

"I'm going to get it," I said simply, pulling them on and reaching for a shirt. "Get it?" her voice jumped an octave. "At this hour? Marcus, that's impossible. It's almost three in the morning! 11 "Go back to sleep," I said, already heading for the door. "I'll be back soon." "But Marcus, I haven't even told you what I want!" I stopped at the door and turned back to her. "Then tell me." "Tapioca with coconut ice cream and guava paste," she said quickly, as if the words had escaped before she could reconsider.

but that's exactly what I need to eat right now." "It doesn't sound insane," I lied, doing my best not to show just how unusual that combination actually was. I'll be right back." 1/3 +25 Bonus The truth was, it sounded completely insane. But it was also true that I would do anything to see her sleep peacefully. If she wanted tapioca with coconut ice cream and guava paste at three in the morning, then that was exactly what she was going to get. I left the house quietly, careful not to wake anyone, and got

and who owed me a few favors. It took several rings before he answered, and when he did, his voice was thick with sleep. "Marcus? What the hell, it's three thirty in the morning..." "Robert, I need a favor. Urgently," I

Robert let out an audible sigh. "Sweet tapioca starch is going to be impossible, but I can try to make something similar with

completely asleep. Robert met me at the restaurant's back door, lding a bag of ingredients and wearing the expression of a man who was convinced I had finally lost my mind. hope she's worth it," he said, handing me the bag. "She is," I replied without hesitation. I drove back faster than I should have, anxious to get home before Madeline woke up. By the time I reached the kitchen on the property, it was almost five in the morning, and the sky

the jar of guava jam. I went upstairs quietly, but when I walked into the bedroom, Madeline was already awake, sitting on the bed and waiting for me. Her eyes lit up