Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 411 Madeline's POV Marcus's parents' estate was even more impressive than I'd imagined during the flight. When we finally arrived, after a winding drive through hills covered in centuries-old olive groves, I found myself staring at something that looked like it had been lifted straight out of a Castorian film. The main house was built of golden stone that glowed softly in the late-afternoon sun, surrounded by perfectly manicured gardens and terraces cascading down the gentle slopes. Jonathan greeted us at the entrance with open arms, a genuine smile lighting up his weathered face.

Seeing him again after the wedding was strangely comforting. There was something grounding about his presence, so different from the tension I'd felt back then. "Welcome!" he said warmly, hugging Marcus before turning to me with obvious kindness. "Madeline, it's so good to see you again, even under such different circumstances." Beatrice appeared moments later, elegant as ever, but with a worried, maternal expression I hadn't seen during the wedding. Now that she could clearly see how vulnerable I was, all her aristocratic composure melted into a fiercely protective instinct.

"My dear," she said, pulling me into a warm embrace, "you're far too thin. We'll fix that immediately." Marcus briefly explained our situation, that we needed to stay there for a few days until things cooled down in Verdania and we could figure out our next steps. Jonathan nodded with understanding, as if hosting international fugitives were just another part of family life. "The house is yours," he said simply. "For as long as you need." Luke and Mia showed up shortly after. Luke, in his early twenties with a smile that looked a lot like Marcus's, *ed me with an easy wave.

Mia hugged me right away, like we were old friends. Jistwo really went on an adventure, huh?" Mia said with a spark of excitement that made me smile for the time in days. Olivia, who had seemed a little shy when we arrived, quickly blended in with Marcus's siblings. There was something about the Kensingtons' warmth that made it impossible to stay on the sidelines for long. Before I knew it, she was laughing at Luke's jokes and helping Mia shop for shoes online. I, on the other hand, felt oddly withdrawn. Maybe it was the weight of everything that had happened over the past few hours.

a play I wasn't fully part of. During the meal, Beatrice served me generous portions of homemade pasta and wouldn't stop offering more wine, more bread, more of everything. She'd clearly noticed how worn down I looked and was determined to feed me back to health. Jonathan kept the conversation light and easy, carefully avoiding any topic that might stir my anxiety,

olive groves. The bed was large enough that we could sleep without necessarily touching, which reassured me. Our situation was complicated enough without adding physical tension

said softly when he noticed I was awake. "Good morning," I replied, stretching under the covers. "How long have

to face all the implications of our current situation. I got up and joined him by the window, taking the cup of coffee he handed me. The view was breathtaking. Rolling hills covered in olive trees stretched all the way to the horizon,

You were under court-ordered guardianship. You were removed against the will of your legal guardians. And you crossed international borders. 11 My heart started