Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 399 Madeline's POV The suitcases were lined up in the mansion's main hall, arranged with Carmen's signature efficiency. She'd insisted on personally packing everything I might need for my first days in Valentia. "We can buy anything else you need there," Marcus said calmly. It was surreal to see my entire life reduced to two pieces of luggage, as if my whole past could fit into such a small space. "It's not forever," I told Olivia for what had to be the tenth time as we walked through the gardens, savoring our last few minutes together before leaving.

"Just until the baby is born and we sort out all this legal mess." Olivia looked at me with that expression I'd known since childhood-the one she used when she didn't quite buy my attempts to downplay complicated situations. "Madeline, you're talking about at least seven months," she said, stopping beside the stone fountain in the center of the garden. "And that's assuming everything goes perfectly." "I know," I admitted, my chest tightening. "But you can visit whenever you want.

Marcus even said it might be good for you to stay with us for a while-that Castoria is beautiful in the spring." "Castoria," she repeated, shaking her head with a mix of awe and concern. "My cousin married a Kensington and is moving to Castoria. If someone had told me that three months ago, I would've laughed." I smiled, trying to ease the tension. "Yeah... I had very different plans," I said, the words coming out more bitterly than I intended. Olivia pulled me into a sudden hug-tight, protective, full of all the worries she wasn't saying out loud.

tears. When we returned to the mansion, the Kensington family was gathered in the hall, ready for the

on the way..." I was speechless for a moment, deeply moved by the generosity and meaning of the gesture. It was simple, but heavy with family history

but the hug she gave me carried far more than words. "And stay in touch. I want to know everything about the pregnancy." Christian followed, greeting me with a firm handshake and a smile that felt genuinely warm and sincere. "Welcome to the family-officially," he said. "And don't worry about anything here. We'll handle whatever comes up." Matthew, his eyes still slightly swollen but already laughing at himself, wrapped

good man," she said quietly. "But he's stubborn-and he tends to keep his feelings to himself. Be patient with him. And remember: you'll always have a family here, no matter

with us too-same jet. They'll get off in London, and we continue on to Florentia." I nodded, even though my stomach was churning. It wasn't just the trip making me anxious-it was everything it represented. I was leaving behind everything I'd ever known to build