Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 393 Madeline's POV Standing at the entrance of the makeshift aisle between rows of chairs set up in the mansion's gardens, my heart is pounding so loudly I was sure everyone could hear it. My hands trembled slightly as I held the small bouquet of wildflowers Gwen had chosen. It was simple, but perfectly suited for such an intimate ceremony. Nervous didn't even begin to cover what I was feeling. It was like standing on the edge of a cliff, about to jump without knowing whether there was a safety net waiting below.

The place was filled with faces that probably made sense to the Kensington family given who they were, with their connections and influence. But it meant absolutely nothing to me. Elegantly dressed businessmen. Women wearing discreet but unmistakably expensive jewelry. People who had likely traveled thousands of miles to be there. It was a small crowd of strangers watching the most vulnerable moment of my life. But only one face mattered in the middle of all that. Only one pair of eyes. Marcus stood at the end of the aisle beside a makeshift altar decorated with floral arrangements.

He wore a dark suit that perfectly highlighted his athletic build, but what truly caught my attention was the way he looked at me. Like I was the most precious thing in the world. Like nothing else in that garden existed except me. We hadn't seen each other since his arrival from Valentia with his family that morning. Since I was already in full "bride mode," the girls had decided to keep with tradition and keep us apart until the ceremony. Part of me had wondered if he would regret it when he saw me in a wedding dress-if the reality of what we were doing would finally hit him.

But when our eyes met across the distance between us, all I saw was certainty. I started walking slowly down the aisle, trying not to trip over the hem of my dress or faint from nerves. Each step brought me closer to him, closer to a decision that would change my life forever. The guests rose in a collective whisper of fabric and shoes, but I barely registered them. All my focus was on the man waiting for me with a smile that was somehow both soft and intense. When I finally reached him and could see him clearly, his eyes lit up with a mix of amusement and tenderness.

couldn't stop a genuine laugh, knowing exactly what he meant. Me, in a wedding dress, just like the day we first met. The irony wasn't lost on either of us. "I'm hoping you're not planning to run away this time," he added, his voice light with humor but edged with something more serious underneath. "I guess

still essentially a stranger, someone who had stepped into my life just a week ago, someone whose daily habits I didn't know yet, whose quirks and 1/3 oddities were still a

with Dominic, even after years together. It was as if my body instinctively knew Marcus wasn't a threat, that his presence was a refuge instead of a cage. It was as if, despite everything being wrong about the circumstances that had brought us there, this was the most right thing I could be doing. The officiant began the ceremony with traditional words about marriage, commitment,

the vows, Marcus spoke first. His words were simple but sincere. He promised to protect and care for me and the baby. He promised to be the partner I needed at this moment in my life. They weren't grand declarations of eternal love, but they were honest. Somehow, that

when I had no idea what the future held for us? So I chose honesty. "I promise to respect this marriage and to do my best to make it work," I said, my voice steadier than I expected. "And I promise that no matter what happens, I'll always remember that you showed up when I needed you most. 11 Marcus smiled, and something lit up in his