Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 383 Madeline's POV The private clinic Vivian had booked for my ultrasound was one of those expensive, sterile places that smelled 1. disinfectant mixed with imported perfume. The cold marble-and-glass environment made me feel even more suffocated, like a prisoner being escorted to yet another mandatory procedure. From the moment we stepped into reception, Vivian took complete control. She handed over my documents, gave my insurance information, answered questions that should've been directed at me. If she could've signed for me, she would have.

All of it was done with that polished efficiency that had become her trademark. "Madeline Sullivan for an ultrasound with Dr. Helen Montgomery," she told the receptionist, as if I were incapable of speaking for myself. "Relationship to the patient?" the woman asked, glancing from Vivian to me. "Best friend and godmother," Vivian replied with a radiant smile. "I'm handling all her medical arrangements so she can focus solely on the baby's well-being." The way she said it made my stomach churn. As if my pregnancy were a joint project. As if she had any right to decisions about my child.

When we were called into the exam room, Dr. Montgomery greeted us with a professional smile. She was a middle-aged woman, with gray hair pulled into an immaculate bun. "So, Madeline," she said, addressing me directly, "how have you been feeling? Any specific symptoms?" Before I could answer, Vivian jumped in. "She's had some morning sickness, but nothing out of the ordinary. We're very excited to see the baby for the first time and make sure everything's healthy." The doctor glanced briefly at Vivian, then turned back to me. "How have you been feeling?" she repeated. "The nausea is...

intense," I managed. "Mostly in the mornings. And I'm extremely tired." "Completely normal for the first trimester," she said gently, motioning for me to lie down. "Let's take a look at your baby." I lay back on the exam table, lifting my shirt slightly to expose my still mostly flat stomach. The ultrasound gel was cold, making me flinch when she applied it. Vivian positioned herself beside the table, watching every movement closely. When the image appeared on the screen, my heart stopped for a second. There it was. My baby. Tiny, still more like a little bean than a person, but real.

sound of the heartbeat filled the room, fast and strong, and my eyes burned with tears. It was the first time since discovering the pregnancy that I felt something genuinely maternal, something not 1/3 rooted in fear Icon Ces. This was my child. No matter who the father was. No matter the circumstances. A life

Everything looks healthy?" "It's still too early to determine the sex," the doctor replied patiently. "And yes, based on what we can measure, development is exactly where it should be." Vivian leaned closer to the screen, as if studying every pixel of the image. "Doctor," Vivian said,

two types of fetal DNA tests,"

the doctor continued. "However, in Madeline's case, I do not recommend any genetic testing at this time." "Why not?" Vivian asked immediately. The doctor pointed to a specific area on the ultrasound screen. "I detected a small placental detachment," she

behind my eyes. Vivian was staring at me, waiting for me to say yes. Waiting for