Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 346 Solara in May was exactly how I remembered it. Autumn in the city still brought warm days, but with a softer breeze that made walking around so much more pleasant. The endless blue sky and that vibrant energy only the city could have were still there, untouched. Zoey and I had arrived the night before, and we woke up early to take care of the most important task of the trip: the final fitting of my wedding dress. The boutique was the same place where Zoey had worked for years before meeting Christian.

Immaculate play windows, mannequins posed like pieces of art, and that unmistakable air of sophistication that had always defined the shop. "Ready to see how they treat you now?" I asked Zoey, curious to witness the difference. "This should be interesting," she replied with a mischievous smile. The moment we stepped inside, the shift was immediate. The same employees who once saw Zoey as just another coworker were now practically bowing to her. They offered water, champagne, specialty coffees, treating her like royalty.

The Kensington last name carried a weight I was still learning to fully grasp. "How does it feel to be treated like this?" I whispered as we were escorted to a private area of the store, complete with velvet sofas and strategically placed full-length mirrors. Zoey let out a quiet laugh. "You know that fantasy where an employee quits in the most dramatic way possible, right in the boss's face?" she murmured back. "It's exactly that. Only better." I couldn't help laughing. Zoey had been worked to the bone in that place, so champagne was the bare minimum she deserved in return.

We were there for the final fitting of my dress-the moment every bride dreams of, when she finally steps into the gown tailored just for her after weeks of careful work. The dress had been finished the week before, and today was the big reveal to see if every adjustment had turned out right. "Could you bring the reservation under Annabelle Bennett, please?" Zoey asked one of the attendants, who immediately disappeared into the back to retrieve my dress. When she returned with it, protected inside a fabric garment bag, my heart started racing.

helping me slip into the dress with careful hands. It was exactly how I'd dreamed it would be. Satin with delicate embroidery and a train that seemed to float behind me. Every adjustment had been done with precision. Every detail designed to flatter my silhouette. When I looked at myself in the mirror, everything stopped. Without warning, I started to cry. Not the quiet, graceful

straight from the soul-full sobs, tears streaming down my face with no intention of stopping. "Annie!" Zoey rushed to my side, alarmed. "What happened? Is something wrong with the dress?" 1/3 "No," I managed between sobs, staring at my reflection. "It's perfect. It's just that... I'm getting married, Zoey. I'm marrying Nate." It was like reality hit me all at once, out of

dress with makeup. "Are you okay?" 'm great," I said, still crying but smiling now too. "It's just... everything feels really intense lately." And it truly did. There was something different about the past few days that I couldn't fully explain. I felt more sensitive to everything. Smells, emotions, and even sunlight seemed brighter than usual. And I was running to

final details. The dress was perfect. No more adjustments were needed. We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around Solara, revisiting places from our childhood and soaking

body was working overtime without telling me why. We returned to the hotel in the late afternoon, and I practically collapsed onto the bed. "Are you okay?" Zoey asked, watching me closely as I sprawled across the pillows. "Just tired," I murmured, closing my eyes. "Probably still jet lag." But deep down, I knew that wasn't all. Something about my body had felt off for days now. That night, I woke up with a mild cramp

was feeling, when Zoey shifted in the bed beside "Are you awake?" she whispered. "I have this weird cramp," I admitted softly. Zoey sat up immediately, wide awake. "What do you mean, weird cramp?" "I don't