Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 315 Nathaniel's POV I went upstairs carrying a tray with light sandwiches, a bottle of cold water, and fresh juice. I'd kept it simple with whole-grain bread with turkey, mild cheese, a few crackers. Nothing that might upset Annie's stomach while she was succovering from whatever had been slipped into her drink. I found her sitting up in bed, wearing one of my T-shirts that was far too big on her, and a pair of pajama pants I'd lent her.

Her hair was still damp from the shower, and she looked calmer, though I could still see the leftover tension in her shoulders and the faintly unfocused look in her eyes. "How are you feeling?" I asked softly, setting the tray on the nightstand and sitting beside her, careful and slow. "Better," Annie said, taking one of the sandwiches and biting into it. "Thank you for this." I kept my voice low and my movements deliberate, predictable, like I was around a wounded bird that might startle at anything sudden.

I wanted her to feel completely safe, with no pressure or urgency that might pull her back into what she'd just endured. After what she'd been through, I knew she needed time and space to readjust to normal interactions, even with me. I'd read about it. How survivors often had to relearn trust in human touch. How even well-meant gestures could trigger anxiety or flashbacks. So I kept a respectful distance, waited for her to initiate any contact, watched her reactions closely to make sure she was comfortable. "Do you want to watch something?" I offered, picking up the remote.

"Something light, maybe?" She nodded, settling back against the pillows while I scrolled through the options. I chose a classic romantic movie we'd watched before. It was predictable, comforting, and nothing that demanded too much emotional energy. We sat in a quiet, easy silence for a while. Annie ate small bites of her sandwich as the movie played. Every so often, I checked on her without making it obvious, watching her body language for any sign of discomfort. But as the movie went on, the plot shifted toward a twist where the heroine was being manipulated by someone she trusted.

built as the scheme unraveled, revealing how carefully the villain had orchestrated everything to destroy her. "I used to think that kind of manipulation was just movie stuff," I said quietly, unable to ignore the parallels. "I mean... I always knew what Alexandra was like, that she'd do anything to get what she wanted. I just never thought she would go as far as committing actual crimes." I paused, a fresh wave of anger rising as the full scope of what

look at me, her eyes holding a sad kind of wisdom that twisted my chest. "Bad people aren't just things from

her and the baby during her pregnancy. I watched my sister, one of the strongest people I know, cry through entire nights because of that kind of pointless cruelty." 1/3 She sighed, running a hand through her still-damp hair. "And it seems like being close to Nathaniel Carter attracts that kind of person too." "No," I said immediately, guilt settling heavy in my chest. "I won't let Alexandra hurt you again. I won't allow that to happen." Annie looked at

I will," I said without hesitation. "I'll always trust you." I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the honesty I still owed her. "But I don't think I can ask the same of you. Not after everything with Wanderer. Not after keeping that secret for so long." Annie stayed quiet for a moment, really thinking

shoulder. The gesture was so natural, so trusting, that it warmed my heart instantly. "We didn't get our midnight