Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 303 The days that followed dragged by in a gray, monotonous haze. My apartment became both my refuge and my prison, a place where I could sort through my tangled emotions without having to pretend I was fine for the outside world. Nate texted me regularly. They weren't desperate or suffocating messages. Somehow, he'd found a careful balance between staying present and giving me the space I clearly needed. Sometimes it was just a good morning. Other times he'd ask how I was, or share some small detail about his day.

He never pushed for a reply, never begged to talk, never tried to make me feel guilty for my silence. I read every single one. I didn't answer any of them. His calls followed the same pattern. My phone would ring, his name lighting up the screen, and I'd let it go to voicemail. He never called obsessively, respecting my choice not to pick up-but he didn't disappear either. It was as if he was gently reminding me that he was still there, waiting, whenever I was ready. Part of me appreciated the care behind it.

It showed he knew me well enough to understand that pressure would only make me pull away more. Another part of me was irritated by just how well he could read me. I tried to distract myself in every way I could. I binge-watched an entire season of a British series about Victorian detectives. I read two novels that had been collecting dust on my shelf for months. I even buried myself in work I could do from home by organizing projects for January, getting a head start on tasks I usually left until after the holidays. None of it managed to push Nate completely out of my thoughts.

Gwen reached out a few times, sending careful messages asking how I was, if I needed anything, if I wanted to talk. I replied briefly that I was fine, thanks for checking in, but that I wasn't ready to talk about it yet. She respected my space, even though I could feel her worry through the screen. told Zoey stayed in touch like she always did. She sent pictures of Matt, shared funny stories about motherhood, me about their New Year's plans in Verdania. I responded normally, keeping things light, giving no hint that anything was wrong.

want to worry her with my problems during the holidays-especially when I was still trying to process everything myself. But when December 30th arrived, I knew I couldn't keep avoiding the decision. The Kensington New Year's party was the next day, and I had to decide whether I was going to go. Whether I would try to talk to Nate. Whether I was ready to face what was between us, or keep hiding indefinitely. sat on the couch with a cup of tea that went cold in my hands as

face appeared on the screen, Matt asleep in her arms in a position that looked uncomfortable but was clearly working for him. Behind her was the luxurious living room of the Kensington mansion in Verdania, decorated with subtle New Year's touches. "Hey, love," Zoey said, flashing that warm smile that always made me feel at home. "How are you? It's so good to see you." "Okay... kind of," I replied, searching for the right tone. "Actually, I need to tell you

her everything. The devastating discovery that Wanderer had been Nate all along. The confrontation. My fainting. Our fight. My silence over the past few days. Zoey listened without interrupting, her expressions shifting

two men who were actually the same person." Zoey went quiet for a moment, studying me through

right, and we both knew it. I had tried to be angry. I'd fought with Nate, confronted Gwen, clung to that outrage because it felt like the correct response, the expected reaction when someone lies to you. But deep down I wasn't truly furious. I was hurt by how