Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 246 Saturday felt like a welcome reset after everything that had blown up at the party. I still woke with the tail end of a hangover, but I was determined to enjoy my last days with Zoey and Christian before they flew back to Verdania. It felt strange knowing they'd soon be an ocean away again. Back to video calls and Whatsapp messages. Matthew showed up around ten carrying coffee and fresh croissants from a Franconian bakery. "Bennett family program," he announced when I opened the door. "Zoey already approved.

Today we're tourists in your city." We spent the whole day visiting the London landmarks I'd somehow never seen properly since moving. We started at Regent's Park, where Zoey took dozens of photos of Matt in his stroller, laughing every time he made some new dramatic baby expression. "He looks exactly like Dad," I said, watching Matt scrunch his eyebrows the same way our father did when concentrating. "But he definitely has some of our stubbornness." "God forbid," Zoey laughed. "One stubborn Bennett personality is enough." "One?" Matthew lifted a brow.

"Try at least three of us." We wandered to a cozy café in Notting Hill and squeezed around a tiny table. We talked for over an hour about nothing and everything. Matthew told wild stories from his latest projects in Ascia. Zoey talked about balancing work and motherhood. And for the first time in weeks, I felt myself relax. "You know what I'll miss the most?" Zoey said as she stirred her coffee with a spoon way too small to be useful. "These silly moments. Being able to call you and say 'coffee?' without checking time zones." "Me too," I admitted as a tightness pulled at my chest.

"It's going to feel weird doing everything alone again." "You're not alone," Matthew said, tugging a strand of my hair the same annoying way he used to when we were kids. "Even when I'm back in Ascia, someone in the family will always be rooting for you." "And when you come to London for work, you can visit me," I added. "And supervise if you're behaving," he said with a wicked grin. Our final stop was Columbia Road Flower Market, where Zoey insisted on buying me an enormous bouquet of pink peonies. "For your apartment," she explained.

arrived with that familiar goodbye-heavy melancholy, but we turned it into a celebration. Christian and Zoey hosted us in their gorgeous apartment with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the London skyline. The view made it feel like we were floating above the city. Zoey made a brunch that blended London polish with Verdanian comfort. Elegant tableware but

corporate meetings. Nate added sarcastic comments at the perfect moments. Gwen, Matthew, and Marcus took turns trying to make Matt laugh, turning it into a full-blown competition for who could get the loudest giggle. "You're sure you

tugged me toward a quieter corner of the apartment. Zoey settled onto the massive couch facing the skyline, pulling her knees up just slightly as she turned toward "So," she said, her tone gentle but curious, "how are you feeling about everything? The party. Henry. Nate... last night was

no," Zoey laughed. "What did you do?" "I reinstalled the dating app," I blurted, the words tumbling out as fast as possible, as if speed might soften the shame. "In the middle of the night. After the party. I was confused and

only person who can actually pull my mind away from this mess with Nate." "I get that," Zoey said thoughtfully. "And what did you say to him?" I told her about his question and the very honest message I'd apparently sent at three-something in the morning. "Well," Zoey said with a tiny smirk, "at least you were honest." "Maybe too honest." "There's no such thing as too honest with feelings," she said, slipping into big-sister mode. "Follow your heart. Just try not to get into too much trouble...

me into a long, tight hug. The kind that says everything you can't put into words about missing each other, about wanting to protect each other, about wishing distance wasn't a factor. "You'll be okay," she whispered. "You're stronger than you think." "I hope so," I murmured back. As I held her, my gaze drifted to the balcony. Christian stood there talking with Nate. At first it looked casual. 2/3 Two men