Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 165 Annabelle's POV I had never seen Christian like that before. He sat in the waiting room chair with his head in his hands, sobbing like his whole world had collapsed. And maybe it had. Maybe ours had too. My sister was behind those doors, fighting for her life, and I couldn't do a damn thing to help her. I kept staring at the double doors of the operating room, waiting for someone to come out with good news. But they stayed shut, holding secrets I was terrified to hear. "Annie, sit down," Matthew said softly, tugging me toward the chair beside him.

"You've been pacing for half an hour." "I can't sit still," I said, but I let him pull me down anyway. "Every time I close my eyes, I see her falling down those stairs. The sound when she hit the floor..." Matthew squeezed my hand. "Zoey's strong. She's not going anywhere. She's too damn stubborn to give up now." I looked around the room. Joseph sat silently, his face pale and hollow, like he'd aged ten years in the span of a few hours. My parents were huddled together, my mom crying quietly against my dad's shoulder. "How could this happen?" I whispered. "It was supposed to be a celebration.

Just a wine fair. A good day." "It was an accident," Matthew said, though his voice lacked conviction. "Was it?" I turned to him. "Zoey's walked up and down those same stairs a hundred times today. And suddenly she falls? With Elise?" Christian's head snapped up. His eyes were bloodshot, raw from crying. "What are you trying to say, Annie?" he asked, his voice tight. "I'm saying I don't believe in coincidences," I said, the fear in my chest starting to twist into anger. "Elise hates Zoey. We all know that. And now the two of them just happen to fall down the stairs together?

Come on." Marcus, who'd been speaking quietly with Joseph, walked over. "Annie, I understand you're upset, but-" "Where's Elise?" I cut him off. "No one's said a word about her since we got here." Marcus hesitated, the kind of pause that already tells you more than the answer will. "She was brought here too," he said finally. "She's in surgery." "What kind of surgery?" "I don't know the details," Marcus said carefully. "But she was injured in the fall as well." "How convenient," I muttered. "Annie..." Matthew started, but I didn't let him finish. "No, Matthew, think about it!

that far? Deliberately?" I met his eyes. 1/3 "After everything she's already

sister might die because of it." Marcus sat down across from me, his face drawn and serious. "Annie, I know you're desperate, that you want someone to blame." "Can you get the

first.' " "And what if she's not?" I snapped, jumping to my feet. "What if I ever get the chance to ask her what really happened up there?" Matthew stood too and pulled me into a tight hug. "She's going to be okay," he said firmly. "Zoey's survived too much, fought through too much. This won't be the thing that stops her." "But what about the baby?" I whispered against

came over and wrapped her arms around me. "Sweetheart, I know you're angry and scared. I am too. But Matthew is right. Zoey's strong. She's fought for everything in her life... she'll fight for this too." "I keep thinking about when we were little," I said softly, holding onto the memory like a lifeline. "Zoey always protected me from everything. When I had nightmares, when kids at school picked on me... she was always there."

had been sitting quietly nearby, but when he heard us, something changed in his eyes. For the first time since we'd arrived at the hospital, I saw a flicker of hope. "You're right," he said, his voice still raw but steadier. "Zoey's never given up on anything. She won't start now." "And Matt's got