Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 693

Renee's POV

Two months was long enough to learn where the sun hit the living room at the end of the afternoon.

Which toys were too loud.

Which ones made too much of a mess.

Which cartoons Bella watched when she was tired and which ones she watched when she was pretending not to be.

Two months was long enough for me to memorize her routine.

And still not long enough to get what I wanted.

I paced through the living room with my phone to my ear, stepping carefully so I wouldn't scatter the game pieces Bella had spread across the rug.

She was sitting cross-legged, focused, whispering to her dolls like the whole world fit inside that tiny scene.

For her, maybe it did. For me, the world fit into numbers.

"This is ridiculous," I said into the phone, keeping my voice controlled.

The living room door was open, and the neighbor next door had inconveniently sharp hearing.

"I've had my daughter for two months and I'm still receiving...that pathetic amount." On the other end, my lawyer's voice came calm, trained.

"Ms.Renee, we've discussed this.The provisional amount was based on the elements presented at that stage-" "Provisional," I repeated, with disdain.

"Everything in this life becomes 'provisional' when it's about keeping me below what I deserve." Bella glanced up for a second, curious about my tone.

I smiled at her without showing teeth and kept walking, so she wouldn't think the conversation was about her.

"We need the increase based on the standard of living," I said.

" You know that."

"We've already filed the request," he replied.

"And how long is the judge going to take to recognize the obvious?" I stopped near the window, staring at the garden like looking at something green would stop me from crushing the phone in my hand.

"Gwen Kensington is a billionaire.Not just wealthy.A billionaire.My daughter has the right to equal living standards.She can't live on her father's crumbs while the other child is born into gold."

"Ms.-" he warned.

I stepped farther down the hallway and lowered my voice.

Bella was still on the rug, distracted, but I didn't trust distractions.

exhausting it is to play perfect mother for that

a confession.It

my sanity.I want the Kensington

understand your urgency," he said

things don't resolve overnight.The request for the increase based on the standard of living is properly grounded.We attached what we could.But a decision may take...up to ninety

days," I repeated, tasting it

"Three months."

be

to understand there is

my eyes and

One.

Two.

Three.

at waiting when waiting

month, then,"

can tolerate that."

silence afterward was almost

called,

to play with me?" I looked down at the nails on my left hand and felt a surge of irritation at how everything

Play.

Smile.

Stroke her hair.

Pretend.

Apologize.

Don't yell.

Don't get tired.

Don't exist.

using the patience

my nails done." Bella

care." The

into my pocket and pulled my phone back out, opening the gossip profile

crouched down beside Bella to get the

care about you," I said, like I was giving her useful information.Almost

Bella blinked, confused.

mean?" I turned the screen toward

first photo

around them, my ex-husband's

They looked...free.

I said.I swiped.Another photo.Another

Them laughing.

Them toasting.

Them existing.

they