Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 692

Gwen's POV

Two months have a cruel way of looking short on a calendar and endless in your body.

The new routine settled like fine dust.

You don't see it at first, but you feel it in your throat.

I memorized visitation hours like medication instructions.

I learned not to ask questions that sounded like interrogations.

I learned to smile at Bella without asking for anything back.

And most of all, I learned the sound of Nick's car in the garage.

That afternoon, I heard the elevator and closed my laptop before finishing the email.

Automatic.

My body already knew.

Nick walked in without announcing himself.

Not because he was trying to be dramatic.

He just saved words when words were expensive.

He dropped his keys on the console, took off his coat slowly, and stood there for a second like the house had shifted in the last three days.

"She asked again," he said.

I didn't ask what, because I knew.

I just stepped close enough for him to see me without feeling cornered.

'Can I come back yet?" he finished.

His voice sounded like a door that creaks just slightly.

"I told her not yet." He ran a hand over his face.

"How did she say it?" I asked.

"Quiet.Like she didn't want her mom to hear." He exhaled.

"Then she pretended she didn't care.Showed me a new game.But...she was different." I nodded.

"Different how?" "Quieter.

" He looked at the window instead of me."She hugged me tighter when I left.

" What I wanted to say was this is manipulation.This is alienation.This is a child surviving in the middle of a tug-of-war.What I said was: "She's trying to adapt.The only way she knows how." Nick let out a short breath through his nose.

"and me? I'm trying to be a father by appointment." I stepped closer.

being a father," I

without one.You show up.You go.You come back.That matters." He finally looked at

of someone who accepts the logic but not the

doesn't change her house." He looked away

hears." I swallowed the urge to say Renee's name.I wouldn't give her more space

want a shower?" I asked, practical.It was what I could offer without taking

to eat?" He shook

minutes without

He

The Kensington event had been looming on the calendar for

new distributor in

Partners.

Press.

Speeches.

Smiles.

that existed before our chaos and therefore felt

don't know..."

go either." I

think

"Gwen..."

business," I

where you don't get in a car

looked at the floor, then back

bedroom and picked a

wore too much armor.I needed

woman getting hit by the world.Not the woman trying

Just me.

like the sound might break something. When he stepped into the bedroom in a dark suit and an open- collar shirt, I

face stopped pretending

okay?"

He shrugged.

look presentable." I took that

like it was daytime.There was a

like expensive perfume and

too much, tell

Nick nodded.

I don't stay long enough,

your lead," I

last name before

a man shouted, like I was

shook hands, and accepted

in hand, wearing the enthusiasm of someone investing

said, taking

certain this will be a successful partnership."

"Absolutely," I replied.

called me up, I stepped onto the

room quieted just enough.I spotted Nick near a column, like he was using it as an anchor.I delivered the speech the

Short.

Clear.

No miracles promised.