Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 691

Nick's POV

Bella's backpack felt too light for what I was doing.

I zipped it up slowly, feeling the resistance of the fabric like it was the only real thing in a morning that had turned into a legal maze.

Inside, I packed things she'd recognize without thinking.

The pencil case with the cracked lid.

Her sketchbook.

Two changes of clothes.

Pajamas.

Her favorite hoodie.

The pair of socks with little stars she insisted were "lucky." None of it was her life.

Just a small enough slice so it wouldn't feel like goodbye.

I heard footsteps in the living room and Martina's low voice, soft, careful, like she was building a nest around her.

"Are you taking your necklace?" Martina asked.

"The friendship one?" Bella replied, bright.

a second, my hand still

had become proof of affection and, at the

everything

of the hallway with her hair tied back

like I was

bought games,"

looked at me over

mothers give when they

a

had said

fail before we even left

in his pockets, wearing that steady expression

"Valemont," he greeted.

"She's ready," I replied.

him and

"Is he coming too?"

is,"

sure everything's done right."

lady at the

I opened the

isn't coming?" Cross asked quietly before

"No," I said.

like I'd just

I drove with both hands on the wheel while Bella hummed a song without words in the backseat, kicking

glanced in the rearview mirror and saw

wasn't afraid.She still believed in the basic rule of