Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 689

Nick's POV

"Based on the technical evaluation and the minor's well-being, I grant the request for a provisional measure, establishing temporary residence with the mother, with visitation rights for the father on designated days and times, until further review by this court." I heard every word.

But it felt like listening to a language I only understood well enough to recognize danger, not well enough to defend myself against it Mother.

Father.

Visitation.

Review.

The sound went distant and unbearably heavy at the same time.

I watched the judge's mouth move and thought, stupidly, that I should've brought a glass of water.

That I should've slept more.

That I should've answered differently somewhere along the way.

On some random day.

In some conversation that had now turned into this.

A clean, almost polite sentence about my daughter's life.

I caught a glimpse of Renee.

Perfect hair.

Straight posture.

That calculated calm she only wore when she was winning.

Her lawyer already had his pen poised like he'd known the ending from the start.

Cross sat beside me, still, hands folded over his folder.

second, I was certain the whole world had

Except me.

talking, like he was closing

be transferred within 24 hours, peacefully, with the presence of counsel if necessary."

the

Stupid.

Impossible.

Bella

My throat closed.

the wrong place, too loud,

Cross like he was

too low to sound like a man who deserved to be

we lose?" He didn't dramatize

look at

his head, steady, and gave me the only thing holding the world together in

lost this round.But we're appealing." I wanted to ask how.When.What

wanted someone to tell me this couldn't happen so fast, so

Deadlines.

Formalities.

Dates.

Bella waking up tomorrow, assuming her life would

that's what

Until life proves otherwise.

arms up in celebration.She did something worse.She smiled at her lawyer, squeezed his hand with quiet triumph, then

said,

Something short.

like, I told you My body reacted with

anything, that would give me back

order and twenty-four hours to "transfer" my daughter.I stood on stiff legs,

Cross touched my arm.

"Not now," he murmured.

nodded, unsure of anything, and walked out In the hallway, the air felt colder than it should have.I took

courthouse doors weren't

They were a wall.

to walk through that wall, and on the