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 rehearsed

Except me.

kept talking, like he

with the presence of counsel if necessary." Transferred, The word hit me

and the thought

Stupid.

Impossible.

Bella from

My throat closed.

heart started beating in the wrong place,

looked at Cross like he was an

out too low to sound like a

we...did we lose?" He didn't dramatize

at me

head, steady, and gave me

wanted

couldn't happen so fast, so cold.But the judge was already

Deadlines.

Formalities.

Dates.

was Bella waking up tomorrow, assuming her life

that's what children

Until life proves otherwise.

adjourned, Renee stood first.She didn't rush.Didn't throw her arms up in celebration.She did something worse.She smiled at her lawyer, squeezed his hand with quiet triumph, then looked at me in a way that didn't

said, but

Something short.

told you My body reacted

wanted to cross the room and say something, anything, that would give me back an ounce of control.

"transfer" my daughter.I stood on stiff legs, like I'd aged ten years in

Cross touched my arm.

"Not now," he murmured.

In the hallway, the air felt colder than it should have.I took a

doors weren't

They were a wall.

walk through that wall, and on the other