Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 706

Chapter 706

Nicks POV

When the social worker finished the sentence about the "current court order," something primal rose in me. An instinct to grab my daughter and disappear.

Martina made a soft, broken sound. Gwen went completely still, her hand resting over her stomach, like her body had absorbed the blow before her mind did. Bella was wrapped around my legs, her face buried in my pants like I was the only safe place left in the world.

I ran my hand through her hair slowly, repeating "I'm here" more for myself than for her, because I needed to remember I could still stand upright.

She lifted her tear-soaked face and looked at me with a clarity no child should have.

"I don't want to go," she whispered. The words hit me like something solid. The man with the folder shuffled his papers.

"Mr. Valemont-"

"I understand," I cut in, without raising my voice.

"I just need a minute." I crouched down to Bella's level.

"Princess..." I said, and it took everything in me not to let the word turn into desperation.

"Look at me." Her eyes were red, but steady.

"Do you remember what I told you yesterday?" I asked. She frowned, trying to follow.

"That...I didn't do anything wrong?" she guessed. I swallowed.

"That's right. You didn't do anything wrong for wanting to be with me. But you did put yourself in danger," I said, with as much gentleness and as little blame as I could manage.

fix this in their way." She sniffed.

like the word tasted dirty. I looked at Cross. My hand clenched in the

if I say

"If you say no and walk out with her right now, you feed the kidnapping narrative." He gestured subtly toward my

My body went rigid. He didn't soften it "If you act on impulse,

closed my eyes for a second. For good. When I opened them, Bella was staring at me like she expected me to flip the world upside down. I could. The problem was the

her presence was saying: I'm here with you, but don't

today," Cross

hardest movement of my life. The man with the folder cleared his throat,

with the

mother is already waiting in the garage." I stood

cried, the words breaking

actually hurt. I picked Bella

me instantly, folding herself against my chest like she could disappear inside

was saying it to myself. The walk to

the garage, the air was colder, thick with the smell of concrete and fuel

she called, voice

in my

she

"Mommy's here."

at my side, silent. Martina stood a few feet back, rigid, holding herself together like she was bracing against an earthquake. The man with the folder spoke quietly with Renee's

softer now, like

at Cross. I swear, for one second, I almost did it. I almost turned and walked away. Cross didn't need to repeat himself. He just met my eyes and gave the smallest shake of his head. No. I lowered my face

sobbed against my

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