Lahat ng Kabanata ng Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire: Kabanata 471 - Kabanata 480

Madeline's POV The cemetery was already crowded when we arrived, the service well underway. Marcus had tracked down all the details for me—the time, the location, everything about the burial—since technically not even my own mother knew I was in Verdania. But Dominic certainly did. That certainty hung over me like a dark cloud as we walked through the discreet entrance Marcus had found. He stayed close at my side, his presence solid and grounding, while two security guards followed at a careful distance—far enough not to draw attention, close enough to react instantly if needed. They were alert to every step we took, every person who came too close. The paranoia that had become my constant companion since the jet attack intensified as I took in the dozens of people gathered around my father's coffin. I watched the ceremony from afar, strategically positioned beneath the shade of an old tree, wanting to draw as little attention as possible. Not only because of the very real dang

Marcus' POV I was arranging the food on the kitchen counter when I heard Madeline's footsteps coming down the stairs. I turned to greet her, but the words died in my throat the moment I saw her. She was white as a sheet. Completely pale, her expression caught somewhere between shock and fear—enough to make me abandon what I was doing immediately. "What happened?" She looked at me, then at the envelope she was holding so carefully it was like she was afraid it might explode. "My father left me a note." She paused, swallowing hard before continuing, her voice fragile. "I can't open it. I can't read it." I frowned, trying to understand what was stopping her. It was just an envelope. A letter. "Why?" Madeline glanced back at it, as if it contained something dangerous. "What if it's something bad?" she asked, her voice cracking slightly. "What if his last words are something horrible? It could trigger an anxiety attack, and that wouldn't be good for the baby." Her fe

Marcus' POV "Calm down," I said immediately, placing my hand over hers. "I asked them to stop it." Madeline turned to me, surprise written all over her face. "You… asked?" I pointed down, toward the city spread beneath us like a glowing map. "Everything looks so small from up here, doesn't it?" She followed my gaze, and a small smile slowly curved her lips. She let out a soft laugh and nodded. "The Ferris wheel was one of my favorite rides when I was a kid because it always made me feel like a giant." We laughed together, and I took the moment to continue with what I had planned. "That's exactly it," I said. "Sometimes we just need a change in perspective. To look at our problems like they're ants—and remember that we're the giants." Madeline frowned slightly, curious. "What do you mean?" I pulled the envelope from my jacket pocket—the one she'd found the day before and hadn't been able to open. I held it between us, watching recognition flash instantly in her e

Madeline's POV I'd spent the last two days organizing everything in secret. It hadn't been easy to coordinate a photo shoot at Sullivan Park without Marcus finding out—especially since he now had access to practically everything related to the park, now that I was the majority owner and we'd used his lawyers to make it all official. But I managed it. I hired a photographer who specialized in maternity shoots, someone with a beautiful, discreet portfolio—exactly what I was looking for. I explained that I wanted something natural and intimate, something that truly captured the moment. When I told Marcus that Saturday morning that I'd scheduled a maternity photo shoot at the park, he was visibly excited. "That's an amazing idea," he said, smiling in that way that always made me melt. "What time is it? I need to make sure security is fully set up before you get there." "You don't need to worry about that," I replied, keeping my tone casual. "I already coordinated everything wit

Madeline's POV The weeks passed in a whirlwind of activity and change. Marcus and I worked nonstop on ideas for the park—constant meetings with architects, designers, ride specialists, and security consultants. Every day brought new decisions, new challenges, new plans slowly taking concrete shape. It was exhausting, but also thrilling, watching something that had once been just a distant dream turn into a real, tangible project. In the meantime, life kept moving all around us. Nate and Annie's daughter was born—a beautiful, healthy baby girl they named Avery. And as if one child weren't enough to complete their happiness, they had finally entered the final stage of adopting a three-year-old boy. Seeing Annie glowing with her two children, navigating motherhood with that mix of chaos and joy, filled me with hope for my own future as a mother. Matt, the firstborn of the new Kensington generation, had turned two, and his birthday party practically shut down the entire Highridge Val