Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 531 - チャプター 540

Nicholas' POV The back porch of the villa was my refuge. The place I went when I needed to think. When the weight of the day pressed too hard on my shoulders. When I needed a few minutes of silence before stepping back into the controlled chaos of running an inn, a winery, and raising a six-year-old daughter. I leaned against the wooden railing, the afternoon cold seeping through my flannel shirt. I pulled my phone from my pocket and searched for Dr. Marshall's number. I'd promised to call if there were any problems, and well… this wasn't exactly a problem. But it was definitely something I needed to talk through with someone who knew what they were doing. He answered on the third ring. "Nick? Is Miss Parker all right?" "Physically, yes," I said, running my free hand through my hair. "No dizziness. No vomiting. She's walking and talking normally. But… something strange is happening." "Strange how?" I took a deep breath, organizing my thoughts. "She's having memory flash

Gwen's POV I went down the stairs carefully, one hand on the railing, the other lightly touching the bead necklace Bella had given me. It was comforting, in a strange way, that light, colorful weight against my skin. The guest dining area was on the ground floor. A wide room with rustic wooden tables and high-backed chairs. The smell coming from inside was incredible. Something roasted, mixed with fresh herbs and warm bread. Several guests were already seated, chatting animatedly as generous plates were served. Classic inn food. Hearty, fragrant, homemade. The kind of food that warms you from the inside out. I was about to look for a place to sit when I heard my name. "Gwen!" I turned and saw Paula waving from the doorway that led to the kitchen. She was wearing an apron over her clothes, her hair pulled into an even tighter ponytail than before. "Come have dinner with us," she called, jerking her head toward the back. "In the kitchen." I hesitated for only a second befor

Gwen's POV I went up the stairs slowly, my hand sliding along the wooden banister worn smooth by time. Each step creaked softly beneath my weight, creating a rhythm that somehow soothed me. But my mind wasn't calm. Not even close. Nick had dodged the question about his ex-wife. Deflected. Changed the subject. Thrown the question back at me. There was something painful there. Something deep and unhealed that he clearly didn't want to touch. But wasn't it fair for us to talk about it? If we were going to get married, if we were going to build a life together, I needed to understand the pain and wounds of the man I'd be sharing my future with. I needed to know his broken pieces just as much as his whole ones. And Bella, too. That sweet, affectionate child who still missed her mother. Who had said, with the brutal honesty only children have, that her mother was happier away from her. What kind of woman said that to her own daughter? I stopped in the second-floor hallway, st

Nicholas' POV I took off running from Bella's room, racing down the hallway in long, fast strides. My heart was pounding. Part worry. Part something I didn't want to name. I stopped in front of Gwen's door and knocked lightly. "Miss—" The word died in my throat. I remembered what she'd said earlier. That teasing comment about how calling her "miss" sounded like a fetish. An involuntary smile tugged at my lips. It was just politeness. Nothing more. But obviously, it didn't make much sense to keep up that kind of formality when we were supposedly engaged. "Gwen?" I called, knocking again. There was total silence. I placed my hand on the doorknob and turned it slowly, opening the door just enough to peek inside. "Gwen?" The bedroom was empty. The bed untouched. Her suitcase still open on the chair. But then I heard something coming from the bathroom. Movement. Maybe running water. Thinking about her earlier scream, I worried she might've hurt herself again. Hit h

Nicholas' POV I couldn't sleep. I lay there staring at the dark ceiling of my bedroom, listening to the clock on the wall mark every passing second with its steady, irritating tick-tock. My mind wouldn't shut off. It kept spinning in vicious circles, always coming back to the same problems. The winery needed maintenance I couldn't afford. The inn's reservations were low for the season. Bills were piling up. And Bella… Bella needed so many things I could barely keep up. And now, on top of all that, there was Gwen. A woman I barely knew. A woman who didn't even really know who she was. But who believed, with her whole heart, that we were going to get married. And I couldn't contradict her. The doctor had been clear. No stress. No conflict. Let her memory return naturally. And I'd agreed. I'd signed the papers, taking responsibility for her. But no one had warned me it would be this hard. No one had warned me about her blue eyes looking at me with absolute trust. Abo