Lahat ng Kabanata ng Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire: Kabanata 641 - Kabanata 650

Nicholas' POV The coffee Dante handed me went completely cold in my hand. I never took a single sip. I just sat there staring at the dark liquid, unable to do anything but wait. Waiting was torture. Every minute dragged like an hour. Every second felt heavy enough to crush me. The clock on the wall ticked loudly, each sharp sound almost designed to drive us insane. Three hours. Three hours since I'd arrived. Four hours since Gwen had gone into surgery, according to Christian. How long was a surgery supposed to last? Was it normal for it to take this long? Or did it mean something had gone wrong? No one talked much. At some point, Zoey stepped out to "make calls." When she came back, her eyes were red. Mia kept pacing, unable to sit still. Dante was buried in his phone, typing nonstop. Probably handling some corporate crisis that couldn't wait. Or maybe just using work to distract himself. Christian hadn't moved. He sat like a statue, staring at the opposite

Nicholas's POV Spending the night alone in Gwen's apartment was one of the strangest experiences of my life. I tried to make myself as invisible as possible, even though there was no one there to see me. I didn't want to leave traces. Didn't want to disturb anything. Didn't want it to look like someone had invaded her space. I took a quick shower in the massive marble bathroom, using the bare minimum and putting everything back exactly where I found it. I made something simple for dinner with what I found in her perfectly organized pantry. Pasta. Jarred tomato sauce. A little grated cheese. Afterward, I washed every dish carefully and returned each item to its precise spot. I slept in the guest room, not hers. That felt like too much of an intrusion. Even so, it took me hours to fall asleep. The bed was too comfortable. The silence too deep. Her absence too loud. Eventually, exhaustion won. The next morning, I woke before sunrise. The sky was still dark when I got u

Nicholas' POV "The waking process is gradual," the doctor explained, gesturing calmly with his hands. "We'll reduce the sedative medication progressively over the next twelve to twenty-four hours. It's not like waking from normal sleep. It's more like… slowly surfacing." He looked at each of us to make sure we were following. "She may show small signs at first. Involuntary finger movement. Reflexes returning. Breathing becoming less dependent on the ventilator. Eventually, attempts to open her eyes." "How long until she's fully awake?" Zoey asked, gripping Christian's hand tightly. "It's impossible to say exactly," the doctor admitted. "It could be hours. It could take days. Every patient responds differently. What matters is that all her vital signs are stable and strong. Her brain activity is responding well. There's no indication of permanent neurological damage in the most recent scans." Christian let out a long breath that seemed to carry days of tension. "So she's g

Gwen's POV Waking up for real was different from just opening my eyes. The first few days were hazy. Fragmented. Consciousness coming and going in uneven waves. I remember voices. Blurred faces. Pain that seemed to radiate from everywhere at once. I remember Nick holding my hand. Christian telling me to stay calm. Doctors asking questions I couldn't fully process. But now, five days after I first woke up, I was finally clear. I was still weak and in pain, but present and aware. I understood where I was and why. Private hospital. Private room. Car accident. The pieces had come together slowly. Christian and Zoey were sitting in the chairs beside my bed when I opened my eyes that Tuesday morning. "Good morning, sleepyhead," Zoey said with a soft smile. "How are you feeling today?" "Like I flipped a car," I replied, my voice still hoarse and thin. "Oh wait. That's exactly what happened." Christian gave a faint smile. "Your sense of humor's back. That's a good sig

Nicholas' POV The drive back to Florentia was a blur of chaotic thoughts and endless road I barely registered. Custody petition. Renee trying to take Bella from me. Claims of instability. Of debt. Of Gwen having financial control over our home. Of the fire putting my daughter in danger. Every line of that legal document replayed in my head on a cruel, endless loop. I drove on autopilot. Entered Florentia. Parked at the hospital. Took the elevator up to Gwen's floor. All mechanical. My mind somewhere else. But the moment I opened the door and saw her— Sitting up in bed. Propped up by pillows. Fully awake. Looking at me with those eyes I knew so well— Everything stopped. She was still pale. Yellowing bruises fading across her face. Her arm immobilized. But she was conscious. Present. Alive. "Nick," she said my name with relief and something stronger. Determination. I crossed the room in three long strides and leaned down carefully, wrapping my arms around her