The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 111

Mia just chuckled, undisturbed. She got up, helped Helga to her feet, called Zane to wash up with them, and gathered the dishes. Together, they unpacked the takeout food Winona had brought home and set everything out on the table.

In a rare gesture of goodwill, Mia took it upon herself to crack open the crab shells for Winona.

Zane busied himself fetching a damp towel to wipe his mom's hands.

Helga ladled soup for Winona, making sure it was just the right temperature.

After a long, exhausting day out, Winona was more than happy to let the three of them fuss over her.

And as she sat there, quietly enjoying being cared for, her mind wandered back to all the years she'd spent with Julian. In all that time, she was the one doing the laundry, cooking, and looking after both Julian and Tiana. Sometimes, she'd even go back to the old Nicholson estate to take care of his extended family.

The Nicholsons, with their sprawling estate and impeccable reputation, prided themselves on treating their staff like family—at least, that's what everyone was meant to believe. They were adamant that no one outside the family could accuse them of mistreating their employees.

As a result, the Nicholsons' dozens of housekeepers lived lives of comfort and ease—better, in fact, than many middle-class professionals in Greenwood City.

It was no wonder that so many highly educated people in town competed for a chance to work for the Nicholson family. The job was easy, respectable, stable, and came with a surprising amount of respect. For many, it was a job for life.

That reputation served the family well, but it came at a price: the staff weren't always particularly useful. When Janetta wasn't feeling well and needed a good massage, it was almost impossible to find anyone among the staff who actually knew how to give one. In the end, it was always Winona who stepped up to help her mother-in-law. Only then would the older woman look truly content.

Winona had sometimes massaged her mother-in-law for five or six hours straight. Even when it was time for dinner, she'd have to keep going while her mother-in-law ate. Afterward, Winona's hands and wrists would be swollen for over a week.

Looking back now, after six years with the Nicholsons, Winona realized her position in their household had been worth less than that of their housekeepers.

But at this moment, with her family doting on her, Winona felt like she was living in heaven.

"This is the life," she sighed dreamily.

Helga's heart broke, tears welling in her clouded eyes and spilling down her cheeks.

What mother doesn't ache for her child? For Tiana to fit in with her new family, Winona was cutting out a piece of her own heart.

Helga didn't want Winona to suffer any more. She just nodded. "Alright. I'll be happy just to catch a glimpse from afar. That's enough for me."

"Good," Winona said softly. "Tomorrow morning I'm going to check out a property with some investors. Once I'm back in the afternoon, I'll take you both to the hospital to see Tiana."

"What happened? Is Tiana sick?" Helga asked, suddenly anxious.

"It's just a bit of a stomach bug, nothing serious," Winona reassured her.