The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 121

Tiana came down the stairs just as her father walked in.

Her eyes were swollen from crying, and the moment she saw him, she flung herself into his arms, her small voice trembling. "Daddy, when is Mommy coming home?"

Julian had no answer for her.

But his anger toward Winona only grew sharper inside him.

"Sweetheart, do you think I can go home now?" Janetta asked Tiana carefully, seeking her approval.

Truth be told, Janetta loved her grandchildren. She worried about them, perhaps even spoiled them. But when it came to actually caring for them day in and day out, she simply couldn't manage it—she was exhausted and at her wit's end. With several housekeepers in the villa, and now that Julian was back, Janetta was all too eager to escape her grandmotherly duties.

Before Tiana could even nod, Julian intervened. "You should go home now, Mom."

Janetta left like someone fleeing a sinking ship.

With Janetta gone, only Julian, Tiana, and four housekeepers remained in the sprawling house. The housekeepers, all spooked by the tense atmosphere, tried to keep out of sight, slipping away to the backyard whenever they could.

"Ever since Winona left, this place has been a mess," one of the seasoned maids whispered. "Mr. Nicholson can't eat or sleep, and the little princess is miserable too. Honestly, Winona had it made as Mrs. Nicholson, but she just had to stir things up. Now we're all suffering for it."

"Are we really suffering because of her?" the newest housekeeper asked, a bit bewildered.

"Of course! When Winona was here, we didn't have to wash Mr. Nicholson's or the little princess's clothes, make breakfast, or even clean the master suite or the study—Winona handled it all herself. Our jobs were a breeze!"

"So, wait…" the new girl grinned, "if Winona were still here, we'd just look after ourselves, get paid well, and hardly lift a finger?"

The new housekeeper just stared, speechless, then managed an awkward smile and excused herself. "I've got soup simmering in the kitchen—I'd better check on it."

She'd had enough of the older maid's talk for one day.

This was life with the Nicholsons. Honestly, if these housekeepers ever left and tried to work elsewhere, you'd think people were hiring royalty, not domestic help. The idea was almost laughable.

She slipped into the kitchen, turned the stove down, and when she came back out, she saw Julian sitting on the stairs with Tiana cradled in his arms. Father and daughter were silent, lost in their own thoughts.

She'd never seen what the house was like when Mrs. Nicholson was here, but she could see clearly what was missing now that she was gone. This place just didn't feel like home anymore.

Saying nothing, the young housekeeper quietly retreated to her small room, leaving the heavy silence behind.