The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 128

There is bitterness.

And there is sweetness.

Yves Prescott had just finished his conversation with Julian and was walking over when he caught sight of Winona's smile. For a moment, he was taken aback.

He realized, once again, he was seeing a different side of her.

So, she was just a girl who needed a little tenderness too.

Even the smallest kindness could send her spirits soaring.

"Winona," Yves called out.

Spotting Yves standing outside the car, Winona climbed out of Zachary's sedan. "Did Julian want to talk about that plot of land?"

Yves arched an eyebrow, a sly grin tugging at his lips. "You're sharp."

"It wasn't hard to guess. If we've got our eyes on it, so have they. Besides, The Nicholson Group has brought in more specialists lately than we have. They probably surveyed the property before us. So, they're determined to get it too, aren't they?" Winona pressed.

Yves flashed a wicked smile. "No matter how much The Nicholson Group wants that land, I'm not backing down. I'm taking it. Not just the land—I want…"

He stopped abruptly, leaving his sentence unfinished.

Winona stared at him, confused. "Did they find another promising location?"

Yves nodded. "Exactly."

He pulled open the passenger door. "Miss Perkins, allow me. Tonight, I'll drive you home myself."

Winona settled gracefully into the front seat, then turned back to Zachary with a polite farewell. "Thank you, Mr. Shaw. Goodnight."

Zachary's expression darkened.

He could tell Winona came from a good family, with kindness and poise.

But Yves Prescott? He was trouble—dangerous trouble.

Right now, Yves needed Winona. That's why he was all charm, all smiles, playing the gentleman.

"Yep," Yves replied.

In just two days, she'd be facing Julian head-to-head at the auction. If she won the land, her project could finally break ground. If Julian's team moved just as quickly, then within a month—at most—he'd realize the genius of her design, the twist she'd built into the project.

By then, she hoped to have nothing to do with Julian at all.

Because her heart had long since let him go.

As luck would have it, she was free tomorrow. She'd go to the courthouse and check on the date for her divorce hearing with Julian.

The Next Day

Winona spent the morning sorting out a few things at her design studio and sifting through files on two or three unremarkable investors. By noon, she was driving to the courthouse.

She met with the case officer, who told her, "Mr. Nicholson should have received the summons by now. Strange that he hasn't responded at all."

"I'll give him a call," the case officer said, reaching for the phone and dialing Julian's number.