The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 143

"Julian? Julian, are you even listening to me?" Felicity's voice echoed insistently through the phone, but Julian didn't hear a word.

He was transfixed by the piece of paper clutched in his hand—his eyes locked onto the bold, cold words of the summons.

Winona was divorcing him. She was taking him to court.

She'd filed the papers two months ago.

Two months. That meant the day she'd left home, that divorce agreement she'd handed him hadn't been a bluff—it was real.

Julian set the phone aside, numb, and stood up. Without another word, he strode out of his office.

Gideon was waiting for him just outside. The moment Julian appeared, Gideon stepped forward, careful to keep his tone respectful. "Mr. Nicholson, are you heading out?"

He didn't dare pry about the boss's destination. There were urgent matters on his plate; just moments ago, Old Mrs. Nicholson had called again, pressing him to find Winona and get her to sign the employment contract.

The little princess needed her mother. It couldn't wait any longer.

Julian was already halfway down the hall, his footsteps echoing. "I'm going to the courthouse," he called back.

Gideon blinked, momentarily speechless.

From the look on Mr. Nicholson's face—icy, forbidding, a wall no one dared approach—Gideon could guess the summons the judge had delivered was no ordinary document.

But if Mr. Nicholson wouldn't talk, Gideon dared not ask.

Still, he had no idea how to answer Old Mrs. Nicholson now.

He sat in his office for over an hour, staring at the phone, racking his brain for a solution. Then the desk phone rang.

He picked it up, already bracing for another round. "Ma'am, I still haven't found Winona—"

"Gideon, this is the front desk," a nervous voice stammered. "There's a woman here… a middle-aged lady, and she's brought… she's brought the little princess. She wants to see the CEO."

He'd overreacted.

Gideon's tone softened. "Sorry, I just… got a little carried away. But shouldn't the little princess be at preschool right now? Why'd you bring her here?"

Sue's voice was sharp, almost defensive. "She was hospitalized last week—stomach flu. She's been resting at home, but she keeps begging for her mother. I couldn't find Mrs. Nicholson, so she insisted I bring her to see her father. Otherwise, she refuses to eat or drink. I know this isn't proper, but I had no other choice. I'll hand her over to Mr. Nicholson, and then I'll resign."

Gideon was silent.

After all, he was just Julian's assistant at the Nicholson Group—family matters were out of his depth.

At a loss, he reached for his phone and tried calling Julian, again and again. No answer.

With no other option, Gideon gathered up Sue and Tiana, hustled them into the car, and headed for the courthouse to find Julian.

Meanwhile, Julian had already arrived at the courthouse and was searching for the judge who'd handed him the summons.